Biking for Babies

Bicyclists will cover 1,200 miles in one week to raise money for Biking for Babies.

Biking for Babies is an anti-abortion organization that hosts an annual charity ride to raise money and awareness for other anti-abortion organizations and crisis pregnancy centers, which counsel pregnant women and their families against having an abortion and offer various forms of support. This year Biking for Babies will raise money for eight organizations in the Midwest. Bikers will start in New Orleans on May 21 and ride to Chicago, their longest trip to date.

Ten bikers will be participating in the ride, biking between 90 and 190 miles a day. The group has been preparing for the ride by cycling long distances, running and weight training. Many of the riders also compete in triathlons and marathons. They will be making stops along the way with host families and parishes, where they will speak about Biking for Babies' mission.

The team will be making stops in Columbia, Jackson and Greenwood in Mississippi; Memphis in Tennessee; Cape Girardeau in Missouri and Freeburg, Champaign and Chicago in Illinois. Last year Biking for Babies raised over $21,000 for Living Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center in Illinois, Students for Life of Illinois and Women's Care Center in Wisconsin.

Southeast Missouri State University senior Cory Ross will be one of the 10 riders making this journey.

Ross has been biking for about four years. He started when some of his friends got road bikes and they began to ride up to 30 miles at a time. This is the first time Ross has been a part of the Biking for Babies ride. His friend co-founded the organization and asked Ross to join last fall.

"I feel compelled to ride because of all of the babies out there that have no voice, that can't stand up for themselves, and also for the mothers out there that are in need of real alternatives to abortion," Ross said. "I would like to see a positive change within the crisis pregnancy centers as they are able to provide healthy alternatives and give hope to women likely to choose abortion or feel as if they have no other option."

Ross believes that life begins at the point of conception.

"Unborn children are more than tissue," Ross said. "They are more than a mistake. They are much more and deserve to be stood up for, or ridden for in this case. This goes for all people. The dignity of the human person needs to be guarded from conception to natural death. Every choice counts and one person can make a difference. Choose life, your momma did."

Biking for Babies riders hope to raise $40,000 on this trip. They already are receiving donations through BikingforBabies.com and have raised $6,967 as of April 27. Ross said the majority of donations are received during the ride from local parishes and individuals. The riders have already begun speaking to parishes to increase awareness of their mission.