Partners + Napier/Project: WorldWide cycling team kicks into high gear at Bike MS

Friends, supporters and curious onlookers escaped the hot sun under pitched canopies at Keuka College in Keuka Park, New York, earlier this month, as our riders in this year’s Bike MS Finger Lakes Challenge pedaled the last miles of the course somewhere out on its hilly, winding roads.

Many of our riders put bike tires to pavement at 8AM that morning, settling in for a long, sweaty 100-mile trek to the finish line. This group included creative director Mike Baron (@BaronCD), executive creative director Jeremy Schwartz (@JSroc), chief strategy officer John Roberts, senior art director Scott Loftus, creative group supervisor Jeff Hopper, and human resources specialist Zachary Boyce.

Back at the tents, the event’s emcee gave us periodic updates: Jeremy Schwartz checked in on Twitter at mile 48, mile 70, and again at mile 85, tweeting on-the-road pictures when able (you can check out these photos and others from the ride on our Facebook page).

CEO Sharon Napier, chief creative officer Jeff Gabel, and creative group supervisor Ann McAllister also completed a 30-mile ride in support of the MS Society (and Jeff did it without any training!).

We had some welcome additions to our team this year, too — president of Project: WorldWide Larry Vallee completed a 100-mile ride, alongside his daughter Lauren Updyke and son-in-law Nathan. Lauren, currently training for an Ironman triathlon, was the first 100-mile rider to cross the finish line.  

This was our fourth year riding as well as creating all event collateral, including the poster, direct mail piece, t-shirt, and take-one card, accounting for $10,000 in donated time to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. We’re proud to announce that the Partners + Napier/Project: WorldWide team far surpassed its goal of $3,500 and raised $5,285 for this great cause.

Following the ride, we were honored to be named the Corporate Team of the 2011 Bike MS Finger Lakes Challenge by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

The Bike MS ride has become an important yearly tradition us, and we love seeing change happen from the efforts of event supporters. Last year, for example, funds raised from Bike MS led to the successful research and development of two new drugs, Ampyra and Gilenya, the first oral suppressants for MS.

A big thanks and congratulations to everyone on the Partners + Napier/Project: WorldWide team for taking big strides in the fight against multiple sclerosis.