2011 Minnesota MS 150 Bike Ride

 

The Minnesota team had 35 members and collected nearly $30,000 for 2011! Fairview continues to partner with our team and is engaging its employees through involvement and support of the MS Society in Minnesota. A Friends and Family team foremost, we continue to have the much appreciated support of Fairview.  Fairview operates the MS Achievement Center in Minnesota, which is a great service and resource for many individuals with moderate to severe MS. With our sponsors, (Fairview, Frontgate Trucking and Clearene Pool & Spa Services) we are able to host our, now annual Silent Auction & Team Rally.  Our team continues to enjoy wearing the patriotic colors! The 2012 ride is June 9th and 10th from Duluth to the Twin Cities northern suburbs. We are setting our team goals even higher this year and hope to grow the team to forty strong and raise at least $35,000.  Accept the Challenge and join the Minnesota team (L’Etoile du Nord, which means star of the north) to help put an end to MS.

 

 

History of the Minnesota Team

Darin is a native of Minnesota and was first introduced to Cody's Challenge in 1995. At the time, he was stationed at Mayport, Florida as a US Navy Search & Rescue Swimmer and Helicopter Air Crewman. Darin quickly caught the cycling bug and hasn’t stopped since. When he went north to Minnesota in 1998 to complete his college courses at the University of Minnesota, he took Cody's Challenge along. Married in 1989, Darin and Kristina, work together to support each others fundraising efforts and training rides. Darin completed his post-graduate work for physical therapy in 2003, and he has been working for the Institute for Athletic Medicine since that time. Through his volunteer time at the MS Achievement Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, his professional experience as a physical therapist, or his time riding for Cody’s Challenge, Darin continues to be inspired and amazed by the individuals who are afflicted with MS. He continues to enjoy hockey (Go Gophers!) hunting, and almost any sport. Joe Pelley fondly wrote “We miss him desperately but can't stand the cold up there.” Darin also misses the good times and great people that he had the opportunity to ride or share a drink of Gentleman Jack with, but just can’t stand that blazin’ Florida heat. You can always put more clothes on, but you can never seem to take enough off. Good luck and good fortune to you all.

Please see our sponsor below. You can visit them by clicking on the picture.

Darin Thom, 9717  226th Ave, NW,
Elk River, MN  55330

Email address:  thom1201@tc.umn.edu