Ty LaValley will embark on a solo bicycle ride to raise money for the Habitat for Humanity of Effingham County’s veterans build project.

LaValley will leave the Springfield United Methodist Church, where he is the director of spiritual formation, and ride to Boy Scout Camp La-No-Che in Paisley, Fla. LaValley is scheduled to start his ride Sunday and will reach the Boy Scout camp on June 10.

LaValley is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and is a retired sergeant first class in the Army.

“For me, the military is one big extended family,” he said. “Whenever my family is out and about and we see other service members, there is a bond that transcends generations.”

LaValley’s family has a long history of military service that includes his wife, two brothers, father, mother, father-in-law, grandfather and brother-in-law. The family has been involved in every conflict since World War II and some family records indicate ancestors’ service in the American Revolution and the Civil War.

“I have an opportunity to help out a member of my extended military family,” he said. “My whole career was spent taking care of soldiers. This is just another way that this retiree can continue serving.”

Habitat for Humanity in Effingham is raising money to build a house for Cristal Barry, a Desert Storm veteran with the 1st Infantry Division, better known as “The Big Red One.” She is a single mom responsible for her son Alex and is employed as a correctional officer at Effingham County Prison and also works at Parkers.

For more information about the veteran’s build go to: http://effinghamhabitat.org/help-build-a-home/veteran-s-build/

You may donate online at: http://effinghamhabitat.org/donations/. Mark your donations veteran’s build (bike ride).  There will be a matching donation, up to $5,000. As of Wednesday, $1,000 has been raised.