POWERGRAMS

24 PROFILE Brett Ballard's 11,400-mile miracle Ride helps raise funds for prenatal training The late, great singer Johnny Cash and Brett Ballard have one thing in common: They've both been everywhere. There, the similarities end. The Man in Black personified trials and travails, while Ballard's black leather vest and jacket shielded him from blustering wind during his 11,400- mile, cross-country motorcycle trip with the Miracle Riders. Ballard joined 19 other Miracle Riders in driving to the four outermost points of the U.S. to raise money for Columbus State University (CSU) in Georgia. The crew rode an average of 500 miles a day during the grueling Four Corners Ride from May 22 to June 16. Through donations given on a per-mile basis, the motorcycle riders raised more than $212,000 to buy training equipment for a Labor and Delivery Simulation Lab for pediatric nursing at CSU, including new technology and enhancements, such as life-like mannequins. For Ballard, who retired from a successful 39-year career in Power Delivery - Distribution at Alabama Power on June 28, the trip was the adventure of a lifetime. "I rode with 19 other riders who I barely knew for a trip around America," Ballard said. "We had one common goal: to help Columbus State University. One hundred percent of the money raised went to CSU. I just wanted to contribute to our community, help a child in need and have a good time doing it." A trip not for the faint of heart Ballard knew that traveling 26 days on his Harley- Davidson Ultra Limited motorcycle would require stamina and grit. He had the full support of his wife, Darlene, and his family. After more than two decades, the Miracle Ride has become a "well-oiled machine," with pre-planned meals and hotel reservations. Each rider pays their way for fuel, lodging and meals. Ballard spent about $6,000. The team traveled up the East Coast to the northeast corner of the U.S. – Madawaska, Maine – and into Canada. Ballard was worried about a moose or deer running in front of the crew. "Maine didn't have a lot of lights on their highways," he said, with a chuckle. From Oshawa, Ontario, the motorcyclists headed down to Lafayette, Indiana, then traveled west through the Cascade Range into Washington state. Ballard said that riding across the Cascade mountains into Bellingham, Washington – the northwest point of the U.S. and the second leg of their journey – was thrilling. He experienced plenty of "white-knuckle moments." Mother Nature presented weather that ranged from freezing rain at 39 degrees to sweltering temperatures that reached 104 degrees. "I was just trying to stay up with those guys – they're very fast, good riders," Ballard said. In North Dakota, for instance, he was staying with the pack when they passed a sheriff on the interstate. Glancing at his speedometer, Ballard was shocked to see it clock at 98 mph. "The sheriff was flagging us on because there was a really bad storm coming," Ballard said, "and we had to go through a pass. He put his arm out and was telling us to go on by. He knew we needed to get through there before we got caught in the storm." Because they often rode in heavy traffic, the riders used For the Miracle Ride, Ballard spent 26 days on his Harley- Davidson motorcycle.

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