Family Trains Together, Raises Funds For Bike MS
CASTLE ROCK, Colo. (CBS4) – Football is a passion for the Schmidt family. It's hard not to be when Dad is a high school football coach.
But this summer mom is calling the shots as the five Schmidt children are focusing on cycling. They are a team in training for Bike MS.
Team Crankin' for a Cure is riding for Hans Schmidt, who coaches the tight ends at Castle View High School. Hans was an all-state tight end in high school and went on to play at Western State College.
"Football was really good to me," he said. "So it was something I wanted to give back."
But now just getting on and off the field is a challenge. A multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2001 has left him with a serious limp. It's a condition he fights with a serious sense of humor. His children say he's hilarious and the family uses jokes to cope with MS.
"One of the boys one time at the football camp kept asking about my leg," he recalled, "I told him I'm the first ever recipient of a real leg with a wooden foot."
As the family trains for Bike MS, mom, Kristin assumes the role as coach. All five childre -- Hayden, Madison, Lainey, Rorey, and A.J., whose ages range from 14-22 -- plan to tackle the 150 mile ride.
"You've got to find someone to do it for," said Rorey. "We do it for my dad."
The goal is to raise money for promising MS research. In the 14 years since Hans was diagnosed he has seen a number of new drugs come to market, including oral medications.
Mom couldn't be prouder of her team.
"They are pretty amazing kids," said Kristin. "Hans sets a great example. He pushes through it and he has taught them to do the same thing."
The goal is to allow Hans to keep teaching those lessons on the football field as well.
"Life's short. You never know," said Hans. "One of those kids coming up might have something like this and they've got to know how to fight through it.
"And hopefully I'm a good example of that."
CBS4 is a proud sponsor of Bike MS on June 27 and 28.
Mark Ackerman is a Special Projects Producer at CBS4. Follow him on Twitter @ackermanmark
