Biking for life: College student prepares for 1,100-mile bicycle ride to benefit pro-life organizations

Nine bicyclists will ride more than 1,100 miles in this year's Biking for Babies to benefit eight Midwest pro-life organizations. The event will begin Monday in New Orleans and end in Chicago on May 29.

Riders are expected to pass through Missouri on Saturday. The group will stop at the Family Life Center in East Prairie, Mo., around 4 p.m. A stop at the Newman Center in Cape Girardeau is expected about 6:30 p.m. The Newman Center is the Catholic Campus Ministry Center at Southeast Missouri State University.

"We are trying to use our time and talent to contribute to pro-life," co-founder Mike Schaefer said.

This is the fourth year for the ride, which was founded by Schaefer and Jimmy Becker. The two met while studying at the University of Illinois. Schaefer now works as the associate director at the Newman Center at Bradley University in Peoria, Ill. Becker works as a missionary with the Fellowship of Catholic University Students at the University of Texas in Austin.

Schaefer said he and Becker grew up in churches or parishes in the rural Midwest area where life was greatly valued.

Southeast Missouri State student Cory Ross is one of nine cyclists riding from New Orleans to Chicago as part of Biking for Babies, which hopes to raise $40,000 for eight pro-life organizations in the Midwest. (ADAM VOGLER)

"People donated generously of their time, talents and money," Schaefer said.

He said the development of the ride is a natural consequence of that lifestyle.

Cory Ross, a student at Southeast Missouri State University, will be one of the nine riders participating in Biking for Babies 2012. Schaefer asked Ross to participate in this year's ride. They are both originally from Freeburg, Ill., and became friends in high school.

"I jumped on board," Ross said.

Ross has been bicycling recreationally since high school and began training for the ride in February. He said he trains inside two or three times a week by riding between one and two miles on a bicycle trainer. However, on the weekends he practices outside by going on long bicycle rides. These rides began at 50 to 60 miles and have increased over time. He said his longest ride was 120 miles.

"What keeps me going is knowing what I am bicycling for," Ross said. "Some days I can't stand bicycling at all."

Ross said riding for charity is a huge motivation. He explained that the money raised will help supply women in crisis pregnancies with the resources needed to carry out their pregnancy.

For example, Ross said some of the money raised will go toward buying an ultrasound machine for one of the beneficiaries. He explained that this machine would help mothers make a connection to the child inside them.

"It will greatly increase their chances of carrying out that pregnancy," Ross said.

Ross's fiance, Brittany Mickel, will also participate in the ride as a support vehicle driver. Mickel, who currently lives and works in East Prairie, Mo., will drive the riders to New Orleans and later meet them in East Prairie. From there, she will follow them to Chicago and carry supplies along the route.

She recently received her master's degree from Southeast Missouri State University and knew she wouldn't be able to complete the degree and train for the ride.

"I was amazed that Cory was able to train," Mickel said. "I am glad I was able to help in some way."

Mickel became aware of the pro-life movement in college. She attended the March for Life in Washington, D.C., in January 2011 and 2012.

"We should support life because it is our foundation," Mickel said. "From conception to natural death we should respect life."

The original ride was about 600 miles from Carbondale, Ill. to Chicago and raised $13,000. Becker and Schaefer were the only participants in this race. The organization has increased its fundraising goal each year and hopes to raise $40,000 this year.

Each day, participants will ride between 90 and 190 miles. They will make several stops along the way in cities such as Columbia, Miss., Jackson, Miss., Greenwood, Miss., Memphis, Tenn., Cape Girardeau, Freeburg and Champaign, Ill. They will stay with host parishes and families and give talks on their mission.

Ross, who is originally from Freeburg, said the stop in his hometown will be one of his favorites.

"I will receive a lot of support from people I know," Ross said. "It will be encouraging to see them out there supporting the cause alongside me."

For more information or to make a donation, visit bikingforbabies.com.

ajones@semissourian.com

388-3654