MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The mighty Mississippi will be the backdrop for bicyclists this weekend. They’ll camp out beside the river while raising money for St. Jude.
“Sleeping in Tom Lee Park is definitely different, but what it does is it introduces a new element to what can be done in the park,” Dorchelle Spence with the Riverfront Development Corporation said.
It’s the second St. Jude Ride 24-hour relay on the banks of the Mississippi River, with music, food and sleep.
“Yes with sleeping bags, but a lot of it is just the teams specifically. So it’s not random people or spectators. They won’t be here overnight. They will be here during the race itself, and then the team members stay overnight so they can get back on the bikes,” Spence said.
She says it’s a lot like Memphis in May, but safety is still an issue. There haven’t been problems in the past, but just a few days ago, three people walking in the park around 3 a.m. say they were robbed by a group of teens.
“Although there is something going on all the time, we have a lot of eyes on Tom Lee Park, a lot of houses that overlook the park. It’s a very safe place to be,” Spence said.
Park security cameras will be rolling, and St. Jude and the Riverfront Development Corporation will add to that safety measure.
“They bring in their own security, of course we have roving security. Memphis police do a great job of keeping the citizens safe on the riverfront and in downtown, so we really don’t see it as an issue,” Spence said.
She says the St. Jude Bike Relay is just the latest use for the riverfront, as they find different ways to get people to the river and keep them safe.
The St. Jude Bike Relay starts at 6 p.m. Friday, September 19, and runs until 6 p.m. Saturday, September 20.
The race route is on Riverside Drive from Georgia Avenue to Jefferson Avenue.
Security will be stationed at the road closures.
Registration is $50. Register at stjude.org/ride.
