Bicyclists to ride for MS charity

By Heidi Bell Gease, Journal Staff Writer | Friday, September 22, 2006

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RAPID CITY — Usually, supporting your favorite charity doesn’t require anything more strenuous than writing a check.

But for the 87 bicyclists entered in this weekend’s ride to fund research and support people with Multiple Sclerosis, helping the nonprofit group will strain every muscle in their bodies.

The second annual MS 150 Bike Tour follows a winding 150-mile course through the Black Hills. After a 7 a.m. Saturday start, riders will pedal through Hill City, Custer, Keystone and Custer State Park, including a ride down the Needles Highway and past Sylvan Lake.

“The Black Hills tour is really kind of a niche market,” said Jackie Heier, area manager for the North Central States chapter of the National MS Society. More than 50 MS chapters nationwide sponsor fundraising bike tours, but many are on flat land. “We really are trying to reach those riders who want a challenge. And we kind of market this as ‘the ride is a challenge, but so is living with MS.’”

That said, this year’s course was slightly modified in hopes of attracting more recreational riders, Heier said. Last year’s ride attracted 35 riders, most of them hard-core bicyclists. This year’s participants can choose routes that cover 40 or 75 miles, though most will rack up 150 miles over the two-day ride. Riders will spend Saturday night in Hill City.

Each participant must pledge at least $200, but some raise thousands for the charity. “There’s just a little bit of friendly competition,” Heier said. “They really get involved if there’s a personal connection.”

Some riders have family or friends with MS. Others are paired with MS clients, each of whom signs a bandana to be worn by a rider. “It’s actually quite powerful,” Heier said. “And when you get someone connected (to the cause), they tend to raise more money and become a repeat participant.”

Organizers hope to raise about $30,000 through the event. Heier said only 4 percent of money raised through the bike ride is used for administration costs.

Heier hopes the route will attract more participants next year. “It’s really one of the most scenic tours in the nation,” she said.

And there are benefits to a mountainous course. As one returning rider said, “Every hill that you go up, you get to go down.”

The bike tour starts at 7 a.m. Saturday at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.

Contact Heidi Bell Gease at 394-8419 or heidi.bell@rapidcityjournal.com