I had the pleasure of participating in a wonderful little, three-day event called Bike For Tikes last spring. During those three days, over 130 Bowling Green State University students and I biked 180 miles from Cincinnati to Bowling Green to raise money for The Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in Toledo. The ride helped bring in over $102,000 for this remarkable cause. Riding 180 miles might seem crazy and extremely difficult, but it was, hands down, one of the greatest experiences of my life. I encourage everyone to go on the ride. Here’s why.
1. The miracle children and their families.
Miracle children (children who are helped through Dance Marathon) have no choice but to fight the battle they did not choose. They go through hardships that some of us might never have to experience. This ride offers a tiny glimpse of the everyday struggle these children, or even their families, go through on a daily basis. It allows you to get a a little insight into the incredible strength these individuals have, as well. One of the most powerful and emotional moments for me during my experience was the circle of hope. This is where all participants, who are given a wristband before they begin ZiggyThon or Bike For Tikes, line up in a circle. Miracle children will then go around and remove each participant’s wristband while “I Hope You Dance” plays in the background. The circle of hope occurs at the end of ZiggyThon -- a perfect way to end an amazing weekend
2. It will push you mentally and physically.
Before I decided to participate in Bike For Tikes, I was not the most mentally tough individual. I doubted what I could do all the time, and was constantly my own worst enemy. The voice in the back of my head would always make me aware of my limitations. However, on the ride, I had to push through that. I was reminded why I was participating, who I was riding for, and what obstacles these miracle children face on a daily basis. I broke down my mental barrier to get through every hill or every gust of wind. By overcoming my mental doubts, I was able to bike the entire 180 miles; something I didn’t think I could physically do.
3. Meeting new people.
Nothing is as powerful as being surrounded by people who share a common goal or passion. Every year, a group of college students bike 180 miles for a common cause. We bonded over how much our legs hurt or how awful the previous leg was. We also bonded over our goal of reaching $100,000 for Dance Marathon. The people you meet help you to push yourself to limits you never knew you could reach. Some of these people become great friends.
4. Biker run-in and the final reveal.
This was one of my favorite moments from the three-day journey, but one of the hardest to describe in order to capture how perfect these moments are. I cannot explain the feeling of finishing such a challenging bike ride and running in to hundreds of supporters cheering you on. It’s unreal. However, nothing compares to the moment when the final total is revealed. The pure happiness of everyone in the room is unlike anything I have ever seen. All the hard work, determination, and passion people put into Dance Marathon is shown during the reveal. It’s an amazing feeling to know that every dollar raised goes to helping a miracle child and family. Once the balloons drop, signifying the end of the event, I don’t there’s a dry eye in the room. There’s just this outpour of positive emotion you experience.
It’s hard to really put into words how much participating in Bike For Tikes changed my life. This list does not capture every great thing I went through on the ride, but is merely a small starting point. I hope this sparks your interest in being a part of making miracles happen with each turn of a pedal! 
