The Bike MS Champions program pairs people living with MS with cyclists who ride PA Dutch or City to Shore in their honor. The champion pairs exchange e-mails ahead of time and frequently arrange to meet at the ride’s finish.
In the past two years, the Bike MS Champions program has more than doubled in size. In 2008 alone, we matched more than 1,000 cyclists who wanted more meaning for their ride with people living with MS in the Greater Delaware Valley. Learn how to become a champion.
Meet the 2009 Champions living with MS
*Note: All profiles below are in PDF format.
 Charleen Hinton Pedricktown, N.J. Identifier: Bandana Read her profile Ride for Charleen |
 Janice Park West Chester, Pa. Identifier: Pirate gear Read profile Ride for Janice |
 Barbara Paley-Cohen Melrose Park, Pa. Identifier: Barbie doll items Read profile Ride for Barbara |
 Fred Schwartz Burlington, N.J. Identifier: Grateful Dead wristband Read profile Ride for Fred |
 Pam Craighead Philadelphia, Pa. Identifier: Silk flower Read profile Ride for Pam |
 Jeanne Amodeo Belvidere, N.J. Identifier: Dog face picture Read profile Ride for Jeanne |
 Pamela Taylor Easton, Pa. Identifier: Hills Read profile Ride for Pamela |
 Mary Sypawka Harleysville, Pa. Identifier: Mini license plate Read profile Ride for Mary |
 Lakshmi Chiabella Mt. Laurel, N.J. Identifier: Pink ribbon Read profile Ride for Lakshmi |
 Alan Weintraub Elkins Park, Pa. Identifier: Bandana Read profile Ride for Alan |
 Chuck Bassman Voorhees, N.J. Identifier: MS advocacy sign Read profile Ride for Chuck |
 Anne Schmid Collingswood, N.J. Identifier: Phillies Gear Read profile Ride for Anne |
 Kimberly Kopke Nazareth, Pa. Identifier: "Soul Patrol" items Read profile Ride for Kimberly |
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 Jeff Rubin Philadelphia, Pa. Identifier: Temporary tattoo Read profile Ride for Jeff |
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***Coming Soon*** |
There are three ways for cyclists to become a Bike MS Champion:
- Choose your champion: This year, rather than assigning the pairs, we’re asking cyclists to choose their champions from the profiles above. You’ll notice something called an identifier in each profile; this is an item that the champion living with MS is asking cyclists to wear or carry in their honor. It replaces the traditional Bike MS Champions signed bandana. Click here to choose your champion.
- Ride for someone you know: If you know someone living with MS, decide together what your identifier will be (more on this below). Then teams can inspire others by sharing their champion’s photo and story on this site and click here to see what other teams are doing. Individual cyclists can click here to tell us who motivates you and read what others are doing here.
- Let us pick: Can’t choose? No problem. Click here, and we’ll pair you with someone.
New this year – Identifiers
To make the connection between the cyclist and the person living with MS more personal, champions will pick their own symbol for cyclists to wear or carry during the rides. We hope that replacing the orange bandana with a unique identifier such as ribbons, colored bike shorts or stickers will make the bond between champions even stronger. We encourage our champions to be as creative as possible and to choose something that is truly meaningful to them; if it fits on a bike, it can be used! We will recognize the best Bike MS Champions symbol at the rides’ awards ceremonies this year.
Highlight your Team Champion
Does someone living with MS inspire your team to ride? Together with your champion, pick an identifier you can wear or carry in their honor. Inspire others by telling us about your champion and your symbol. Then click here to see your story and what others are doing.
Want to be a Champion living with MS?
Do you want to share the mission behind Bike MS with a group of cyclists? Contact Lara Estomin to get involved.