The BP MS 150 is a two-day bicycle ride from Houston to Austin organized by the National MS Society: Lone Star Chapter to raise funds to fight against the devastating neurological disorder multiple sclerosis. Since 2006, Texas Children’s Hospital has sponsored its own team of riders who have helped raise more than $1.53 million to date for the cause.
In 2014, Team Texas Children’s consisted of 218 registered riders, with 183 actually completing the ride on April 12-13. The 2014 team will raise more than $220,000 this year. In addition to the riders, approximately 100 employees and community volunteers gave their time to hand out snacks, haul luggage, blow up air mattresses, set up the overnight tent in La Grange and provide other much-needed and much-appreciated support.
Did you know?
- The BP MS 150 is the largest event of its kind in North America.
- The first MS 150 Houston to Austin bike tour was held in 1985, with 237 cyclists raising just over $100,000.
- Since 2007, the wildly popular event has been capped at 13,000 riders.
- Since surpassing the $15 million mark for the first time in 2008, the BP MS 150 has raised an average of $16 million per year.
- This year’s ride is expected to raise around $18.5 million for MS.
- A “fashion show” of sorts, teams compete to have the most creative, colorful and distinctive jersey designs.
- Team Texas Children’s is among the most popular and most recognizable, winning multiple competitions for Best Jersey in recent years.
- In 2014, four of the top 300 fundraisers rode on Team Texas Children’s.
- In 2014, Team Texas Children’s riders ranged in age from 12-74 years old, with seven children under the age of 18 participating.