Bicyclists riding coast to coast volunteer time while resting in Fargo
SABIN, Minn. — They started out from Bar Harbor, Maine, just over a month ago. Cyclists with the organization ‘Bike the US for MS’ are raising money and awareness for multiple sclerosis.
Along Old Highway 52, between Baker and Sabin in Minnesota, cyclists from all over the country got a taste of sugar beet, potato and grain fields in the region.
They also cooled off in a summer drizzle. Since late May, these cyclists have been crossing the country. Their travel from Bar Harbor to Seattle is a 69-day trek, from coast to coast.
Jimmy Boyle and Jessie Sandler are from California and are a part of the massive ride for MS.
“The people are great, the people you meet on the way, the riders are fantastic; it’s like a second family," Jimmy said.
And this ride is not the only highlight of their summer, they plan on getting married in Joshua Tree National Park. While it might sound complicated to organize a wedding while bicycling across the country, this couple has it covered.
“Our flowers are ready, our food is ready, our venue is ready, we have some stuff to take care of when we get back, but we intentionally wanted it to be that these five weeks, we can tune out most of the wedding stuff,"Jessie said.
This groups stays in big cities and small towns. Friday, they are staying at a church in Fargo. Saturday night they will be in Kathryn, N.D.
They not only ride, this group goes out into communities to meet those living with the disease, often by participating in a service project for those families on the bicyclists’ rest day.
“We like riding bikes, so we get to meet these people who are so inspired by what we’re doing," said Kelly Wolf, another biker making the cross country trek.
Businessman Scott Lods from Indiana is no big cyclist. He has no connection to anyone with MS and so one might think he wouldn’t endure the knee pain that comes with so many miles of riding.
“I went home to Indiana to get some physical therapy," Lods said.
But he rejoined the group. When asked why he came back after so much agony, he remarks, “Two daughters. And it strikes three women for every man, so I thought it might be something I might do for women. It’s a challenge, it was a huge challenge."
The group will head west across North Dakota, resting in Bismarck and volunteering some more time. They hope to end up in Seattle sometime in August.
In all, the trip is 4,295 miles of sore backs, feet and knees, but most say they would do it again.