Eleven friends join 2013 Scott's Ride for Miracles to benefit Children's Miracle Network at The Medical Center

COLUMBUS, Ga., April 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Eleven friends will join Columbus businessman Scott Ressmeyer this year for the fifth annual "Scott's Ride for Miracles" to benefit Children's Miracle Network at The Medical Center in Columbus, Georgia.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130403/CL85492-a )
(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130403/CL85492LOGO-b )

On Friday, May 3 at 11:30 a.m., Ressmeyer, co-owner of Country's Barbecue, and 11 friends will board their motorcycles at The Medical Center and embark upon a 21-day, 48-state journey to raise awareness and money for the needs and services supported by Children's Miracle Network at The Medical Center. 

Joining Ressmeyer will be Mike Langford of Cataula; Larry Suits, Rick Stinson, Brian Brock, Raymond Eckel and Butch Thomas of Columbus; Mike Jolley of Hamilton; Gary McDowell of Manchester; James Cole and Brad Hansen of Midland; and Ronnie Wilson of Salem, Alabama. In addition to taking time off work and funding all personal expenses associated with the ride including hotels, meals and gasoline, each of Scott's Miracle Riders is committed to raising at least $2,500 to participate in the nearly 9,000-mile trek across the United States.

Ressmeyer launched the event four years ago as a one-time, solo ride to commemorate his 50^th birthday and to raise money for CMN at The Medical Center. Convinced by Harris County Sheriff Mike Jolley to repeat this endeavor, Ressmeyer expanded the Ride in 2010 to include 10 additional Miracle Riders; Thirteen Riders joined Ressmeyer on the 2011 and 2012 journeys.

To date, Scott's Ride for Miracles has raised more than $430,000 to purchase equipment for the NICU and PICU at The Medical Center.  Ressmeyer says the ultimate goal now is to raise $1 million over the course of the Ride.

"This has always been about the babies and the children," Ressmeyer says. "Riding through rain, hail, wind and around tornadoes is nothing compared to what some of these little ones endure every day. Their strength and perseverance are what inspire us 365 days a year but, particularly, over the twenty-one days when we are on the road. We battle for those who need a little extra help in their fight, and maybe someday, they will get to hop on a motorcycle or run in a race or write a check or organize an event that will do the same for someone else."

The Miracle Riders plan to visit patients at several CMN hospitals along the way. They will also contribute to a blog to journal their travels. People interested in following their blogs may log onto www.rideformiracles.com. Once their journey begins, people may visit the same website to track the riders' route in real time.

Providing support for the event include Presenting Sponsor Mercedes Benz of Columbus; Event sponsors Aflac, Columbus Tape and Video, Columbus Visitors Bureau, Country's Barbecue, Neonatology Associates, TSYS; and Bike Wrap Sponsor Wells Fargo Bank.

The 2013 Scott's Ride for Miracles received a special donation at the kickoff ceremony. The Grainger Foundation has donated $50,000 to Scott's Ride in support of The Children's Miracle Network at The Medical Center. This donation was recommended by Brian Brock, Branch Manager of W.W. Grainger, Inc.'s Columbus, Ga., location, and 2013 Miracle Rider.  Grainger has been a part of the Columbus business community for more than 23 years as the leading broad line supplier of maintenance, repair, and operating products.  The Grainger Foundation, an independent, private foundation based in Lake Forest, Illinois, was established in 1949 by William W. Grainger, founder of W.W. Grainger, Inc.

Anyone can make a donation to the 2013 Scott's Ride for Miracles by logging onto the event's website at www.rideformiracles.com.

Additionally, local motorcycle enthusiasts have the opportunity to escort Scott and his Miracle Riders as they depart Columbus and as they return for their welcome celebration at the Columbus Riverwalk on Friday, May 24.  To register for this opportunity, motorcyclists may log onto www.rideformiracles.com.

Contact: Anne Holmes
(706) 660-6566; (706) 320-1305 (pager)
[email protected]

SOURCE The Medical Center