These participants have gone above and beyond, raising $10,000 or more for Bike MS.

Glenn Drake

I started riding to get in better shape but instead of riding alone, my wife, Denise, suggested that I ride for a cause. My mother-in-law has suffered with MS since 1990. At the time, I didn’t know much about the disease or have much contact with others that had MS. I knew that she had good days and bad days and was trying many different treatments to fight MS. Watching her fight MS was an inspiration to me and others. My first MS ride was Chesapeake Challenge in Salisbury with Team Lamberts in 2007. I didn’t know a lot about the Bike MS program and thought it might just be a fun “one and done” but just the opposite happened. I saw first-hand how this disease affected others and it solidified my desire to “do something” to help fight MS. My teammates were dedicated to finding a cure for MS and raising money; It was contagious. Since that first pedal stroke, I have rode in every Chesapeake Challenge and several other Bike MS events including the MS Great 8. Bike MS is one important part in the battle against MS and if I can play a small part by fundraising, then I want to contribute. It all starts with the first push on the pedals. 

Jason Meyer

In 2001, a dear friend set out on her first multi-day charity event that also started my own adventure. Her ride was my first exposure to the concept of cycling as a way to help others, and I liked it. The next year I got suckered into driving support for some of these rides and I decided that I wanted in on it so the following year (finally, at the age of 36!). I learned to ride a bike and rode my first MS-150 ride in 2004. I rode for the MS Society that year because some friends suggested it, but I soon discovered that my friend Greykell had just been diagnosed with this disease and that made me realize that it could strike anyone at any time. Two years later, in 2006, I organized the cycling arm of Team Greykell and found that I could do even more by recruiting a team than I could by myself. As I have met more and more people who are living with multiple sclerosis, I have found myself driven to do more and more myself to try and fight it. As folks have told me stories of how the disease has affected their lives and I have witnessed people performing heroic feats such as walking 30 miles on crutches, because that what the disease has left for them, I have gotten a clearer picture of how insidious this villain can be and how important it is to keep up the fight. Each year I have found more and better ways to help out with the cause. In addition to riding for this chapter and driving support for several chapters, I am now designing routes for both Chesapeake Challenge in June and Bike to Bordeaux in September. I am honored to have my words posted here. I hope to continue that trend and I hope to find others who can help with this cause.

David Bethel

Back in 2002 I rode my first “Bike MS 150” down California’s Pacific Coast Highway. At that time, I really knew nothing about MS... I just wanted to ride. The following year, when we moved east, I began a relationship with the Maryland Chapter in support of their efforts. But still, my focus was on the ride.

However, through the years and after building relationships with many folks that have multiple sclerosis, I have gained an appreciation on the need for a cure. 

Our ride, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, has become my personal appeal to the members of "Team Bethel” to break out the credit cards and cash in support of my efforts in fighting this disease; we continue today. In August 2010, I was privileged to represent the Maryland Chapter in the “Great 8” ride. 8 States in 8 Days - DC to Beantown. 520 Miles with the heat, hills and humidity only the East coast in summer can bring. Since then I have completed the annual Great 8 rides from Boston to DC, Portland, Maine to NYC and this past summer around Lake Ontario. These events represent to me a defining experience in my life, as EVERY single day, I felt I was making a difference.

As fate would have it, MS has broken through our family’s defensive perimeter as my daughter’s aunt was diagnosed with MS over six years ago. She has her “good” days and then her “not so good” days. We all hope that the “not so good” days become less and less. And as we ride for a cure, to wipe of MS, I know I am doing my part in representing others, because I can.

And so I ride. It is personal for me and my job is to shore up the defenses of those with MS, as we all work towards a cure. And that, my friends, is why I now ride.