Meet Dave Chiarello – longtime alumni, board member, and friend of Bike the US for MS
If you haven’t had the chance to be on a Bike the US for MS ride with Dave, you should know that he can do it all – from building custom shelving for the trailer, to teaching new route leaders to back up the vans, and even cheffing up rest-stop pancakes, Dave is game for everything.
How and Why Dave Got Involved with Bike the US for MS
When Dave was finishing his last semester of undergrad at University of Minnesota, he happened to see one of our flyers outside of a lecture hall. His mother had been diagnosed with MS and he thought that biking across the country to raise money for the cause sounded like a great adventure! After visiting our website, he ended up on the phone with Bike the US for MS founder Don Fraser and the rest was history.
Dave’s Connection with Don and Cassie
In June 2012, Dave headed to Bar Harbor, ME for the beginning of the Northern Tier. It was there that he met Don and Cassie, who was a route leader for the ride that year and was soon to become the director of the organization.
After his Northern Tier ride in 2012, Dave and his partner Marilyn moved to Blacksburg, VA, where Bike the US for MS is headquartered. Dave said this decision was on a whim: “we landed on Don and Cassie’s living room floor until we found a place to live. Turns out a year later we bought a house down the street from them and have become great friends over the years.”
Dave now lives in Minneapolis, MN with his partner Marilyn and their children. He’s been an amazing host for riders on the Northern Tier and helped organize details for the North Lakes ride in summer of 2024. He also flew out to Seattle to help with the inaugural Olympic Peninsula ride in 2023.
Dave’s Inspiration from His Mom, Kathy Chiarello
Dave was happy to share a little about how his mom inspired him:
“She always had the most positive attitude about life, despite her freedoms being slowly taken from her because of MS. She was stubborn and resilient in the face of increased motor and cognitive decline, this is inspiring in day to day challenges as well as biking across the country!”
Kathy Chiarello passed away in October 2024 after a long and courageous battle with MS and Dementia. In her memory, Dave and his family, as well as all of us at Bike the US for MS, would love for you to consider donating to our Nina Fraser Schlarship Fund that allows us to cover the cost of our trips for cyclists living with MS.
Becoming a Board Member
Dave’s desire to raise awareness and to keep Bike the US for MS thriving led him to become a member of our board. He says he’s glad that he has been able to stay involved in the organization beyond his cross-country adventure in 2012: “It was and has been an honor to be a part of the board.”
We were lucky enough to get some insight from Dave on his favorite parts of his trip and his advice for future cyclists:
Rayna: What is your fondest memory of your cross-country ride?
Dave: “Hard to pick just one! Chasing Dan Nuckols on the bike everyday, hammock sailing with Nick Lentz, 2000 calorie breakfasts, rest stop shenanigans, and camping out every night with a great group of people.”
Rayna: What surprised you the most on your trip?
Dave: “How cool this country is. Biking through the most obscure small towns and backcountry roads paints such a unique picture of how diverse our communities and landscapes are.”
Rayna: What advice would you give to someone thinking about doing a trip with us?
Dave: “Don’t hesitate. Sign up, get as prepared as you can, then show up with a great attitude and it will change your life. There will be really hard days with emotional and physical challenges. But all of the positive moments and experiences will far outweigh the hard times. You will go home after with new friends, a different perspective on life and you will have made an impact in someone’s life who has MS and maybe can’t participate in such an adventure. They will make an impact on your life too.”
We think Dave has an inspiring story and gives great advice – we’re so grateful to have him as an integral part of our Bike the US for MS family. We can’t imagine the organization without Dave!
Big thanks to Dave for answering our questions and providing the above photos. Comment your kudos for Dave and let us know which alum you’d like us to interview next!
