HOUSTON, April 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- This past weekend on April 21-22, 2012, 34 partners, associates, staff, family and friends of Susman Godfrey L.L.P. rode 170 miles from Houston to Austin as part of the BP MS150.   As part of that ride, the team's members have raised almost $180,000 to support research to find a cure and treatment for multiple sclerosis.  For the first year, this makes Susman Godfrey the event's largest law firm team fundraiser.  More important, Team Susman Godfrey is currently ranked as one of the top ten teams in fundraising and the only team in the top ten with less than 100 riders.  Susman Godfrey's fundraising for the 2012 BP MS 150 represents a dramatic increase in the firm's commitment to this worthwhile cause.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120424/DA93747-a)

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120424/DA93747-b)

A large portion of this year's fundraising success is due to the Team's founder and largest fundraiser Stephen Susman.  After raising over $35,000 last year and placing 11th on the overall fundraising list, Susman set the bar much higher for his third year of riding.  At 71 years of age, Susman set out to raise more money than anyone else and ride every one of the 170 miles from Houston to Austin.  After sending one email three weeks ago, Susman has currently raised over $85,000 placing him firmly in the number two fundraising spot.  And after completing the ride Sunday afternoon, he made clear he intends to be number one by the fundraising deadline on July 31, 2012.  Susman commented "I realized as I rode 170 miles across Texas and saw all the riders, volunteers and cheering supporters, that this ride means a lot to the hundreds of thousands of people afflicted with this terrible disease each year.  And I can help do something about that.  I have always strived to be number one at everything I have done in my life and this ride is no different.  I wanted to pedal every mile, and I want to be the number one fundraiser and proudly wear the number one on my jersey next year at 72 years of age as I ride across Texas."

Susman's example motivates the rest of his team as well.  This year, Team Susman Godfrey included 34 riders with lawyers for the first time riding from every one of the firm's offices in Seattle, Los Angeles, New York, Dallas and Houston.   Riders included 23 associates and partners (representing over 25% of the firm's total lawyers). 

The team is led by Team Captain Trey Peacock who is in his seventh year of riding this event.  Peacock led all of the team's 34 riders safely across the finish line in Austin in an outstanding end to a great ride.  After Susman's astounding fundraising effort, Peacock said "When I first asked Steve to ride three years ago, I hoped it would motivate others at our firm to join us, ride with us and help our team have a real presence each year.  Never in my wildest dreams did I think he would become so focused on the fundraising side of the ride.  What he has done means a lot to the MS Society and to his fellow team riders.  Every year, we wait patiently, proudly, and happily for Steve to join up with us to cross the finish line together.  Next year, we will wait past sundown if necessary to be there when Steve finishes as one of the event's top fundraisers." 

On a special note, Susman completed the ride this year along with his son Harry and his brother Tommy, who came down from Washington to ride with him this year.    For the Susman family, the ride has become a family tradition, and Steve hopes to ride next year with other family members. 

Organized by the Lone Star Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the BP MS150 is the largest MS150 ride in the nation with over 12,000 riders.  This year's BP MS150 is expected to raise over $17,000,000 to fund research and treatment for multiple sclerosis. 

SOURCE Susman Godfrey