Bicyclist raising money for MS

Beasley has ridden 198,200 miles and raised $109,340
for the MS society.

By WILLIAM K. ALCORN

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

BOARDMAN — Thomas Beasley is hoping for a big ending to his 16 years of zigzagging across the country on his bicycle raising awareness and money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society — and also for the last chapter of his book, “The Most Famous Bike Rider Nobody Knows.”

“I hope someone will write a big check to the Multiple Sclerosis Society and that I’ll meet the girl of my dreams,” he said during an interview Wednesday.

The California native, in the Youngstown area until Saturday morning, started riding for MS in 1991 to honor his friend and mentor, John Toodle, who died of the chronic, progressive illness that affects the nerves in the brain, spinal cord and other parts of the central nervous system.

The two had been training to enter the Tour de France, which he said would have cost them $100,000.

Using that amount, Beasley established a goal to raise $100,000 for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society by biking around the country, and, except for the winter months, has pretty much been riding full time since.

Now 35, it has taken him nearly half his life, but as of Wednesday, after “16 years, 8 months and 4 days” and 198,200 miles on the road, he had raised $109,340 for MS.

He plans to leave the Boardman area Saturday morning for the Akron-Canton area, and then visit Cleveland and Sandusky. After that, he said he will head for his ultimate destination this trip, Memphis, Tenn., passing through Terre Haute, Ind., and other small and midsize cities on the way.

At Camelot Lanes

In the meantime, Beasley is scheduled to be at Camelot Lanes, 628 Boardman-Canfield Road, at 6 p.m. Friday attempting to raise money for MS. He also planned to stop at other local businesses to seek permission to raise money in their establishments.

He said he has been most successful raising money at bars, tattoo parlors and bowling centers. The top two businesses, which have produced 50 percent of what he has raised — beauty shops and auto repair shops.

Beasley said he gets by personally on $8 to $10 a day. Once he explains what he is doing, he said many of the hotels donate a room, and food establishments offer him meals. Sometimes he works odd jobs to make ends meet, and sometimes people donate traveling money to him.

Most of his equipment, which includes a Gary Fisher bike and Burley bike trailer, is donated by the manufacturers.

Making a difference

Beasley explains his obsession to ride.

“My satisfaction comes from knowing I’m making a difference. I know I am [making a difference] when someone comes up to me and says they have a mother or a brother with MS and thank me. That’s how I want to make my mark” in life, he said.

That’s also what he says keeps him going when he is hurtling nearly out of control down a mountainside into a valley at 50 mph and then struggling on foot back up the other side dragging his mountain bike and trailer, containing 120 pounds of gear.

The treks around the country haven’t all been sunshine and light.

There have been cold fronts, storms and heat. He has been hit by vehicles nine times and broken his collarbone and some ribs.

But, still he kept riding.

Now, however, that he has exceeded his monetary goal, and is nearing the 200,000-mile mark, he says the project is coming to an end.

He started his 2007 ride March 8 in Tampa Bay, Fla., and said that “no matter where I am on Dec. 1, I’m quitting. I want to be somewhere for Christmas this year.”

Beasley can be contacted at the Holiday Inn in Boardman until Saturday morning. The telephone number is (330) 726-1611. People can also donate by sending checks or money orders on Beasley’s behalf to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 8187 University Blvd., Suite B, Clive, IA 50325.

alcorn@vindy.com