Columbia School Faculty Participate in The 25 Mile MS Bike Ride

By: Edir Coronado
Columbia Middle School Teachers Ashlee Smith and Noelle Fenimore recently embarked on the 25-mile Bike MS Country Challenge in support of those with Multiple Sclerosis. According to the Mayo Clinic, Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). The bike ride was hosted by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and according to the nonprofit their mission states “people affected by MS can live their best lives as we stop MS in its tracks, restore what has been lost and end MS forever.” The bike ride is a fund raiser to help with research, programs, and to raise awareness.
Ashlee and Noelle were made aware of the event by Ashlee’s sister, Sara Smith, who works for the National MS Foundation and organized the event. Ashlee organized the team in Berkeley Heights and recruited Noelle, and others like Principal and Vice Principal Frank G. Geiger and Grace Acosta, respectively. The team didn’t train together, but worked well together, even though this was their first time being involved in an event of this nature, but it won’t be their last. The team plans on possibly training together in the future for other rides.
They already have the next ride planned out, which will be held down the New Jersey shore during the spring. Their hopes are to possibly recruit more staff members, students, and their families to join their ranks. The route, explains Noelle, is flat and wouldn’t be as difficult as the 25-mile hilly course that they completed in the Berkeley Heights area.
Noelle and Ashlee are more than co-workers, they are good friends and when Ashlee approached Noelle about the event, Noelle agreed, but didn’t even own a bike at the time. She now feels that purchasing a bike and agreeing to participate in the event was one of the best investments she has ever made. Noelle contributed to a worthy cause and is now involved in a new hobby, which she thoroughly enjoys.
Word spread throughout the school about their accomplishment and the students are amazed at what their educators have achieved. Apart from what the team at Columbia Middle School have done and what they will do in the spring down at the shore, they also participated in the Walk/Bike to school day on Oct 5th. Ashlee and Noelle biked from their apartment and met up with Frank and Grace, together they all biked amongst their students to school.