Marietta Pedal to the Point

For three summers and counting, the men of Beta Rho have pedaled more than 450 miles across the Ohio plains to help fight a crippling disease, multiple sclerosis. The Marietta Taus tackled the August heat and joined the likes of 2,300 people in the Bike MS 2010, known as "Pedal to the Point."
 
“It just so happens my mother has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis,” said Chapter President Blake Johnson, Marietta ’08. “She was diagnosed about 10 years ago so this ride is really important.”
 
“We found more and more people in our ATO family that were impacted by Multiple Sclerosis,” said Chapter Advisor Roger Patterson, Marietta ’60. Patterson’s wife suffers from the inflammatory disease.
 
After becoming reacquainted with the chapter a few years ago, Patterson suggested that the chapter participate in "Pedal to the Point" and have the event become the chapter's Signature Event. 
With multiple fundraising drives in the spring and fall, including letter campaigns and a spaghetti dinner, the small chapter helped raise more than $10,000.
 
“It’s a 365 day commitment and we plan accordingly,” said Sean McKenna, Marietta '09. "It’s not a select few guys who plan this it’s everybody. Everybody buys into it. It affects all of us, so it’s important to give back to a cause that is as visible to us.”
 
“It’s wonderful to have young people from Alpha Tau Omega here supporting the organization,” said Janet Kramer, president of the Ohio buckeye chapter of the national multiple sclerosis society. “It’s amazing how they all come together and help us to support people with MS.”
 
Pedal to the Point now grosses over $1 million.