Desis in Houston Gear-Up to Roll Out on April 18-19
Last updated: April 11, 2009

HOUSTON: Approximately, two weeks from now, on April 18 and 19 the 25th BP MS 150 will be seen rolling through the scenic Texas Hill Country from Houston to Austin. The BP MS 150 is a two-day fundraising bike ride from Houston to Austin organized by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Lone Star Chapter. This ride is the largest non-profit event of its kind in North America with 13,000 cyclists, 3,000 volunteers and countless supporters and spectators. In 2008, the event raised more than $15 million for multiple sclerosis. 2009 marks the 25th Anniversary for the BP MS 150.

Members from the Indian community in Houston have been participating in the MS 150 for years now, each year attracting a larger number of individuals than the previous.

This year more than 70 riders of Indian origin will be riding bicycles from Houston to Austin – a distance of more than 160 miles. The riders come from different organizations that include Sewa International, Houston Desis, and Team Star Pipe Products.

23 energetic co-workers of “Star Team” will join thousands of cyclists for the BP MS 150 Bike Tour, by riding. “They will enjoy the outdoors, make new friends and experience the ultimate cycling experience. More importantly, their efforts help the National Multiple Sclerosis Society- Lone Star Chapter fund breakthrough research to find the cause, cure and treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The challenges are many and the training is intense and arduous. There are many obstacles even leading up to the starting line. The weekend is unpredictable with hills, bad weather, blisters and fatigue, just to name a few. The rider requires a lot of support” informs Star Team Captain Hemant Jadhav.

The “Star Team” was formed 6 years ago by a group of 4 energetic friends working together at Star Pipe products. The management encouraged the team and now has grown to 20 riders. The ride was inspired by their coworker, late Akhil Chopra who was brutally murdered few years ago while meditating in a park. “In remembrance of Akhil Chopra the team has a smiley face printed on the jersey with his name printed below it. We have a composite team of young and old, male and females. The youngest rider Aniket Thakurdesai is just 11 years of age, and Ashish Nare, 13, will be riding for the 4th time. We also have 2 co-workers joining the ride from our California office.” says Jadhav.

He adds, “After riding 100 miles on day one, we all are greeted by our family members in LaGrange. We set up our own tent and enjoy home-made food brought to us by our family members. It’s like a picnic and we have been enjoying this since last 5 years. We have observed that many new riders within the family get the inspiration to join the ride after the LaGrange family picnic. This year we have 5 new riders in the team.” This year, these riders have chosen to combine their efforts to maximize participation and to raise awareness about this cause in the Indian community.

The more recently founded group is the “Houston Desis” team formed in 2007, with the purpose of promoting unified participation by those of Indian origin in charitable events, while enhancing their physical, mental and spiritual well being. The motto of the Houston Desis is “Moving Hearts and Minds”, and they have been doing that for the last two years participating in the MS-150 and the Houston Marathon.

In the process, they not only moved the hearts and minds of the Indian community but also have been helping to raise money for many worthwhile local charities. Captain Kotesh Rao has been participating in the MS-150 since 2005. Asked what made him decide to start the Houston Desis, he says, he wanted to break the notion that “Desis” were not involved in their local communities. “I felt that the desi community would embrace the notion of helping others while helping themselves by doing a healthy activity. The satisfaction you feel after 2 days on road is enhanced by seeing the streets lined by cheering by people who have MS.”

The Houston Desis team has a dozen children below the age of 18 years, and several couples doing the grueling 2-day biking event. There are many compelling stories about the Houston Desis. Physicians, Dr. Nadir Ali and Dr. Srikant Damaraju, are veteran riders with the Houston Desis. This year, they have gone to another level in their commitment to cure MS by registering their families to ride with the Houston Desis team.

Dr. Nadir Ali has a cardiology practice in Clear Lake, and he is a superb biker and the safety czar for the Houston Desis. This year, his wife Sakina, his 18-year old son Kumail (a freshman in Texas A&M), and his 10-year old Adam, are doing the MS-150 with the Houston Desis. While, Dr. Srikant Damaraju and his wife Shamim are both cardiologists who live in Corpus Christi with their children Sarita (11 years) and Anil (9 years).

Srikant and Anil will be riding a tandem bike. Asked, why they are doing this ride, Anil, who will be the youngest rider chimed: “Because it is for a great cause, and it is a lot of fun to go biking with my dad”. The Damarajus come to Houston about once a month to train with other “Houston Desis”.

Riders participating in the event will range in age from 9-70. The event is the largest bicycling event in North America with participation from all 50 states, and many countries. As one of the Houston Desi riders, Rupendra Radia says “it is inspiring to be the part of movement which is fighting to cure a terrible disease” The “Houston Desis” biking expedition starts early morning on Saturday, April 18 in Houston. The first day ride covers approximately 100 miles, mostly flat with a few rolling hills. Day 1 ends in LaGrange where “Houston Desis” has its own team tent manned by volunteers. Riders will recover from their grueling ride with a relaxing massage, liquid refreshments, and delicious Indian food. After an overnight stay, on Sunday April 19, the riders cover the remaining distance finishing in front of the State Capitol in Austin. Each rider taking part in the MS-150 pledges to raise at least $400 for the MS Society, and must buy good bikes and riding gear to succeed in their mission. This year the “Houston Desis” is being sponsored by GE Oil & Gas, Sewa International, Clear Lake Dental Care, Cardiovascular Associates of Clear Lake, Pearland Heart Institute, Coastal Cardiology, EP Heart and INFODAT. The team is looking for more riders and volunteers who would like to be a part of this wonderful adventure. For details email: kotesh.rao@ge.com or dhirajr@starpipeproducts.com.

The thought of 13,000 riders and equal or more volunteers, brought a picture in my mind and my heart moved knowing they are riding for a cause, the only thing missing was the blazing hot sun in the summer of the great state of “Texas”, says Dhiraj Rathi of Sewa USA Houston Chapter, when he heard some of this friends talking about the MS-150, when he first moved to Houston. “It was too late for me to register and ride that year, but I promised myself, that as long as I am in Houston, I will either ride or support a person to ride the MS- 150”. With this thought in mind, Dhiraj started riding the MS-150 in 2006. Getting married and having a baby stopped him for 2 consecutive years but he had not stopped thinking about it or supporting it, he now promised himself that he is going to compensate for these 2 years by taking a few friends along this time, and has formed “Team Sewa International” for MS-150 with 7 riders.

In addition to the 7 rider team, Sewa is also supporting a local Indian group of about 45-50 riders with food, T-shirts and raising funds for riders who cannot raise the promised $400 per rider for the MS-150 society. Kiran’s Restaurant in Houston has also voluntarily taken a huge portion of the food costs and will be getting their crew to work 5:00 AM in the morning so Houston Desis and Sewa Team riders can have a great dinner during the ride. Online donations can be made at http://www.sewausa. org/MS150-09.html. Sewa USA is an 501(c) 3 organization with more than 60,000 small and large scale projects in more than 15 countries. Sewa has been recognized by the state and the Senate for the good work in a short span of time. Houston Desis, Star Team and Team Sewa International, will be among the 13,000 riders riding the MS-150.

So here’s three cheers to the teams that believe, they are movement by and for people with MS, moving together toward a world free of multiple sclerosis.