This story should give hope to those of you who’ve written off the Millennial generation as self-absorbed or lazy: while many college and graduate students are no doubt spending the sweltering midpoint of summer break lounging by the pool or playing video games in air-conditioned basements, an intrepid group of pro-life young people have planned something else entirely for the month of July – an eight-day cross-country bike-a-thon to raise money for crisis pregnancy centers.
“Biking for Babies,” now in its sixth year, was born of a 2008 phone call between two friends, Jimmy Becker and Mike Schaefer, who were barely in college at the time. Both young men were passionately pro-life. Both felt strongly that the best way to stop abortion was to make it as easy as possible for women to choose to keep their babies.
“A choice requires options,” the group explains in a 2012 video promoting that summer’s ride. “Mothers need an alternative to abortion, real alternatives that actually respect their dignity as a mother and the dignity of their unborn child.” In their view, the best way to reach mothers in need is through crisis pregnancy centers, which offer counseling, financial assistance, and practical help to pregnant women.
Crisis pregnancy centers help millions of mothers every year with free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, and baby supplies including diapers, clothing, cribs, carseats and more. But even though their services are free to the women who need them, they’re not truly “free” – someone has to pay for it.
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That’s where “Biking for Babies” comes in. Since Becker and Schaefer founded the group in 2008, more than 20 young men and women have participated as riders or support crew members on bicycle trips which have passed through 6 states, ridden nearly 5,000 miles, and raised over $140,000 for crisis pregnancy centers.
This summer, three teams of young riders will set out on July 12 from three southern cities – St. Augustine, New Orleans, and Dallas – and bicycle northward for eight days before meeting in Chicago July 20 for a celebratory dinner. Along the way, they hope to raise money for 17 pregnancy centers in 11 states.
If you would like to support these young bicyclists in their efforts to increase the reach of crisis pregnancy centers nationwide, you can make a tax-deductible donation online by clicking here. If you prefer to donate by check, make it out to “Biking for Babies” and send it to the following address:
Biking for Babies
P.O. Box 252
Sikeston, MO 63801
Meanwhile, if you’re in the Chicago area and want to celebrate with all three teams of riders on July 20, tickets to the group dinner at Holy Trinity Church are on sale for $15 here.
Kudos to this group, and thanks for bolstering our faith in your generation.