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Team web photo


Teams

Teams are a great way to involve family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers in the journey to end multiple sclerosis. The program is also an effective and efficient method for companies and organizations to promote teamwork among employees.We developed a team program for Bike MS focusing on the camaraderie, sense of pride, and collaborative effort that only comes from being part of a team. We provide materials, incentives and staff to help you form and motivate a team. All you need to do to form a team is to recruit teammates who want to join in the movement toward a world free of MS.

It only takes one person to inspire hundreds - this is the idea behind the Bike MS Team Program. Find the leader in you by becoming a team captain today!

Bike Talk

New this year is our Bike Talk Calls. Learn and network with other Team Captains. Join us Thursday, August 22, from 5:30- 6:30 p.m. by calling 1-888-279-3775, conference ID 0823#. This call will be focusing on the rides and any questions you may have. Anyone can call in and ask about anything from the route, shuttles, packet pick-up and etc.  We will have staff on the call for each of the rides. Contact Jenn Melling at 816-448-2188 or jenn.melling@nmss.org for details.  

Team Profiles

Want to grow your team? Share what makes your Bike MS team unique and have your team highlighted on our website. Individual cyclists will be able to look through team profiles to see which team is the perfect fit for them to join. Fill out our brief survey.

Looking for a low cost way to build team camaraderie? Take advantage of a special low-cost t-shirt opportunity just for teams!

Follow the links below to learn ways to build a team that will help move us toward a world free of MS.

First Gear  |  Second Gear  |  Third Gear  |  Fourth Gear  |  Fifth Gear  |  Sixth Gear  |  Seventh Gear  |  Eighth Gear

First Gear: Register & Recruit

Creating a team is as easy as 1-2-3!

  1. Choose a team name and a team captain, then register.
  2. Recruit and register other team members.
  3. Raise money, motivate your team, and have fun!

Once you’ve registered yourself and your team, it’s time to recruit. Here’s a checklist of recruitment tactics to help you build your team:

  • Create and customize your online team page.
  • Make a list of potential team members and invite each of them to join you.
  • Participate in Rider Weeks to encourage members to join with incentives.
  • Set a date for a team recruitment event (BBQ, happy hour, informal lunch gathering in a company conference room). Ask team members to invite their friends, family and/or co-workers to attend.
  • Invite Bike MS staff to do Lunch & Learn for colleagues to learn about MS and Bike MS. Offer incentives to attend.
  • Publicize your team by posting Bike MS brochures, flyers, and posters at your office, place of worship, businesses you frequent and in your neighborhood.  Request brochures and posters at midamericachapter@nmss.org.  
  • Ask the president of your company to endorse your team, either through a letter to staff or in a write-up in the company newsletter.  Why not ask him or her to join the team and ride too?
  • Encourage those who have never ridden, and have them sign up for our training program; by September they’ll be more than prepared.
  • Thank each person who has joined your team and encourage them to invite at least one family member, co-worker, or friend to join your team.

Second Gear: Fundraise

As a team captain, it’s up to you to set your team’s fundraising goal. Following is a checklist to assist you and your team to reach (and surpass!) your fundraising goal.

Talk to your team.

  • Set a team fundraising goal and communicate with your team on a regular basis (weekly, bi-weekly, etc.) to keep them aware of the team’s progress and any other important fundraising information (competitions, deadlines, etc.).
  • Remind all your team members that each of them is required to raise at least $200 to participate.
  • Make a list of possible team fundraisers, and pick a date for one of these events to take place. 

Spread the word to family and friends:

Enlist company support:

Let the National MS Society help:

Remember to track your donations and thank your sponsors!

