A team of six bicyclists rolled into Richmond at noon on July 11, completing the fourth leg of a six-day journey from Belmont Abbey in Charlotte, North Carolina, to Arlington. Alex Bedinghaus, one of the cyclists on the team, called the 70-mile trip from Blackstone “a short day.”
“We rode 135 miles yesterday,” he explained. “So today was kind of nice.”
The six cyclists, along with three members of the support team who travel with them by van, are missionaries from the Biking for Babies organization. The nine of them – all in their 20s and 30s – were dedicated to raising money for pregnancy centers across the country by embarking on a six-day, 600-mile trek. Though the ride itself takes place once a year, the missionaries are with the organization from March through September.
Each missionary is assigned to a pregnancy resource center, and they each raise money individually for that center. Bedinghaus partners with Babies and Beyond in Madison, Wisconsin, where he lives.
“They care for material needs of women who can’t afford things like diapers, baby wipes, cribs, books and toys,” Bedinghaus explained. “A lot of people don’t know pregnancy resource centers exist. Our hope is that, if people knew more about the centers, they wouldn’t see abortion as an option.”
“At the core of our mission is the Gospel of life,” said Executive Director Nikki Biese.
In 2023, 79 missionaries from Biking for Babies raised $341,000 for 80 pregnancy centers across the country.
The team of nine was one of nine teams nationwide, three of which were headed to Arlington, six of which were headed to St. Louis, Missouri.
‘Who are you fighting for?’
Although Ana Daley did not ride 600 miles, she still had a lot on her plate from July 8-13. As a member of the support team, it was her job to make sure the cycling team was hydrated, cool and safe. The support team also coordinated lodging at the destinations along the way.
“In support group, we have later nights and earlier mornings,” Daley explained. “Everyone’s tired, but overall, everything has gone smoothly. There are things that go wrong, but it always resolves itself. We have a lot of trust that things are going to work out.”
Daley noted that the highest heat index they saw was 103 degrees. Cyclist Olivia Wieber, a student at Boise State University, said, “Support crew is what keeps us alive. They make us breakfast, they do our laundry. When our jerseys are soaked and our glasses are so smudged we can’t see anything, they meet us every ten miles and take care of us.”
Bedinghaus and other team members like Jonathan Eger are avid cyclists. Wieber, meanwhile, only began riding long distance this year.
“We started training in March, and I did my first 90-mile ride a few weeks ago,” she said. “There were a lot of fears coming up. I’m not trying to permanently injure myself. And it’s so hot. It’s a very mental thing.”
To stay focused, Wieber said that she remembers why she is cycling. “Before and after every ride, every workout, we’re praying for the centers and all the moms with unplanned pregnancies,” she said. “We find a reason. We pray about them throughout the trip, and we ask ourselves – who are you fighting for?”
“On a lot of the rides, we pray rosaries together. Whenever people are struggling, we lift that up in prayer,” said Bedinghaus.
“This is an offering. All of us believe that, that we can offer up our suffering for moms going through unplanned pregnancies,” he continued. “We pray on the bike and help each other along. Without that, you can’t do it by yourself.”
Jess Kantra, who is in her third year with Biking for Babies, was the route leader. The longest day of the route was 135 miles, but in past years, Kantra has travelled 165 miles in one day.
“I did it twice, by the grace of God,” she said. “We prioritize sticking together. If someone needs to take it slow for a bit, everybody slows down. It’s really fun, too – good vibes all around.”
All six cyclists raised at least $2,500 apiece; Amanda Nolan led the way with over $11,500 raised. Donations continue to pour in as the team’s total, now north of $32,000, approaches the stated goal of $47,286.
“We tell our friends, neighbors, and anyone we meet,” said Wieber.
Bedinghaus said that though he was looking forward to sleeping, he felt that the team was only just reaching its potential in the second half of the week.
“It takes a few days before the team matures together,” he said. “Today, I felt like we finally got to the point where everyone’s having fun on the bike, trusting each other, talking about our faith.”
Go and proclaim the Gospel
After visiting their host families to shower and change, the team returned to the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Richmond, for 5 p.m. Mass, followed by dinner across the street at the Virginia Commonwealth University Catholic Campus Ministry house.
Father Tony Marques, who celebrated Mass, noted that the Gospel reading was a fitting one. The passage from Matthew 10:7-15 recalled the commissioning of the Twelve to go out – without money, sandals, a walking stick or a second tunic – and proclaim the Gospel.
“Without cost you have received,” Jesus said to his disciples. “Without cost you are to give.”
In his homily, Father Marques said, “The Gospel is to be proclaimed in the intersection of life. This is not, ‘Let’s have a seminar.’ This is proclaiming the Gospel in the life of the family, in the ordinary circumstances of daily life, and you enter into that in this trek you are making.”
“It’s a reminder to those of us here what our lives are supposed to be about,” he continued. “God has given us everything, and God inspires in us a generous response. Your example is here, helping us to make this proclamation in our own lives.”