GREENVILLE, Pa.—For the fourth straight year, Thiel College will serve as the overnight stop for the Bike MS: Escape to the Lake cycling event, which brings approximately 500 cyclists and volunteers to campus as part of a two-day fundraising ride scheduled for June 7–8.
The event, now in its 40th year, raises approximately $500,000 annually to support the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and is among the five largest Bike MS rides in Pennsylvania. The route begins at Moraine State Park in Portersville, Pa., travels through western Pennsylvania, and concludes near Lake Erie in Conneaut, Ohio.
Riders will arrive on the Thiel College campus the evening of Saturday, June 7, and depart the following morning to complete the final leg of the ride.
Thiel College was first selected as an overnight host site in 2020, but the event was held virtually that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year marks the fourth consecutive time the College has hosted participants during the ride’s overnight stop in Greenville.
Escape to the Lake typically draws between 400 and 600 cyclists, with an additional 200 volunteers supporting the event. Riders and support teams will camp on campus, take part in evening festivities, and resume the ride Sunday morning. Highlights of the Greenville stop include a beer garden, team village, and community engagement activities.
USA Today recently named Bike MS: Escape to the Lake one of the top 10 road cycling events in the country, citing its scenic route through the region’s rolling hills and small towns.
About Thiel College
Thiel College is an independent college founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The College is also home to a new Master of Science in speech-language pathology and 2Master of Business Administration. Both master’s degree programs offer innovative and accelerated five-year paths which allow students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. The speech-language pathology program also has an accelerated 15-month graduate-level program. The M.B.A. program also has a 12-month post-graduate program.A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College remains committed to combining tradition with innovation as it celebrates 150 years.