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Springfield, Missouri
MS Bike Ride
 "One Who Rode in My Honor" 
by LindaK aka OasisOP

Niki Wallen (center) & the Umlauf sisters

It’s always nice when someone does something kind for you, but it’s particularly humbling when someone does a kindness for you and they don’t know you nor have they met you.

I have been the recipient of such a kindness and just recently discovered the depth of that kindness.  My daughter directs the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Ozark Tech Community College in Springfield, Missouri.  Whether it’s good or not, occasionally her mother becomes the subject of some of her illustrations, and the fact that I have Multiple Sclerosis is part of that discussion.

Recently one of her students found that information of particular interest and she decided to ride the Springfield MS 150 Bike Ride in my honor.  More recently, I had the honor of meeting Niki at a Physical Therapy Conference in Denver and had the opportunity to thank her in person.

Her name is Niki Wallen and this is her story . . .

“I had worked at Sunshine Bike Shop (Springfield, Missouri) for four years. The owner, Kevin Umlauf, was always an avid sponsor of the MS 150 and his enthusiasm was contagious. The MS 150 consists of riding your bike 150 miles in two days. So in order to prepare for this challenge, Kevin and the bike shop would put on 20, 30 and 50-mile MS 150 training rides every Saturday to help cyclists of any age better prepare for the long 150 miles that were ahead of them. Kevin and I would help to draw and drive the routes – marking on the roads which way to go – so cyclists would not get lost. In addition to the Saturday rides, there are nightly rides  –Monday through Thursday  – that take place in different parts of Springfield. On these nightly rides, there are usually 20-40 people who participate, and around 50-60 riders on Saturday (it depends how hilly it is!)

"I continued to work at the Bike Shop through college because Kevin was always flexible with my school hours. After I decided to enroll in the Physical Therapy Assistant Program directed by your daughter – a tough but awesome program – I had to quit the bike shop and fully concentrate on school.

"One day Kevin found out he had to have surgery … to make a long story short, he ended up passing away in the hospital due to a blood clot. It was very sudden and everyone was in disbelief because he was such a healthy individual. The girls and Kevin's mom are now the owners and run the bike shop.

"Kevin will always remain in my heart as a fun-loving individual who would give you the shirt off his back if he needed to. He loved to get people involved in biking and riding in the MS 150. I am proud to say that every time I get on a bike, a little piece of Kevin is always with me.

"Kevin's picture is proudly displayed on the wall behind the register at the bike shop as a reminder to keep on riding no matter how curvy the road is.
 

"The Sunshine Bike Shop motto:

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at you back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall softly, only after your ride.
And until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of his hand.”

 Thank you, Niki!


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