53rd cross-country tour might be his last

Thomas Beasley dreams that his 53rd will be his last.

The 36-year-old cyclist has crossed the US 52 times from north to south or east to west. As he rides, he stops in towns and cities along the way to raise money for multiple sclerosis.

He's been doing this since 1991, when his trainer and friend John Toodle died from complications of the debilitating disease at age 29.

Most lately interviewed during a stop in Victorville, Calif., he told the Daily Press that this might be his last tour. He has raised $93,000 so far, and he's shooting for $100,000. That's a higher goal than 2001, when he told the Florida Independent Alligator that he was ready to hang up his cleats after his 46th cross-country trip as he neared $70,000.

Last October, Beasley was interviewed by the Albany Times Union. At that time, he had visited every state but Vermont and New Jersey and covered 174,000 miles in the quest for donations.

Beasley channels his donations to the Iowa chapter of the MS Society. He says the donations make a bigger impact on a smaller organization.