Melissa Rutkowski, daughter of Ann and Richard Rutkowski of Manheim Township, completed a 4,295-mile bicycle ride on Aug. 4. As a member of the Bike the US for MS Northern Tier Team, she rode across the U.S. from Bar Harbor, Maine, to Seattle, Wash., in an effort to raise funds to combat multiple sclerosis (MS).
During the 69 days she rode, she passed through 15 states, experienced 164,365 feet of elevation change and completed seven service days for individuals with MS. Her team completed between 48 and 101 miles of riding each day, slept in tents each night and provided their own meals.
While riding, Rutkowski's team delivered funds to UVA's MS Clinic in Charlottesville, Va.; Fairview MS Center in St. Paul, Minn.; and $30,000 to the Swedish MS Center in Seattle. Along the way, her team also funded numerous home modifications, including ramps, stairlifts and hospital beds. This is the third route that Rutkowski has completed for Bike the US for MS. She previously rode from San Diego, Calif., to St. Augustine, Fla., as well as from Seattle to San Diego.
To donate, readers may visit Rutkowski's fundraising page at http://www.biketheusforms.org and make contributions to Northern Tier Ride 2019, specifying that they are supporting Melissa Rutkowski.
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