CERT AND THE BP MS150

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

WHAT IS THE MS150?

• ONE OF THE LARGEST CHARITY EVENTS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND THE US.

• THIS IS AN ANNUAL TWO DAY BIKE RIDE FROM HOUSTON TO AUSTIN WITH 13,000 PARTICIPANTS.

• LAST YEAR’S RIDERS RAISED 16 MILLION DOLLARS FOR MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS) RESEARCH AND TREATMENT

THE EVENT ROUTE

SUPPORTING THE EVENT

• APPROXIMATELY 3000 VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED TO SUPPORT THIS EVENT.

• SEVENTEEN RESTSTOPS/BREAKPOINTS MUST BE ESTABLISHED AND OPERATED ALONG THE RIDE ROUTE TO SUPPORT THE RIDE.

• SUPPORT VEHICLES (SAGS) OPERATE BETWEEN BREAKPOINTS TO ASSIST WITH MECHANICAL OR PHYSICAL BREAKDOWNS.

SAG 7

SAG 3

SAG

12

WHAT IS A BREAKPOINT?

A TEMPORARY SUPPORT FACILITY PROVIDING FOOD, DRINK, PORT-O-LETS, MECHANICAL AND MEDICAL SUPPORT TO THE

EVENT PARTICIPANTS.

BREAKPOINT FROM THE AIR

Provided by the Tomball Sheriff’s Department

LAYOUT OF A BREAKPOINT

Breakpoint info from Bomanski.com

The Bayers

BREAKPOINT IN ACTION

Saturday BP #7 looking south

Saturday BP #7 looking north

VOLUNTEER ELEMENTS OF A BREAKPOINT

• LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT• BREAKPOINT ENTRANCE CONTROLLERS (CERT)• BREAKPOINT SPONSORS WHO DISTRIBUTE FOOD AND DRINK• BIKE MECHANICS AND SUPPLY TENT • MEDICAL PERSONNEL AND EMS• HAM RADIO COMMUNICATIONS OPERATORS (ARES)• SAG STOP PERSONNEL• SUPPLY TRUCK PERSONNEL• BREAKPOINT MANAGER

BPEC and ARES Volunteers Sat BP

#1W

VOLUNTEERS IN ACTION

Communications

Sponsors

Medical SAG Drivers and Loaders

Traffic Flow

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF CERT?

CERT HAS TWO ROLES IN THE BREAKPOINT:

• BREAKPOINT MANAGERS. SELECTED FROM CERT VOLUNTEERS BASED ON PRIOR EXPERIENCE AND ABILITIES.

• BREAKPOINT ENTRANCE CONTROLLERS (BPECs). THE MS150 ORGANIZERS PREFER CERT TRAINED INDIVIDUALS IN THIS POSITION FOR SAFETY REASONS.

The Breakpoint Plan

Manager

WHAT ARE THE DUTIES OF A BREAKPOINT ENTRANCE CONTROLLER?

• PREPARES THE NECESSARY BIKE TRAFFIC FLOW MECHANISMS FOR THE BREAKPOINT.

• CONTROLS THE FLOW OF RIDERS INTO AND OUT OF THE BREAKPOINT.

• PROVIDES DIRECTIONS AND INFORMATION TO RIDERS ENTERING AND EXITING THE BREAK SITE.

• KEEPS AN EYE OUT FOR RIDERS WHO MAY BE IN MEDICAL STRESS.

BPEC TEAM IN ACTION

Sunday BP #5 BPEC Team setting up traffic flow barriers

BPEC TEAM IN ACTION

Sunday BP #5 BPEC Team making direction signage

Saturday BP #1W BPEC Team directing riders to laydown area

BREAKPOINT IN ACTION

Sunday BP #5 at full capacity

THE WEEKEND IN A NUTSHELL

SATURDAY

• ASSEMBLE AT PARK & RIDE @ 5:30am AND LOAD PERSONAL AND TEAM GEAR INTO TEAM VANS.

• DRIVE TO ASSIGNED BREAKPOINT AND PREPARE SITE FOR ARRIVAL OF RIDERS.• PERFORM THE DUTIES OF THE BPEC.• AFTER THE ‘TURTLE’ (LAST RIDER) HAS PASSED, TEAR DOWN THE BREAKPOINT

AND DRIVE TO LAGRANGE.• BBQ DINNER AT THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS HALL WITH OTHER CERT & ARES

VOLUNTEERS.• DRIVE TO OVERNIGHT FACILITIES AT CAMP LONE STAR OR PINE GROVE.

THE WEEKEND IN A NUTSHELL

SUNDAY

• LEAVE OVERNIGHT FACILITIES @ 5:30am AND DRIVE TO THE KIGHTS OF COLUMBUS HALL IN LAGRANGE FOR BREAKFAST

• DRIVE TO ASSIGNED BREAKPOINT AND PREPARE SITE FOR ARRIVAL OF RIDERS.• PERFORM THE DUTIES OF THE BPEC.• AFTER THE ‘TURTLE’ HAS PASSED, TEAR DOWN THE BREAKPOINT AND DRIVE

BACK TO HOME CITY.• ARRIVE BACK TO PARK & RIDE AND HEAD FOR HOME*.

* THIS WEEKEND WILL PROMISE TO BE ONE OF THE MOST EXHAUSTING, EXCITING AND REWARDING EXPERIENCES A

VOLUNTEER CAN LEGALLY HAVE.

WHY DO WE DO IT?

TO HELP THE ‘PEDALING PIXIES’ AND THE OTHER 12,995 RIDERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE RACE TO CURE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS.

GO PIXIES!