It’s time to hit the trail and ride for a good cause when The Covington Cowgirls Drill Team sponsors its 13th annual St. Jude’s Trail Ride. The ride is set for Sat., April 30, beginning at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the Geneva State Forest.

Sign-up takes place at the lake before the morning ride begins. A donation of $10 per person is suggested for the ride that benefits St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. The two trail rides average two hours in the morning and two and a half to three hours in the afternoon. Participants can ride in the morning or afternoon or both times.

“I rode and marked trails earlier this week,” said Tricia Courson, drill team director. “Everything looked really good so we have some beautiful forest trails to ride.”

As they have at past trail rides, the drill team will give away tee shirts and great door prizes. However instead of a cookout at noon, this year participants are invited to pack there own picnic and enjoy lunch at the lake between rides

“We are making a change and asking folks to bring there lunch, “ Courson said. “They may also want to bring snacks and drinks for the rides.”

People wanting to participate but not interested in riding are invited to bring a lunch and enjoy the picnic. The drill team would also invite them to make a donation for St. Jude’s.

To get to the Geneva State Forest from Andalusia take U.S. Highway 84 East around the Opp By-pass to Highway 52. Turn right and stay on Hwy 52 thru Kinston to Highway 54; Turn right on Hwy 54 (goes to Florala), cross the cement bridge and turn right onto Forest Area Road (dirt road just past the bridge). The entrance to the lake is about 3 miles on the right.

From Opp, take U.S. Highway 331S to Beulah Church Road. Turn left and go about 3 miles to Hattaway Road. Take a turn right, go to the dead end and take the right. Go about two miles to Bethel Church. Turn left onto Forest Area Road (dirt road); the entrance to the lake is about 4 miles on the left.

“This is a great location for a trail ride, and a perfect time of year with what promises to be perfect weather,” Courson said. “Past rides have been wonderful and a lot of fun. We know this one will be too.

All of the donations go to St. Jude Children’s Hospital and past trail rides raised an average of $1,500 to as much as $2,500 for St. Jude’s.

The annual St. Jude’s Trail Ride is only one event the drill team sponsors each year. One of their other successful events is the Alabama High School and Junior High Rodeo at the Covington Center Arena in the fall. The annual rodeo is a fundraiser for the drill team and the proceeds go to a number of worthwhile causes.

The drill team also hosts a Veterans’ Day Trail Ride in the fall to benefit local special needs classes.

Anyone who cannot attend the trail ride but is interested in supporting the event can make donations by contacting Courson or other drill team members. For more information or to make a donation, contact Tricia Courson at 334-208-2106 or Debi Butts at 334-488-6043.