Pedal with Purpose: Viridien Takes on the MS 150 and Advances MS Research

This year, Team CGG marks 20 years in the Texas MS 150, riding for the Multiple Sclerosis Society with more than 3 million dollars raised … and counting!

2023 marks the 20th anniversary of Team CGG’s involvement in the Texas MS 150 annual ride. Participants cover 150 miles by bicycle to benefit medical research funded by the Multiple Sclerosis Society in its fight against Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a degenerative condition impacting the brain, spinal cord and nervous system.

With groups of riders from Houston and Austin converging in La Grange and then moving on to College Station to cross the finish line, the Texas MS 150 is one of the most respected charitable cycling events in the United States. 

Millions raised for research 

Team CGG’s commitment to the ride over the past twenty years is nothing to scoff at, and the money they have raised over the years is perhaps even more impressive. 

“We’ve raised almost $3.2 million for the Multiple Sclerosis Society over the past two decades through our involvement in the MS 150. We set a goal of about $100,000 yearly and aim to be in the top ten teams. Our colleagues are very generous, and our total raised is also boosted by CGG matching half of the collected donations,” says Larry Sanders, longtime CGG employee and captain of the Team CGG cyclists. 

“This is a huge incentive to train and fundraise as much as possible. And we also see real progress in the search for the cure for MS. Since 2004, 16 treatments have been approved, including the first treatment for children! And what’s even more encouraging is that more progress has been made in MS research in the last 5 years than the 70 preceding.” 

Fundraising is the core of participation, but the ride is also physically demanding. “You’ve got to train, train, train,” Larry advises anyone interested in getting involved. 

“We do 12 group training rides before the big event. Every Saturday, we ride between 25 and 75 miles. Getting used to riding in a group is important, especially if you’ve never done it before. We ride 160 miles over the two days on the event weekend.” 

Tongue-in-cheek traditions 

The success and longevity of Team CGG can in part be attributed to the many fun traditions built up over the years that keep cyclists coming back. 

“In 2006, one of our teammates couldn’t make a training ride and sent us a strange message: ‘I can’t ride, I’ve got a case of the goat.’ It turns out that spell check changed gout to goat. So, we decided to call ourselves ‘The Goats’,” Larry explains.

This spirit of fun and camaraderie overlays every anecdote Larry tells about Team CGG. 

“Team CGG is pretty close. We have about seven employees riding on the team this year. Another ten or 15 are friends and family. To join The Goats, however, you must buy a round of beers for everyone,” says Larry. “We wear our Team CGG jerseys on Day One, then The Goat jerseys come out on Day Two.” 

Team CGG has another special tradition on Day Two: “There’s a group of cyclists with MS who tend to ride together, many of whom aren’t physically able to make the entire trip. Team CGG has become friends with this group over the years, so we meet up at a staging area near the finish line so we can cross together,” Larry says. 

“Once we cross, we pass out yellow roses to all the riders with MS. It’s very emotional.” 

Other traditions involve creative fundraising efforts. 

“It’s hard to do group fundraising because my teammates don’t all work together, but we plan to host a silent auction this year. Many vendors donate goods like coolers, laptops and espresso machines we can auction off.” 

Individual riders can host their own fundraisers too: “I used to cook barbecue for the group I worked with to raise money,” Larry says. 

He must be good at it; Larry tends to be one of the top fundraisers on the team. “A few of us have raised more than $150K. One of our teammates raised over half a million dollars before he retired.” 

Get involved in Team CGG’s efforts for 2023 

The Texas MS 150 takes place this year from April 29 to April 30, so there is still time to join as a rider, volunteer, or donor. 

Be sure to check out Team CGG’s MS150 fundraising page to leave a donation! You can also learn about the timeline of Progress in MS research and find out more about the science the MS Society makes possible at Pathways to Cures.