SOUTHERN ILLINOIS/SAINT LOUIS – A national organization will raise money for pregnancy centers with a bike ride through Southern Illinois.
Biking for Babies encourages adults ages 18–39 to bike 600 miles across the country every summer. The money raised goes to pro-life pregnancy centers. This year, riders will travel through towns like Virden, Carlinville and Alton on July 17, 2026, before heading to St. Louis for their annual “Celebration of Life” dinner and speaker event on July 18.
“[The bicyclists] are learning more about themselves, about their relationship with God, and about these pregnancy centers that they’re serving,” said Sarah Wiese, who works with Biking for Babies. “It’s incredibly transformational.”
The organization started in 2009 when two University of Illinois students decided to bike across the state. They raised about $10,000 for local pregnancy centers.
These days, the group has around 300 participants each year who take off from different points across the U.S. and ride 600 miles in six days. They’ve donated over $2.5 million to 200 pregnancy centers.
The riders will travel through Illinois and hit a few Southern Illinois towns on July 17. People are invited to support the bicyclists and cheer for them as they ride through.
The Celebration of Life in St. Louis on July 18 is open to anyone who would like to attend. You can enjoy a free dinner, inspirational speakers, raffles and more. Click here to RSVP.
Wiese noted that the Biking for Babies ride means a lot to each person who completes it. The bicyclists participate in a six-month program to help them “train and prepare for this national ride spiritually and physically.” They have people who participate every year and “get something new out of it” each time.
“The efforts have just been amazing in our young adults. The impact that we’ve been able to have with these pregnancy centers has been amazing,” Wiese said. “But I think part of our real story is the personal transformation of these young adults who have learned how to put their faith into motion and have learned how to really sacrifice for others using their gifts.”
While the Biking for Babies ride raises money for pregnancy centers, Wiese noted that they are also hoping to change the “culture” around unplanned pregnancy. As part of that, the Biking for Babies organization encourages personal growth and connection.
“We are interested in changing the culture,” Wiese said. “What we’re doing is meeting women’s and families’ needs right now by supporting these pregnancy centers. But we’re also aimed at making a more positive and life-affirming culture across the United States, which starts with each of our personal transformations in the way that we view the humanity of other people.”
For more information about Biking for Babies, including how to participate next year or how to donate now, visit their official website.
