SCOTT RESSMEYER — Miracle Rider

When a guy gets a Harley®, his first motorcycle, on his 40th birthday, it’s a nice story. When he rides that same motorcycle through 48 states ten years later for his 50th, it’s a great story. When that “once-in-a-lifetime” trip grows into a big annual charity ride, it’s something truly special.

But if not for a chance encounter with a thundering herd of Harleys at a gas station in 1998, this great ride for a great cause may never have become even a glimmer in Scott Ressmeyer’s eye.

Miracle Ride 2024

In Support of Columbus State University’s

Pediatric Nursing Program

 Benefitting THE KIDS THAT DON’T KNOW WHAT TOMORROW BRINGS
— “Making a difference in one child’s life.”

“This lab is our OB lab or our obstetrical nursing lab, and we have a brand new state-of-the-art mannequin that allows students to perform those skills and techniques needed to assist with successful deliveries,” said Dr. Jherika Tyler, the assistant director of undergraduate nursing program. “We can also manipulate the environment and create a safe space for them to practice those abnormal deliveries.”

“The money we’re raising is going to a great university,” Miracle Riders’ founder Scott Ressmeyer. “[CSU’s nursing students] are the people who will take care of our future generations of kids in labor and delivery or pediatric units. The training they are getting and will be getting through [the support of the Miracle Riders to fund these labs] will benefit them, which will in turn benefit our citizens right here in our community.”

MAY 6 - May 24TH “The Columbus Ride”

The Miracle Riders are a group of men who enjoy riding their motorcycles and giving back to our community.

For the first 7 years, the Miracle Ride traveled all of the lower 48 states in 21 days. In the 8th year, they traveled

from Columbus to the Arctic Circle and beyond to Coldfoot Alaska, and back. The 9th year was a Magoo Ride,

much like the children we support the riders didn’t know which direction they were going every morning, where

they might spend the night, or what obstacles the next day might bring. The riders were forced to stay home in

2020 due to Covid. The 2021 Miracle Ride traveled through all 50 states with the riders flying to Alaska and

Hawaii. In 2023, the Ride took the men to the Four Corners of the United States, and almost 12,000 miles!

In 2015 The Miracle Riders opened a fund (The Miracle Ride Fund) in the Community Foundation of the

Chattahoochee Valley with the purpose of simply helping children. To date, The Miracle Ride Fund has received gifts

totaling more than $850,000. Since the group came together quite by accident and was born from the collective

desire to help children the Riders have raised more than $1.9 million for children in our community.

In 2024 The Miracle Riders will head out again in support of the CSU Nursing Program. As always, the riders

will cover all of their expenses for this unique ride. The ride will take them to all the cities named Columbus (with a zip code)

in the lower 48 from our hometown Columbus, Georgia to places like New Mexico, Nebraska, and Montana, to name a few, and then back

home. They will leave on Monday, May 6, and return on Friday, May 24th. We hope you will join the Riders on this adventure with your

encouragement and support.

From the beginning, The Miracle Ride has taken on a life of its own born in the hearts of the brave men who have

participated in this ride. However, at the center of its success are the people in our community who choose to

make this their home and who, like The Riders want to “Make a difference in one child’s life”; to restore their

health, restore their childhood, teach them life skills or simply to be a role model for their future. Our giving for

2023 and beyond will be focused on the CSU pediatric nursing program. These nurses are on the front line and

first to come in contact with sick or injured children. After raising the funds necessary to give the School of

Nursing a brand new state-of-the-art Pediatric Nursing Simulation Lab, with new pediatric simulation

mannequins, state-of-the-art computer technology to go with them, and a new suite design the riders will turn

their sights in 2023 toward doing the same for the Mother and Baby simulation lab.

The broader goal of the Miracle Riders is to see the future in children and do everything we can to help make

that future bright. As Scott Ressmeyer says, “I see it this way, we are only here for a very short time, and I plan

on making the most of it. If I’m lucky, a child that the Miracle Ride helped will one day travel across the country

and watch the sunset over the Pacific, and know that the people of this world are good.”

The Miracle Riders are made up of 30 men who have embraced the cause to help children. They have

collectively spent over $750,000 of their own money to be part of these rides. They also have two more riders,

Martin Thiele who passed away at the age of 18 from cancer and Andrew Wade who today is winning his battle

with cancer. Both of these young men represent the desire to give back and help others. Their lives were

touched dramatically by the pediatric nurses who treated them, many of them CSU graduates. The Miracle

Riders have established a legacy of giving to Columbus and the Chattahoochee Valley we believe Columbus State University

represents this same legacy of dedication to the youngest members of our community.

Scott Ressmeyer

Mike Frank

Gary McDowell

David McNeil

Mike Jolley

Tim Wynn

Rick Stinson

Kevin Simms

Brian Brock

Doug Colburn

Steve Tennant

Jonnie Ellerbee

Mike Hamby

Vernon Griggs

Mike Langford

Andrew Wade

Ken Tidwell

Ronnie Wilson

Hank Lewis

Dave Hinson

James Leatherwood

Billy Edmundson

Brad Hansen

Riders Not Pictured:

Ross White, Walt Rosso, Ralph Kingrey

The Miracle Riders are made up of 30 men who have embraced the cause to help children. They have collectively spent over $525,000 of their own money to be part of these rides. Also part of the group of Riders is Martin Thiele who passed away at the age of 18 from cancer, and Andrew Wade, who today is winning his battle with cancer. These young men represent the desire to give back and help others. The Miracle Riders have established a legacy of giving to the children of Columbus and the Chattahoochee Valley that they hope will last a long time.

TWO EASY WAYS TO DONATE!

Every little bit helps! Please choose your best method of donating today and
thank you for helping us to make a difference in these kids lives. 

CREDIT CARD 

Saving trees is your thing huh? We have a way! Pay by credit card online thru:
The Community Foundation

Choose the "The Miracle Ride Fund” and process your card as usual. A receipt will be emailed to you shortly.

CHECK

Love a paper trail, we got you covered!
Make checks payable to:

The Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley

MAIL TO:
1340 13th Street
Columbus, GA 31901-2345
Attn: The Miracle Ride Fund
Tax ID # 58-2381589

Meet the people that make this all possible!

Thank you doesn't go far enough in expressing our gratitude to the individuals and business that help us fund the
rides to raise money for these children. You are all greatly appreciated and we could not do this with out you!!
Not a sponsor? Hit us up to find out how you can get in on the next ride with your generous donation.

PREMIER SPONSORS

EVENT SPONSORS

WITHOUT YOU THIS EVENT WOULD NOT BE A SUCCESS!

BIKE WRAP SPONSORS

THANK YOU FOR GOING WITH US ON THE RIDE!

T-SHIRT SPONSORS

Thank you for your contribution: Because of you we look good!

Tracey Benton Lewis Service Center Signal One

Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts Maxwell Motors Snap On Tools, Shannon Griggs

Gastonia Parts Plant Mellow Mushroom Superfine GA, Inc.

“In Loving Memory of Emilie Green” Franklin Insulation Group The Carpet Man

Kaylee McDowell MHS Class of ‘24 Painted Rock Hog Chapter Exchange Club of Phenix City

Integrated Supply Pour Decisions Team 7 Racing

Hank and Mary Lewis Frank and Meg Schley Barrier Cable

RoseHill Seafood Jeff’s Truck Tops The Rabourn Family

The Honorable Judy Thomas Hollis Link Max Graphics

Tidbits Dykes Towing

Thank You to Our Social Media Sponsors!