The 22nd annual Ride for Missing Children is taking place on Friday. The annual bicycle ride promotes awareness and hope in the plight of missing and exploited children across the country.

According to press materials provided by the RFMC, "In 1995, a group of seven men rode their bicycles from Utica, NY to Washington, D.C. for Sara’s Ride in honor of Sara Anne Wood. They arrived on Capitol steps on May 25th, the first National Missing Children’s Day. Two years later, inspired by Sara’s Ride, a group of 43 riders rode their bicycles 100 miles from Albany, NY to Utica, NY as a reminder that hope for the lost is never abandoned. This was the first Ride for Missing Children. Over the last 22 years the Ride has grown to include 500 riders, 150 volunteers, 55 benefactors, dozens of family members of missing children and thousands of spectators and supporters."

Click on the slideshow viewer above to scroll through photos of the 2018 Ride for Missing Children.

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Ride for Missing Children kicks off

Riders to embark on 22nd Ride for Missing Children on Friday

Riders are officially on their way! #RFMC ����‍♀️����‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/onvhuqd9RF

— Rebecca Landcastle (@BeccaLandcastle) June 1, 2018

Taking off from Hart’s Hill... next stop is General Herkimer Elementary in Utica! #RFMC pic.twitter.com/CDmx4ZxmhQ

— WKTV (@WKTV) June 1, 2018