Fourteen motorcycle riders from Columbus, Ga., will be rolling into Albert Lea on Tuesday as part of the third annual Scott’s Ride for Miracles. The Miracle Riders extend their gratitude to Best Western Albert Lea for their support. Started two years ago by Columbus businessman Scott Ressmeyer, this 21-day, 48-state motorcycle journey is a cross-country trek to raise awareness and money to benefit Children’s Miracle Network at The Medical Center in Columbus, Ga.

What began two years ago as a one-time, solo trip to commemorate Ressmeyer’s 50th birthday, has turned into an annual event that now includes additional riders. Last year, 11 riders made the trip; this year, 14 riders will participate. These riders include a county sheriff, local businessmen and retirees. In addition to taking time off work and funding all personal expenses associated with the ride including hotels, meals and gasoline, each of Scott’s Miracle Riders is committed to raising at least $2,500 to participate in the more than 9,000-mile trek across the United States,

In its first two years, Scott’s Ride for Miracles raised more than $142,000 to purchase equipment for the neonatal and pediatric intensive care units at The Medical Center. This year to date, the Riders have raised more than $80,000. Ressmeyer says the ultimate goal now is to raise $1 million over the course of the Ride.

The Miracle Riders plan to visit patients at several CMN hospitals along the way, including Baptist St. Anthony’s Health System in Amarillo, Texas, at noon on Monday, May 9; Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, where CMN’s national headquarters is located, at 8 a.m. on Thursday, May 12; and Saint Vincent Health Center in Erie, Pa., on Friday, May 20, at 8 a.m.. They will also contribute to a blog to journal their travels at RideforMiracles.com. Once their journey begins, people may visit the same website to track the riders’ route in real time.