Holy Roller Gravel Road Race runs through county

Perryville is attempting to grow its biking presence and events such as the one that was held Saturday will help the cause. Perry County Heritage Tourism helped host the second annual Holy Roller Gravel Road Race in Brazeau on Saturday.
The event was divided into three races a 70-mile version, 35 mile-version, and a 17-mile fun run. A majority of the 38 participants in the events biked the 35-mile version with only two taking the hard trek of two loops for the extended edition.
The course winded through the back roads near Brazeau as only eight miles of the whole 35-mile journey was on paved roads. The race stated and ended at Hemman Winery.

A majority of the riders came from Missouri, while the farthest participate coming from Paducah, Ill.
Event organizer Ben K noted that the Perry County terrain in the eastern portion of the county is beautiful this time of the year.
“The terrain is gorgeous,” Ben Kelani said. “No one is coming for an easy ride because this course has a bunch of hills. People who bike and have a hobby of biking just love it. It’s about being in the elements and seeing areas in a different way.”
The event benefited Team Noah, which raises funds to aid local children and their families impacted by medical and developmental disabilities.