For one Oklahoma City man, there is no place he would rather be than out on the open road on his bicycle. In a little over a week, Chip Minty will have ridden 65 consecutive days, and according to News 9 it is all for a good cause. What began as a personal passion has, over the years, turned into something far bigger for him.
Minty found that passion and his place of peace on a bike at the age of 15, and he has always been drawn to challenges involving long distances. He has raced and competed in triathlons over the years, and he still remembers riding 400 miles in 24 hours back in 1987, a feat that shows just how deep his appetite for endurance cycling runs.
A few years ago, though, he discovered a new purpose behind his riding. In 2005 he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a moment that could have ended his time on the bike for good. Instead, he kept going, and he points out that the medication he takes today is vastly improved over what was available when he was first diagnosed, calling the progress being made against MS amazing.
Now Minty is preparing for what he describes as his most emotional ride yet, an event called Bike the US for MS. For him the timing felt like more than coincidence, and he said he thought it must be a God thing, given that he himself lives with the disease the ride is meant to support.
About 40 cyclists are due to set off on June 14 from Yorktown, Virginia, and to finish in San Francisco 65 days later. Over that stretch they will cover roughly 3,800 miles, averaging around 65 miles a day. It is a punishing schedule that turns the cross-country journey into a test of stamina as much as a fundraising effort.
The ride is designed to raise both awareness and money for multiple sclerosis. As a group, the riders are approaching 400,000 dollars raised for research and patient services, while Minty has personally brought in about 16,000 dollars. According to the report, he is also the only participant on this ride who has been diagnosed with MS.
His message to others is one of perseverance. He says people can push through MS and remain active, and that cycling is a perfect form of exercise for those living with the condition. News 9 featured his story in its Something Good segment and pointed viewers to a link where they can support his ride as he sets out to cross the country.