As the cyclists came through the Karnes City area on Saturday morning, Cathy Passmore waited for her friend and former co-worker at Saint Mary’s Hall in San Antonio, Matthew Montez.

This was especially anticipated by both of them since she hadn’t seen her co-worker after the end of May when she retired, and Matthew hadn’t been able to ride in the Multiple Sclerosis ride in two years.

A year ago this month, the day before last year’s scheduled ride, he was playing soccer with other school faculty when a bad fall and collision caused a tremendous injury to his knee. It led to surgery and a long recuperation. A ruptured patella tendon and displaced kneecap meant the orthopedist had to put his knee back together.

He was on crutches with a cast from above the knee down to his toes for several months, followed by rehab. He didn’t get back on his bike until last February and gradually regained the strength in his knee.

So, he was so glad to be back on the journey from San Antonio to Corpus Christi raising money for a worthy cause and getting back to his usual fitness level. As a science teacher in the school’s middle school, he is grateful to have raised $650 for the MS cause. His funds are in dedication to relatives of two of his co-faculty members.

The cyclists spent the night at the Beeville Community College and arrived in Corpus Christi Sunday morning completing a 169 mile ride. They had brief stops along the way. One set up in Karnes City was at the TxDOT facility. There they could get refreshments, use portable bathroom facilities, and have minor repairs done on their bikes.

How do the riders get home after making the 169-mile-long ride?

Matthew said many will be returning by bus, but he will get a ride in a friend’s RV.