For more than a decade, employees from HOLT CAT, the Caterpillar dealer for south, central, north and east Texas, have supported the fight against Multiple Sclerosis by participating in an annual 150-mi. bike ride. On Oct. 11 and 12, HOLT continued that tradition with 18 riders participating in Bike MS: Valero Ride to the River 2014, raising approximately $42,000.

The riders joined hundreds of other supporters on the 150-mi. course, which originated in San Antonio and ended at the Comal County Fairgrounds, with checkpoints in Seguin, New Braunfels, and Canyon Lake.

This year, the HOLT MS Bike Ride team again ranked among the top 10 fundraising teams, with participants representing HOLT’s San Antonio, Pflugerville, Irving, Fort Worth and Corpus Christi locations.

In the past decade, HOLT and HOLT employees have raised approximately half-a-million dollars used by the National MS Society for funding research, education and helping families in need. Bike MS is held in multiple cities across the United States and is the non-profit organization’s largest fundraising source.

For the HOLT riders, reasons to participate in Bike MS this year were deeply personal.

On June 13, HOLT employees lost a dear friend to MS.

“She was a warrior in her battles against her physical challenges and affliction, and God has called her home,” Team Captain and HOLT Power Systems Rental Manager Tom Barry said.

“I started riding because of her and continue because of others like her, including my cousin, who was recently diagnosed with MS.”

Barry and three other HOLT riders have participated in the annual event since its inception:

John Groweg, Julie Kenfield, and her husband Guy Clumpner. Clumpner is HOLT’s senior vice president of organizational development services.

“Our continued dedication to creating a world free of multiple sclerosis would not be possible without the generous support from our Bike MS: Valero Ride to the River corporate partners such as HOLT CAT,” said Tony Ralf, vice president of development for the National MS Society in San Antonio.

“People living with MS nationwide have better access to life-changing services than ever before because of the support we receive from corporations like HOLT CAT.”

Along with participating in the bike ride, HOLT also sponsored the first rest and refueling stop, with employees, friends and family members distributing refreshments to volunteers as they continued on their journey.

“We have had a number of friends and associates who are directly or indirectly affected by MS,” said Clumpner.

“We see cycling as a wonderful way to invest in ourselves, while linking our activities to a greater cause: improving the lives of others.”

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