Higgins uses pedal power to raise money for worthy causes

Published 12:00 am Thursday, September 8, 2005

To ride a bike for the fun of it is one thing, but to ride for a good cause is quite another.

On Sept. 24 and 25, Karen Higgins will be riding to raise donations for the John N. Whitaker Memorial MS 150 Bike Tour at Orange Beach.

"I do it for the cause," Higgins, who has ridden off and on for the last 20 years, said. "I am blessed with good health, so if I can ride my bike and help someone else, that means the most to me."

Higgins will cover 150 miles over the two-day period. However, this is not the first time she has ridden her bike to raise money for a charitable organization. In addition to multiple sclerosis, she has helped to raise money for the American Lung Association, Parkinson's disease, and Relay for Life.

"The Relay for Life ride was 106 miles," Higgins said. "That was the most fun because we were riding at night. We had 33 riders who raised $65,000 for that one event."

Last year, Higgins came in seventh place as one of the bike tour's 'Top Bananas" since she raised over $1,000. In fact, she brought in $3,600 for the MS 150 Bike Tour last year. All of the money raised will fund research toward the cause and cure of MS.

Please make checks payable to the National M.S. Society, and mail them to Curves International, 521 Greenville Bypass, Greenville, AL

36037.