Champions program gives cyclists meaningful reasons to ride
Champions is a program created to help cyclists in Bike MS: C.H. Robinson Worldwide MS 150 Ride 2011 connect with people living with MS to foster education, awareness, gratitude, and most importantly, hope. The program gives cyclists in the two-day, 150-mile ride a chance to ride in honor of someone with MS — making the experience more fulfilling.
The pairs can exchange e-mails before the ride and even meet in-person at the event. New this year, cyclists can choose their Champion by viewing individual profiles online. Each profile includes the Champion’s personal story and a special identifier his or her cyclist should wear during the ride in their honor. Examples of identifiers include ribbons, stickers or a certain color bike shorts. For cyclists who already ride for someone they know, that person can become an official Champion by completing an online profile.
Want to be a Champion living with MS?
Are you a person living with MS? Would you like to help make stronger connections with cyclists who raise funds for MS? Do you want to share the mission behind Bike MS with a group of cyclists? Click here to create your Champions profile. This profile will be featured with your photo on the Chapter Web site.
There are three ways for cyclists to pair themselves with Champions:
1. Ride for someone you know: If you know someone living with MS, decide together what your identifier will be (more on this below). Tell us who motivates you to ride.
2. Choose your champion: This year, cyclists can choose their champions from profiles on our Web site.
3. Can’t choose? No problem, let us pick! Click here to sign up.
New this year: Identifiers
To make the connection between the cyclist and the person living with MS more personal, champions living with MS pick their own symbol for cyclists to wear or carry during the rides.
Champions, select an identifier that has personal meaning and might be fun for cyclists to wear or carry on the ride. If it fits on a bike, it can be used! The identifier may also help cyclists recognize others with the same MS Champion. Examples of possible identifiers include:
- Bracelet or band
- Unique or certain color bike shorts
- Special scarf or bandana
- T-shirt
- Sticker(s)
- Spoke art
Once you agree on an identifier, consider how you will finance it. Be creative and think big, ideas may include:
- Sponsorship by a team company or the individual cyclist
- Donated by the MS Champion
- Shared expense between MS Champions and Cyclist Champions
Want to learn more about becoming a Champion? Contact Josh Simenstad at josh.simenstad@nmss.org.