Gov. Robert Bentley and Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard visited Chilton County Tuesday along with sports legend Bo Jackson to tour the new storm shelter at Higgins Ferry Park.

“This shelter can save the lives of many in this area,” Bentley said. “April is the anniversary of the tornado outbreak in 2011, when we lost seven Alabamians during a storm.”

Bentley introduced Jackson, who is hosting his third annual Bo Bikes Bama charity ride on April 19 in Auburn.

Bentley highlighted the money Jackson has raised from the charity rides that fund storm shelters throughout Alabama.

“I am thankful for Bo’s commitment to helping make Alabama safer,” Bentley said. “The funds donated from the Bo Bikes Bama charity ride help provide safe rooms for Alabamians to stay safe during a storm.”

The shelter at Higgins Ferry is one of more than 60 community shelters across the state that has been financially supported through Bentley’s Emergency Relief Fund (GERF) that gives money to counties to pay the 25-percent match.

Two shelters in Chilton County under the GERF funding are at Higgins Ferry and Verbena.

Hubbard said after the devastating tornadoes struck the state in April 2011, the citizens of Alabama came together to help their neighbors, families and friends.

“As a true Alabama son, Bo has gone above and beyond riding tens of thousands of miles and raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to help construct community storm shelters across the state,” Hubbard said.

Jackson said he came up with the idea to host a bike ride three years ago after wanting to organize a fundraiser to help those in Alabama.

“My mother always taught us to treat people like we want to be treated,” Jackson said. “The route that tornado took in 2011 could have hit my home in Bessemer. Nature doesn’t have a time clock or a schedule, and the more structures we have the less chance we have for a repeat. You can’t fight Mother Nature but can avoid her.”

Jackson said he first contemplated hosting a golf fundraiser or a run/walk but he decided to host a bike ride because most people can ride a bike.

“I am still trying to get the governor on a bicycle,” Jackson jokingly said. “It is just a fun event, and people don’t realize how much fun you can have while riding your bike.”

Jackson said he presented the idea to raise money for storm shelters to Bentley several years ago during the second half of Super Bowl Sunday.

“I was on the phone with him, and we started talking because I wanted to figure out a way I could help,” Jackson said.

This year’s charity ride will feature 62-mile and 22-mile route options.

Jackson said he would start with each group of cyclists at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art on the campus of Auburn University.

The 62-mile ride costs $60 online and $100 on the day of the ride.

The 22-mile ride costs $40 online and $60 on the day of the ride.

Currently, Jackson’s Bo Bikes Bama has raised more than $700,000.

Jackson is a former Auburn University star who later played professional football and baseball.

“I just have to thank Bo Jackson for his love of Alabama,” Bentley said. “He has used his name to get people interested in a bike ride and has used the money from that bike ride to help with providing for well-built storm shelters across our state.”

Bentley said he toured a similar shelter in Maplesville that was hit by a tornado in 2012 with more than 100 people inside.

“A tree came down on the shelter during the storm, and everyone in that shelter was safe,” Bentley said. “The GERF fund helps counties who need assistance and we are thankful for these structures that are keeping Alabamians safe.”

For more information about the ride or to donate to Bo Bikes Bama, visit www.bobikesbama.com.