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KCs: Keeping MS 150 Cyclists Fed for 39 Years
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Just a few of the army of Knights of Columbus volunteers who helped feed thousands of the cyclists over the weekend at the MS 150 in La Grange. Left to right: Clarence Faldyn, Mary Baca, J.R. Baca, Jim Kothmann, Chris Proske, Doug Mueller, and Randy Proske. Photos by Jeff Wick -
Jim Kothmann stirs up a massive kettle of 120 pounds of beans the Knights of Columbus prepared as part of the cyclists’ supper Saturday at the fairgrounds.
Dating back to the very first MS 150 bikeathon in La Grange 39 years ago, the Knights of Columbus here have been a key part of helping the benefit bike ride succeed. (That first year the cyclists even slept in the KC Hall and the KCs made them soup and sandwiches).
As the ride has grown, so has the role of the La Grange KCs, who Saturday were working hard to prepare a barbecue chicken meal with all the trimmings for an estimated 2,500 cyclists at the fairgrounds.
There were nearly 6,000 cyclists in the MS 150 this year, but many are part of larger teams that have their own tents and chefs, etc.
Sunday morning even more cyclists were expected to partake of the KC’s pancake breakfast. The local volunteers planned to make breakfast for 4,000 cyclists – with the work starting at 4 a.m.
In all, about 200 local Knights of Columbus members and other volunteers helped fuel the cyclists on their long ride.