ROXBURY — The Roxbury ATV Riders will host its second annual ATV Ride for Autism at 9 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 4, at the Roxbury Park and Ride.

Michael Worthley, president of the Roxbury ATV Riders, said this is the first time that the club has hosted it. In 2012, the Moose Alley ATV Club of Bingham hosted a 216-mile trek with proceeds going to Autism Speaks in Massachusetts.

The ride will leave at 9 a.m. from the Roxbury ATV Park and Ride on Route 120, according to Worthley. Riders will head up to the wind turbines in Roxbury, continue to Coos Canyon and on to the Mexico Recreation Park for lunch. Worthley said riders will have the opportunity to swim and play games at the park.

Worthley said if there’s enough time, riders will continue to Angel Falls in Byron and Devil’s Den in Andover before returning to the Roxbury Park and Ride.

The ride is free and open to the public, though Worthley suggested a donation of $10.

He said the ride already is attracting riders from around the state.

“This is turning into a statewide thing,” Worthley said. “I have riders from Bangor and other towns farther away saying they’d be showing up. They’re asking me for hotels or motels around here so they can stay overnight.”

The idea for the ATV Ride for Autism, Worthley said, came from Ed Barrett, president of the Lisbon Hard Core Riders ATV Club.

“He came up with the idea after meeting a fellow rider who took his autistic son ATV riding,” Worthley said. “The rider’s son loves the outdoors and being on the ATV. He decided to start a benefit ride for autism awareness.”

Tie-dyed T-shirts showcasing the event will be available to purchase through the Roxbury ATV Riders Club.

For more information, call Worthley at 418-0790.

mdaigle@sunjournal.com