The inaugural Neighbors of West Loop Bike MS Team rides for the first time in DeKalb, Illinois, tomorrow, and there is still time for you to donate to the cause. Every dollar counts!
The concept for a NOWL Bike MS Team originated with Bike MS veteran Bob Aiken, who serves as Vice President of NOWL. Bob captains his own Bike MS team, Balcer Aiken. This will be the 10th consecutive year that Bob’s team will participate in the fundraising ride.
Bob, an avid cyclist, walked into the Greater Illinois MS Society Chapter office, located at 525 West Monroe Street, over 10 years ago looking for a way to get involved in a West Loop-based charitable cause. He and his team had such a positive experience with Bike MS that the event became an annual date marked on the calendar.
During last November’s NOWL event at Paramount Room, Bob, who knew that I biked around Chicago, planted a seed in my mind for me to captain a team on behalf of NOWL.
Bob Aiken (holding the NOWL sign), surrounded by his wife Tricia, Maria Pilar Gage, Jon Young, Alderman Burnett, Ruth-Anne Renaud of World Bicycle Relief and Brian Ferber at Paramount Room, November 10, 2014.
We had four people sign up at West Loop Craft Beer Festival to participate on the NOWL Team:
- Jill Allaway
- Jennie Arnold
- Nate Arnold
- Araceli Moreno
Damian, owner of Lakeshore Bike, and his brother Derrick, fixed up my bike for the Bike MS ride! Damian and his team have been long-time supporters of the MS Society.
NOWL will have a tent in the Tent Village on-site at the event, and the West Loop’s Illuminated Brew Works will provide some of their delicious craft beer on Saturday afternoon for guests to enjoy. Even if you are not riding a bike for the event, you can stop by our tent between noon and 9PM to say hi and help us spread West Loop love!
I spent yesterday getting my Trek tuned up by Bike MS partner, Lakeshore Bike. Damian of Lakeshore Bike is an avid supporter of the mission to stamp out this disease, and he will serve as the event’s official bike mechanic in DeKalb. My bike is ready to go, and we will soon find out if I am as well!
This is the beginning of an annual tradition for Neighbors of West Loop. We hope to build on this year’s start next year and beyond. For now, please donate to the team today and come say hi on Saturday!