We are Rosi Rodriguez and Perry Pedersen, wife-and-husband, who know firsthand how dancing and bicycling make the world a happier, healthier place. We also know firsthand about two dance-hindering, bike-hindering diseases – MS (multiple sclerosis) and ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or “Lou Gehrig’s disease”). So although we’ve been MS Society fundraisers for nearly 20 years, two recent events compelled us to create Pedal & Swing, and to include BOTH the ALS New Mexico and the MS Society in our fundraising activities. In April 2013, Rosi’s son, Erik, was diagnosed with MS. The year prior to Erik's diagnosis, Carolyn, a woman responsible for bringing our neighborhood together, was diagnosed with ALS. And in early 2015, a dance pal, Eleanor, was also diagnosed with ALS.

Mission

The Pedal & Swing mission is to facilitate donations to the National MS Society in honor of Erik, and to the ALS New Mexico in honor of Eleanor and Carolyn, through bicycling, dancing, and other fundraising activities. Donations made to the National MS Society and to the ALS New Mexico are used to assist those affected by these neurodegenerative diseases, and to support the research necessary for finding effective treatments and cures.

History

2016: Pedal & Swing’s inaugural event began on March 5, 2016, when we set-off from San Diego - Perry on his bicycle and Rosi driving the support vehicle. (See More)