Raising funds in Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE - Thomas Beasley peddled 204,000 miles so far to raise money for multiple sclerosis (MS).

Inspired by a friend's death, Beasley lives on the road, raising money for the Iowa Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He estimates his efforts raised approximately $113,300 in 17 years and seven months.

The Anaheim, Calif., man arrived on his bicycle in Moses Lake Wednesday and planned to stay through Friday morning to collect funds for his cause.

"I've been through 58 sets of tires, 13 girlfriends and been hit by cars nine times," Beasley said.

The strong winds made riding up a hill difficult for him as he rode in Ritzville on his way to Seattle, and someone offered a ride.

"The wind was so strong, I couldn't even push my bike up (the hill)," he said.

Beasley accepted the ride, but he decided to stop in Moses Lake instead of riding all the way to Seattle. He hoped to stay in Moses Lake until Friday morning.

The inspiration for raising funds came for Beasley after he met a friend at 15 years old, as he trained to compete in the Tour de France. He met the friend at a park, and they rode their bicycles side by side. They decided to join the Tour de France together.

The friend advised Beasley to travel across the country a few times to train. When Beasley was 20 years old he took the advice. When he finished training two years later, he learned his friend died of multiple sclerosis.

He counts 62 trips across the U.S., but the first six were without a trailer. Now, he rides with a trailer hitched to the back announcing his cause.

Beasley said he learned to ride a bike when he was 6 years old. He found a hard-wheeled bicycle abandoned at the top of a hill and rode it down, crashing into a tree.

Beasley accepts checks made out to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He can be reached at Ramada Inn, at 509-766-1000, room 207.