Motorcycles from all over the Foothills will be hitting the highway for Leather N' Chaps Ridin' for SNAPS charity ride.

The fifth annual event takes motorcyclists on a journey through the area while raising funds and awareness for the Foothills Special Needs Association for Parents and Siblings.

On July 18 the day will kick off with registration and breakfast at 9 a.m. at the High River Legion then the bikers will hit the pavement at 11 a.m. for the Okotoks Big Rock Erratic. Other stops on the ride will include Chain Lakes and the Nanton Fire Hall before the day wraps up back at the Legion for prize draws, dinner, and live music.

Orvella Small, Executive Director for Foothills SNAPS, says this year the ride won't be stopping at any establishments that sell alcohol.

"We're not stopping at any alcoholic events," she says. "Our ride is a liquor free, alcohol free ride and that was one of the important things for us to get to was that there would only be liquor at the end, and once we get to the legion it's no longer our event anymore, it's theirs. We've just become more and more conscious about that."

Last year the ride had 129 riders take part and raised 15 thousand dollars.

Small says she'd like to see those number increase so they can continue to serve families.

"Right now we serve approximately 560 families which equates to about 2100 people when you break it down because we support the whole family not just the individual, so we serve the MD of Foothills and MD of Willow Creek, so it's quite a large area we serve."

To register for the event, click here.

Questions, comments, or story ideas? Email us at news@okotoksonline.com