St. Thomas junior Ryan Allen has an admittedly unique passion for mountain biking.
That, along with a resume full of volunteer activities, has led Allen to the MS150 Ride this June, a 150-mile bike ride that runs from Proctor, Minnesota to Allen’s hometown of White Bear Lake.
His interest in mountain biking sparked about two years ago and has held strong ever since. For the MS150, however, he will trade in his rugged wheels for a road bike. The change will not cause much extra stress for Allen, as Minnesota roads are flatter than what he is used to.
“You really don’t have to have much else in common besides being a biker. Mountain bikers and road bikers … It’s kind of one big family,” Allen said. “It all revolves around having a good time.”
The MS150 Ride is organized by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society; participants raise money for the research and treatment of Multiple Sclerosis and bike 150 miles to raise awareness.
“The onus is on each individual person to raise money. The minimum you have to raise is $300,” Allen said. “They give you all the tools to do that, but then that falls on each individual person to actually raise that money for the cause.”
Brent Renneke, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Midwest PR Manager, echoed Allen and put a figure to MS150’s impact.
“The MS150 is one of five races, five bike events, that we do here at the MS Society,” Renneke said. “Bike MS alone raises just over $4.1 million overall throughout the year.”
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society defines multiple sclerosis as “an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain and between the brain and the body.”
Although the event was created to spread awareness about multiple sclerosis and its treatment, the ride also serves as a bonding experience for those who participate.
“It’s just a wonderful opportunity for people who like to bike — obviously we’re in a great biking state — to really come together and do something that they love to do,” Renneke said. “With family, friends, coworkers and really change the world for people who live with multiple sclerosis.”
The ride itself spans two days with 75 miles each day and a breakpoint every 10 miles if needed. After the first day, the group stays the night in Hinckley, allowing participants to learn more about each other and multiple sclerosis. Although Allen has little background with multiple sclerosis or those it effects, he is eager to put his passion toward a worthy cause.
“I don’t have any personal experience of people with MS, but there are a lot of people with MS that do this ride,” Allen said. “Meeting some people who have MS and seeing what they go through and how this does actually impact them is what I would want to take from this experience.”
Adam Kraft can be reached at adam.kraft@stthomas.edu.