Looking back on a successful season of fundraising and service
Our 2024 season has come to a close and we’re thrilled to share that this year, Bike the US for MS has donated $50.5k in fundraising to multiple sclerosis centers across the United States. This includes the MS Alliance of Virginia, Swedish MS Center in Seattle, and Fairview MS Achievement Center in Minneapolis.
The dedication and energy that our amazing riders (you!) have put towards fundraising is what has allowed us to make a difference in the lives of people living with MS all over the country.
We’ve also had the opportunity to improve the lives of individuals living with MS along our routes, as well as raise awareness about the fight to end MS. Read on to find out how our teams made a difference this year!
Rest-Day Service Projects on our Cross Country Rides
Meeting Dr. Jim in Pueblo, CO
Dr. Jim of Pueblo, CO, recently transitioned to using an electric wheelchair, and the TransAmerica team enjoyed helping with yardwork and sharing a meal with him and his wife Cathy.
Service and Gorilla Statue Painting in Pittsburg, KS
Pittsburg State University in Kansas is the only university in the nation with a gorilla as its mascot. On their rest day in Pittsburg, the TransAm team completed a service project for a woman named Lindsey, who has MS. She also painted one of the gorilla sculptures around town with a Bike the US for MS jersey featuring our logo and MS awareness orange, which the entire team got to sign.
Helping Heather in Eureka, CA
The Pacific Coast team was able to do some chores for Heather who has MS. They spent the morning painting her porch, staining a table, and getting some gardening done!
Postcard Writing
Because it’s been more difficult to work a service day into our shorter rides that don’t have rest days, our North Lakes and GAP & C&O teams took the time to write postcards from towns along their routes and send them to people living with MS.
The North Lakes group wrote to patients at the Fairview MS Achievement Center, while cyclists on the GAP & C&O trip wrote to patients in residential MS treatment at The Boston Home in Massachusetts, as well as veterans with MS at the VA Spinal Cord Center in Minneapolis, MN.
We’re always looking for more creative ways to connect our cyclists to the cause through service, so please reach out to us if you have any suggestions or connections you’d like to share!
Media and Awareness
As you may know, as well as fundraising to support research and improving the lives of people with MS, part of our mission is to raise awareness about the cause in communities across America. This year, we’ve absolutely upheld this part of our purpose.
Here’s a few examples of Bike the US for MS in local media across the country:
TransAmerica Team on TV
TramsAmerica Cyclist Brian Winkler and our very own operations manager Duncan Moore were on TV with KOAM Morning News in an interview with Elyse Noe.
North Lakes Team on the News
On our inaugural North Lakes ride from Minneapolis, MN to Chicago, IL, our cyclists and route leaders were interviewed by a reporter from NBC’s WJFW Newswatch 12. Route leader Neil McCallum and the team got to talk to Shauna Johnson about the mission of the organization and the outpouring of support they received when one of the vans had a flat tire.
A reporter from Rice Lake’s The Chronotype named Travis Nyhus also did a feature article on the North Lakes Cyclists that can be found here.
GAP + C&O Team in the Newspaper
During their stay in Connellsville, PA, the GAP + C&O team was interviewed by Roxanne Abramowitz for an article in The Daily Courier. The article also covers a group of cyclists who were passing through town at the same time and raising money for cancer on the Keystone State Ride.
Cheers to a successful 2024 season – Let’s make 2025 even better!
We’re so grateful for the amazing work our Bike the US for MS family of alumni have put into bettering the lives of people living with MS. We’re excited to keep the momentum going on our 2025 rides to make even more of a difference.