"It was amazing," said Phillip "Philbilly" Andrews, organizer of the annual Philbilly Cancer Ride, "I can't thank the community enough."

Nearly 100 bikers showed up to ride for the Lewis County Cancer Victims Fund last Saturday and headed for five different stops before returning to Hohenwald.

"Each year our goal is to bring in more people and raise more money than the year before," Andrews said.

So this year, they did just that. People from all walks of life came together in the community and raised over $21,000 for the Cancer Victims Fund.

"To raise a record breaking $21,300 with COVID-19 and all the other troubles just shows the spirit of this great town. A great day and all who took part in putting it together should be congratulated, and don't forget the Hohenwald Police Department," said Mayor Danny McKnight. "They did a great job as usual."

The Lewis County Cancer Victims Fund was started back in 1997 by two citizens named David Barnes and Sandra Thompson.

Together, they wished to start a fund that would help lift some of the heavy financial burden that cancer victims are strapped down with when it comes to traveling to doctor's appointments and purchasing their prescriptions.

The Philbilly Cancer Ride was started seven years ago when Andrews was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma at only 29 years old. A bike ride was scheduled with the Silent Order Bikers by the Cancer Victims Fund and they raised $1,500 for the first ever Philbilly Cancer Ride.

"We were thinking of calling it 'Hillbilly Ride For Cancer,'" said Billy Andrews, Phillip Andrews' father, "But some bright spark said why not 'Philbilly Ride For Cancer' after my son. And so it was."

Graham Kilsby

Left; Scott Chaplin, Jimmy Andrews, Billy Andrews, Sandra Thompson and Phillip "Philbilly" Andrews. Front; Bike raffle winner, Cody Warren.

Since then Andrews has thankfully been in remission and knew the ride had to continue.

"None of this would have been possible without my wife [Shaina Andrews]. She stood by my side when I was diagnosed and she's helped so much behind the scenes," said Andrews. "She's the backbone of every ride."

Next year will make eight years for the Philbilly Cancer Ride and the bar has proudly been set high by those who participated this year.

If you want to help out or be a vendor in next year's Philbilly Cancer Ride, you can contact Andrews at 931-306-8460 or email him at [email protected].