Third Gear: Motivate

You’ve set a fundraising goal, but how do you encourage your team members to reach it?  Here are some tips for motivating your team:

  • Create challenges within your team to drive fundraising efforts. This could include Top Fundraiser Award or the First to raise $550 Prize, or Best Recruiter (Team Member who brought the most new members to the team), etc. Ask local businesses that you frequent to donate prizes or gift certificates that can be use to motivate your team.
  • Let your team members and donors know how their donations are used so they understand how valuable their fundraising dollars are to people living with MS. Find out about the programs and services funded by Bike MS, and about research into the cause and a cure, at MSmidamerica.org.
  • Use your Team Captain’s Participant Center Page to monitor your team members’ fundraising progress.
  • Congratulate those that are doing exceptionally well by sending them a personal email and highlighting their successes in a team email. Offer your support to those who may need other techniques of strategies to increase their donations.
  • Email weekly/biweekly updates to your team members. For example, “As of today, we need $500 more to reach our goal!
  • Encourage team members to read emails and event newsletters.
  • Make a team banner. 
  • Select and order team apparel such as jerseys or t-shirts, knowing that this is the visible form of team identity at the event. Considered asking a company (or others) to sponsor these items, as this is a great opportunity for promotion within the community.

Fourth Gear: Training

Once your team has formed and is busy fundraising, the next step is to prepare for the ride. Whether you are riding 30 or 150 + miles, plan on spending some quality time with your bicycle, training your body for the challenge. The more you ride before Bike MS, the better experience you will have. The checklist below will assist you and your team for the ride.

  • In your emails and phone calls to team members, encourage them to start training.
  •  Share the link to the Safety & Training webpage with everyone on your team.
  •  Lead by example and share your progress as you train for this year’s ride.
  •  Call your teammates and remind them to come to the event! 

Fifth Gear: Organize

Take time to prepare for the weekend of the event. This checklist will assist you in organizing your team so that each member has a positive experience and a great ride!

Pre-Event

  • Remind team members that they each need to raise $200 in order to ride.
  • Remind your team members to mail in or bring their pledges to the event. (Include rider name and numbers on each check!)  Each team member needs to raise at least $200 in order to ride.
  • Encourage your team members to participate in Bike MS fundraising challenges to win great prizes and raise more money for your team.  Watch your email for dates and details.
  • Organize training rides and safety sessions so that your team members are prepared for ride day. 

1-2 Weeks Prior to Event

Day of Event

Post Event

 Sixth Gear: Celebrate

As the Bike MS weekend approaches, celebrate your team’s efforts over the past months. Consider these last minute details that will make your team members’ excited for the upcoming event.

  • To motivate:
    • Distribute team apparel prior to the event, to build excitement.
    • Make a sign for your team photo (could include team name, motto, or a sample check that reflects your fundraising total)
    • Send an email to your team to 1) congratulate them on how close the team is to reaching its fundraising goal and 2) express your excitement that Bike MS is approaching!
  • Plan a team party, either before or after the event, to celebrate everyone’s efforts. Remember to consider how this can best be used to encourage your team members to return next year.
  • Plan a way to celebrate your team reaching its fundraising goal!

Seventh Gear: Share & Inform

All of your efforts have come together Bike MS and your team’s efforts were a success! Share your success and stories with teammates and members of your community who have sponsored you.

  • Share your success stories with team members, family, friends, businesses, and others who have sponsored your team.
  • If your team name and fundraising total are listed on the Bike MS website, share the link with others.
  • Send out an email recognizing the Top Fundraisers for the team and ask those participants to share how they did it.

Eighth Gear: Ride!

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Low Cost T-shirts Just for Teams

Looking for a low cost way to build team camaraderie and wear your team pride on your sleeve, literally?! Through our national partnership with Pure Protein, we're getting access to their team t-shirt site and the opportunity to purchase team t-shirts at cost – that means no markups! Simply go to www.teampureprotein.com and you can buy team t-shirts, customized with your team logo and/or photo, and share your team pride with everyone in the MS movement! T-shirts cost $6.95 per shirt plus a one-time set up fee and the cost of shipping. A minimum of 6 shirts must be ordered with 14 days for delivery. Thank you to Pure Protein for underwriting the cost of this opportunity and for their support of the MS movement.

Thank you to our premier national sponsors

Become a Sponsor
 

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