Cycling team takes road for MS

By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    Four childhood friends not only were making an impact for thousands of people with MS, but they were supporting one of their own, as well.
Contributed photo
FIVE CYCLISTS with Houlton roots participated in a fundraising ride for Multiple Sclerosis in early August. From left are Richard Cleary, Kim (Trickey) Larkins, Jamie Millar, Hollie McGillicuddy and Jane (Harbison) Harmon.
    The “Houlton” team dubbed Steazy Riders (style and ease) had three members among the top 100 fund-raisers from last year and they were also the winning fund-raising riders of teams with under 15 members.
    Kim Larkins, Richard Cleary and former Houlton residents Jane Harbison Harmon, Jamie Millar and Hollie McGillicuddy, along with five others, rode and reminisced through the two-day event. McGillicuddy, Larkins and Cleary all rode last year, but this year, Millar and Harmon joined in.
    “We had a great time riding together and reminiscing about old times,” said Larkins. “It’s amazing how time flies, but there are some friends that you connect with like it was yesterday. It was so wonderful to have Jamie and Jane join us. Our weather was perfect for riding.”
    The first day of the tour was on the warm side, but Larkins said with the summer weather everyone had been experiencing, no one complained.
    A year ago, Larkins suffered a knee injury so this year she took it a little easier.
    “I rode for the enjoyment of being out there and spending time with my friends,” she said. “It was great.”
    The Steazy Riders raised more than $10,000 again, with proceeds going to help find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis.
    For Cleary, this was his third year of participating in the event.    “I rode really fast the first day, leaving all my teammates miles behind and arriving at the finish approximately two hours ahead of them,” he said.
    “The second day, I rode with my teammates and enjoyed the trip to the ocean and the scenic route around Sebago Lake. It is a nice place to visit, but Houlton is home.”
    For Millar, it wasn’t about the ride, but making a difference.
    “It was more about being a caring adult who had the ability to make a small difference,” he said. “Equally important to me was being able to reconnect with my childhood friends.”
    For someone who had never done the ride, Millar realized it could be exhausting.
    “I quickly realized that the physical challenge was without question the single most difficult thing I had ever accomplished,” he said.
    Harmon also realized it was demanding, but she pushed on with one thought in mind.
    “At the most challenging points of the ride, my incentive to keep pushing myself forward was the simple fact that I physically could,” she said. “In respect to those living with MS and unable to do what I take for granted every day, it was rewarding to participate and raise money for this important cause.”
    With each mile rode, the Steazy Riders realized how lucky they were to be able to pedal a bike.
    “It is a great event, with super volunteers and it feels wonderful to be able to bike for such a worthy cause,” said Cleary.
    “I love being on my bike,” added Larkins. “It’s challenging, it’s freeing, it’s peaceful. Sometimes it just takes me where I need to be.”
    Afterwards, Millar felt it was well worth the effort.
    “I am so very proud to be part of such an amazing cause and equally proud to have accomplished this with a contingent of four people from my little home town,” he said.