Since high school, Father Edouard B. Guilloux, parochial vicar of St. John the Apostle Church in Leesburg, has fostered a love for cycling. Today, he uses his athletic talents to support and raise awareness for Biking for Babies.
“Our pro-life efforts cannot simply be a ‘no’ to abortion, but also an enthusiastic ‘yes’ to life itself,” Father Guilloux said.
Biking for Babies is a pro-life nonprofit that organizes national bike rides across the country to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for mothers in need. This year, the nonprofit took an ambitious approach, organizing multiple cross-country rides in one weeklong event known as the National Ride. Some 79 young adults completed this ride, cycling more than 100 miles per day and fundraising more than $230,000. Each cyclist — known as a missionary — has a fundraising goal that they set and work toward over the course of the year.
“We have really transformed from a fun ride, raising money for a really good cause, to an organization that’s a full program that offers young adults opportunities to put their beliefs into action,” Executive Director Nikki Biese said.
It is imperative for Catholics to support pro-life organizations in the wake of last year’s Supreme Court ruling that made abortion a matter for the states, said Father Guilloux. “It’s important to remember that when the number of abortions decreases, there is a corresponding increase in the number of women and families in crisis pregnancies who need help.”
Starting July 10, Father Guilloux and 13 missionaries donned their bright yellow jerseys and began their 600-mile journey. Beginning in Columbus, Ohio, and Amsterdam, N.Y., the two routes joined in Washington and ended at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Arlington July 15. When the cyclists finally stopped at St. Charles, they were greeted by nearly 20 Biking for Babies volunteers, friends and family for a “Celebration of Life” event, including a vigil Mass, dinner and speakers.
The days are long, said Melissa Caromano, a missionary from Phoenixville, Pa. “You wake up at 4 a.m., and we bike until around 3 p.m. We get on the road around 5 a.m. So they’re long days in the sun and it takes just a lot of mental and physical energy.”
In spite of the physical, mental and emotional suffering — in addition to waking up in the middle of the night — she said that the spiritual benefits are worth it.
“I feel like the challenges seem so small compared to the joys,” said Mary Ohm, a missionary from Wichita, Kan. Despite flat tires, wrong turns, road closures and detours, “we’ve been able to receive and be with Jesus every day on this journey.”
Biking for Babies was founded in 2009 by college students Jimmy Becker and Mike Schaeffer, who decided to bike 600 miles across the midwest to raise awareness and funds for pregnant mothers in need at Living Alternatives, a pregnancy resource organization in Illinois. After their trip, they had raised $14,000 for Living Alternatives. Today, the nonprofit has raised nearly $1.5 million for pregnancy resource centers.
“The staff and volunteers at these pregnancy resource centers are in the trenches doing the hard work,” Ohm said. “So we’re just trying to help them so they can continue to serve the women and babies who need help.”
