Karen Higgins, a teacher at Georgiana School, did her part to help victims of the April 2011 tornadoes get back on their feet by using hers to push the pedals of her bicycle.

Higgins joined hundreds of riders in April, including Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson, in raising funds for the Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund, which was established to aid victims of the April 27, 2011 tornadoes that ravaged much of the state.

Bo Bikes Bama, a 300-mile trek that traced the path of the storm and ended on the campus of the University of Alabama, raised $613,469.

“It was a very rewarding experience,” Higgins said. “It’s amazing the devastation in some of those areas even after a year. I’m blessed to have been able to (participate in the ride). I received a blessing from it.”