On July 8, the “Biking for Babies” event will stop in Hillsdale

Elyse Apel
| Special to The Hillsdale Daily News

HILLSDALE — On July 8, Hillsdale will be a stop on the 2024 National Biking for Babies Ride.

Biking for Babies is a pro-life nonprofit organization “that aims to renew the culture of life by training young adult missionaries who raise funds and awareness for pregnancy centers.”

While in Hillsdale, the seven-member team will stop at the Helping Hands Resource Center of Hillsdale, the local resource center for pregnant women.

“We will stop at the Helping Hands Pregnancy Resource Center to learn more about their support for women and families, meet Bud Vear, Hillsdale Right to Life’s veteran leader, and then enjoy dinner and an overnight stay with a local family,” said Sarah Wiese, director of operations and marketing for Biking for Babies.

There will also be a public event at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Plymouth on Sunday 7th July, which the public is invited to attend.

“Our missionaries bike over 100 miles a day to celebrate the dignity of every life and to spread the good news about pregnancy resource centers that support women and families locally and nationally,” said Valerie Fetsch, Biking for Babies volunteer. “This year, our goal is to raise $450,000 for pregnancy centers and maternity homes. This would provide substantial financial support to our 95 partner pregnancy centers!”

The event was started in 2009 by Jimmy Becker and Mike Schaefer while they were traveling through Illinois.

“They raised over $14,000 that year. And they had the experience of visiting the center on their trip and holding one of the babies that had been saved through the work of the center. They knew then that this work had to continue and get stronger,” Wiese said.

Since then, support for this hike has grown every year.

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“Since 2009, B4B has trained 216 missionary pilots and support team members, who have raised awareness and more than $1,614,180 for 127 pregnancy centers and maternity homes across the United States.”

Nikki Biese is the executive director of Biking for Babies and is excited to participate in this year’s race.

“Women who come to pregnancy centers are looking for hope in their crisis; they are finding hope and a voice that tells them they can do this, and we are here to help. Women are welcomed and loved unconditionally, and these centers pass that love on to their unborn children, their born children, and their families,” she said. “Our team is committed to providing that hope to countless more women and creating a world where advocating for the flourishing of all women, from conception to natural death, is not just the best option, but the only option.”

To learn more about Biking for Babies, visit bikingforbabies.com.

— Elyse Apel is a correspondent for the Hillsdale Daily News. You can reach her by email at [email protected].