Miracle Riders cross halfway point on journey to Coldfoot, Alaska

Six days after pulling off on their journey from Columbus to the Arctic Circle, Scott’s Miracle Riders have crossed the halfway point and are working their way through British Columbia on the way to Coldfoot, Alaska.

“We have traveled 2,371 miles or so, depends on who you ask,” wrote Scott Ressmeyer, founder of the ride, on their blog page.

“For the last two days we have been making our way up through Canada’s Provinces. At first the terrain is much like North Dakota, flat as a fritter, but gradually gave way to gently rolling hills. It goes without saying that it is all, with exception to the mining and oil drilling, absolutely breath taking,” added rider Mike Hamby on another post.

The 17 riders (as well as two others in a chase vehicle) are traveling to the Arctic Circle to raise money and awareness for the Methodist Home for Children & Youth of South Georgia and funds for that organization’s two Our House campuses in Columbus: Carpenter’s Way home for boys and Arabella home for girls.

The ride began in 2009 when Ressmeyer set out across the nation to celebrate his 50th birthday and to raise money for the Children’s Hospital at Midtown Medical Center in Columbus. He later brought dozens more riders and more than $1 million in donations for children’s medical services.

“We covered another 560 miles today, and even though I’m tired and dirty and ready to hit the sack, I sit here and ponder what it must be like for kids,” wrote Hamby. “To have parents that do not and cannot love them, to the point of having to be removed from the home, and it’s worth every mile to try and let them know how much we love and care for them, and support them.”

The riders will return to Columbus for a celebratory homecoming August 11.

This story was originally published July 27, 2017 at 6:05 PM with the headline "Miracle Riders cross halfway point on journey to Coldfoot, Alaska."