Biking for Babies

 

Photo by Adam Vogler

The Southeast Missourian featured an article on Cory Ross, a recent CCM and SEMO graduate, who is biking from New Orleans to Chicago this week to raise money for pregnancy resource centers:

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."

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