When the members of Providence United Methodist Church were looking for a way to raise money for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, they had to look no further than their own directory.

For years the church had been a faithful participant in Relay, but in the past few years participation had dropped.

Last year, the church wanted to get back into the event and set up a Relay team. After getting signed up and started with the fundraising, the members began brainstorming ways to raise more money.

“We had a lot of people on our team who ride motorcycles,” said Ginny Lee Leitner, co-chair for the church’s Relay fundraising efforts. “After we got going, we thought about how a ride could raise some money, and that’s what we came up with.”

But the church didn’t want just any motorcycle ride.

Members wanted the event to honor one of their own.

Kathie Humphry was a beloved member at Providence church who passed away several years ago from cancer. Her husband is still involved on the Relay team.

“We thought it seems like a great way to honor her and her husband and raise some money for Relay for Life,” Leitner said.

On April 4, the church will hold its first Kathie Humphry Memorial Ride from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The ride will begin at the church, located on Providence Road, and take participants through Isle of Wight County and Chuckatuck before finishing back at the church.

The cost to participate is $20 per single rider and $15 per passenger. Registration begins at 9 a.m. at the church, and food and beverages will be served after the ride.

Leitner said the committee is hoping that 100 to 150 people will come out for the ride, and to sweeten the deal, they have t-shirts for the first 150 people to register.

“But, of course, the more the merrier,” she said. “I think we will have a lot of people who will come out and, hopefully, we will have beautiful weather for the ride.”