Bike the US for MS comes through Eureka

When you see a lot of touring bicycles in the Tobacco Valley you know it's summertime. They sport brightly-colored clothes, those unmistakable shorts, areodynamic hats, and their bikes are laden with camping gear. Why do they brave the elements on a long biking trek? Different reasons. Some just want to slow down and see the country up close. Others really enjoy long bike rides.

And some, for example, the 2015 Bike the US for MS have a mission. Bike the US for MS organizes cross country bike trips that raise money and awareness for multiple sclerosis research & patients. The tours, from which there are several routes to choose, combine an important cause with an incredible experience.

On Friday, July 24, 35 cyclists on the Northern Tier route stopped for the night in Eureka, as they do every year. They started in Bar Harbor, ME on May 27th and wind up the tour in Seattle, WA on August 4th. It wasn't the first trip for either Mary Lutkewitte or Svetlana Wiessen. When we talked at Lincoln County High School, where they were camping, they shared memories about another trip, comparing and contrasting it to their northern experience. Others, such as first time rider, Chelsae Scudder, who joined the tour in Minneapolis, is “learning a lot about cross-country cycling through trial and error!” Chelsae is also using this trip to raise awareness about Kairos Earth, an organization promoting that we are connected with our environment and should treat it not as something to exploit, but as something that is sacred which deserves our respect and stewardship. Although the tourers tend to be mostly in their twenties, they also include older folks (the oldest being 64!) and even a few couples such as Fay & Rob DuBois from Sacramento, CA. The enthusiasm of the cyclists for the cause and the tour was obvious. A journey such as this serves to build a strong, supportive group and create lifelong memories.

Bike the US for MS was started by Don Fraser in 2007. He wanted to help people like his mom, who has been fighting MS for thirty years. Their goal is to combine an important cause, raising funds for MS research and treatment, with the incredible experience of a cross country cycling trip. Each cyclist raises money to cover the costs during the ride except the individual daily meals which they must provide. Anything above the base cost of the trip is donated to the cause. Over the years, they have built relationships in communities along the established routes where they are welcome and supported when they rest for the night. For example, they are offered places to camp for free (Lincoln County High School in Eureka) and some team meals are provided by generous community members. As we were told by several of the team, “the overhead of the project is kept very low....the emphasis is put in the right place.” Their goal is to donate at least 50% of what is raised to MS clinics for research and treatment and to individuals for home modification projects that facilitate independent living. In addition, cyclists volunteer for MS patients as they pass through communities, helping with home projects and maintenance. Yesterday, in Whitefish, MT, they helped work on a handicap accessible ramp at the home of a person who has MS. Thus far in 2015, Bike the US for MS has raised $477,463.

It was a pleasure to meet some of the riders of the Northern Tier on their brief stop in Eureka and we wish them a safe journey. For more information about this worthy cause, how you can donate, and how you, too, can join as part of Bike the US for MS, go to: biketheusforms.org.