Table of Contents
Development Board Member Tops Team UT
Team UT’s top fundraiser, David Koogler, and his 12-year-old daughter, Madison, rode tandem on a bicycle-built-for-two from Houston to Austin to support multiple sclerosis (MS) research.
UT Health Science Center Development Board member David Koogler, and his daughter, Madison, were active participants in Team UT for the MS150 ride.
Photo by Pauline Habetz
They were among about 100 riders in Team UT who pedaled their bikes in the MS150 April 22-23. As of early May, David Koogler, a member of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Development Board, had raised more than $9,775, while the overall team raised more than $41,000 – with contributions still coming in.
The team consisted of faculty, students and staff from three University of Texas institutions – the UT Health Science Center at Houston, UT M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and UT Medical Branch at Galveston.
“Out of my four rides,” David Koogler said, “this one was the hottest and most challenging (the tandem was a tank going up hills, but was a rocket going down). Madison and I took turns standing to power up the hills.
“I could not ask for a better tandem partner, and I am very proud of Madison,” he said. “I am impressed at her dedication, strength and spirit in training for and accomplishing this feat at age 12. Madison and I rode the entire way and crossed the finish line holding hands with our great friends, Drew Fossum and Woody Saylor.”
Fossum was the second highest fund raiser on Team UT, with $4,430. In third place was Madison Koogler, a sixth grader at Pershing Middle School at the time of the ride, with $2,315.
“Thanks to all the Team UT volunteers for all of their hard work – they did a phenomenal job,” David Koogler said. Volunteers provided food, cots and massage therapy in the team tent at the halfway point in LaGrange. In Austin, they joined crowds of MS patients, family and friends to cheer the riders as they arrived.
The Office of Public Affairs organized Team UT, along with support from Auxiliary Enterprises. The UT Medical School’s MS Research Group helped fund the team by recruiting sponsors Betaseron, Biogen Idec, Serono and Teva Neuroscience.
Contributions are still being accepted; send a check to Rose Mary Betancourt-Trevino, Office of Public Affairs and Development, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 7000 Fannin, Suite 1200, Houston, TX 77030, and indicate if you would like to credit a particular rider.
By Ina Fried, Public Affairs