NATCHEZ — A group of 30 bicycle riders will make a stop in Natchez Thursday as part of an 800-mile journey to raise money for victims of natural disasters.

Riders for the 800-mile JOMONOLA Bike Tour will travel to Jefferson Street United Methodist Church Thursday evening to meet members of the congregation, who will prepare and serve a dinner to welcome the riders.

JOMONOLA participants are riding from Joplin, Mo., (JOMO) to New Orleans (NOLA) to raise funds and awareness to help rebuild the houses and lives of those impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy and the tornado that affected Joplin.

The St. Bernard Project has rebuilt houses for 470 Hurricane Katrina survivors. Rebuild Joplin has built 73 houses for families impacted by the May 2011 tornado. Work is also in progress to help families affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Development director Doreen Finnie said the riders, who are from all across the nation, average approximately 80 miles per day.

“It’s pretty much half and half as far as people who really, really ride and kind of others who are weekend warriors and got in shape to do this,” Finnie said.

The Rev. John Kramer, pastor at Jefferson Street, said the riders will also be spending the night at the church after eating with church members.

“We wanted to take them in because they needed a place to stay and to support their efforts to rebuild because we certainly understand how devastating that can be,” Kramer said.

Finnie said the organization set a goal of raising $150,000 and is only $20,000 away from the goal.

For more information, visit www.jomonola.org.