Alumni Tailwinds – March 2024 by Neil McCallum and Kelly Wolf
For many Bike the US for MS riders, rest day service projects are the first opportunity to meet and support a family living with MS. Over the years, our Alumni have built walkways, cleaned back yards, replaced light bulbs, painted rooms or houses and performed a whole host of tasks near impossible for those living with MS.
The Heart of Our MS Mission
Volunteering our time, as we bike the country, goes hand in hand with our mission make a difference to the lives of those living with MS. The gratification of knowing that you have made such a personal impact lasts a lifetime. Yes, we are tired from the long days on the bike, but with a little effort and a lot of fellow riders, we do make a world of difference.
You can appreciate the skepticism and concern of a family knowing that a group of bikers are going to show up and carry out a service project at their home. On more than one occasion there was a big relief that those ‘bikers’ turned out to be cyclists and not motorcyclists. However, we have all gained more from the experience than the little effort that was required on our rest day. Our hosts are always eternally grateful for our efforts.
Key takeaways from service projects:
- It’s amazing how much we can accomplish in a few short hours. Usually more tasks need to be added to the list because we get so much done.
- Meeting people with MS is such a great opportunity to learn more about their experiences. Take the time to learn about the challenges of living with MS.
- Fundraising and knowing your money is helping people is impactful. Getting to meet them and perform service projects for MS families feels doubly impactful.
- We find out other needs they may have! This leads us to fund further ramps, medical devices, wheelchair accessible vehicles to support their lives. We get to hear how our organization has helped make their lives easier.
- There is always plenty of rest day left to relax after doing a service project! Oh and of course do your laundry.
Everyday tasks can be such a challenge for a family living with MS. Service projects are a great reminder of how much we take for granted.
