'Biking for Babies': From two-man mission to 90-missionary movement

University students Mike Schaefer and Jimmy Becker met in a campus Bible study after an encounter with Pope John II, and it changed the trajectory of their lives. The pope's message, "Woe to you if you don't defend life," inspired them to launch Biking for Babies.

Nikki Biese, who served as the executive director of the organization for seven years, told Live Action News, “Both Mike and Jimmy were not only triathletes, but strong in their Catholic faith. They wanted to use their gifts to further pro-life principles.”

Promoting and funding a culture of life

The idea formulated when the two men biked 600 miles across Illinois during a snowy month of March, raising $14,000 for a local pregnancy support center, Living Alternatives, where Becker got to hold a baby whose mother was served by the center.

For him, it confirmed the value of human life and the need for young people to put their pro-life beliefs into action. Founding the ministry was a natural fit for these two athletes, combining their two passions to make an impact on communities across the country while encouraging young people to promote a culture of life.

“We’ve raised funds for pregnancy support centers, maternity homes and other pro-life organizations that offer supplies and counseling to pregnant women facing unplanned pregnancies as well as organizations that offer life-affirming medical care,” Biese said. 

Biese first met Becker at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He was on campus recruiting missionaries – young people who would fundraise and participate in rides for Biking for Babies. At the time, he was preparing for a 1,000 mile ride from New Orleans to Champaign, Illinois. 

Along with other fundraising efforts, the New Orleans to Champaign ride generated enough funding to build the Women’s Care Center, which is now located across the street from the Madison Planned Parenthood facility.

Ministry doors opened

“I hadn’t been raised in a faith-based family, and when I met my boyfriend, Kevin, he introduced me to the Catholic community in Wisconsin,” Biese said. “It was at the Catholic student center where I met Jimmy who was trying to raise money for a pregnancy support center in Madison. I didn’t sign up for the ride, but my boyfriend did. The physical effort was difficult for him as he was the least trained to ride the distance.”

While Biese didn’t join in rides, she was part of the support crew, handing out food and emergency supplies as well as riding along in the car to encourage the riders.

Biese said, “Sometimes, the riders feel as if they can’t complete the grueling trip, so we offer support when needed to help them along the way. The support crew is an integral part of Biking for Babies.”

Biese and her boyfriend married, continuing to volunteer with Biking for Babies.

“Over the years, Kevin and I help to share the mission of Bikers for Babies,” Biese said. “Kevin went on the rides, typically planned March through August, while I worked behind the scenes and stayed home with our children.”

In 2018, Biese, who had a background in corporate retail management, was considering returning to the workforce. Her husband mentioned that Biking for Babies had created the new position of executive director. 

Biese said, “I called my friend Sarah who was set to the take the position and told her I thought the job had my name on it. Sarah was relieved because she had been hoping someone else would step into the role.”

Her friend was later hired for another position in recruiting and marketing.

The executive director’s role, however, required Biese fundraise for her salary. 

For Biese, who was the breadwinner at the time, relying on her faith was essential to navigating through the fundraising challenge. 

Biese said, “I knew that God would provide enough to support the pregnancy support centers and pay my wage. At one point, we only had five hundred dollars in the bank after cutting checks to the centers, but donations came in a month later, including a five-thousand-dollar check from a former contact.”

How It Works

Recruiting Missionaries

She noted that with “lots of prayers” the organization was able to recruit more missionaries and quadrupled contributions to pregnancy support centers.

Missionaries are typically young adults whose ages range from 18 to 39 years and are active in the Catholic faith, although non-Catholic youth are encouraged to get involved as well. 

“Recruiting missionaries is central to success,” Biese said. “Every missionary is partnered with a pregnancy support center, one on one, so contributions depend on how many missionaries we can recruit. We trust in God and in His plan.”

To date, Biking for Babies, now in its 17th year of operation, has raised close to $2.5 million to support pregnancy help centers. They have recruited 90 missionaries to participate in their summer rides, up from 79 the previous year. Missionaries bike 600 miles in six days.

About 29% of the missionaries have chosen to return for additional rides, demonstrating their ongoing commitment to the mission. 

Young Adult Formation

Biese said, “In addition to recently onboarding our 2026 missionaries, we also launched the B4B app to support our young adult formation program.” The program teaches four key principles as outlined on the Biking for Babies website:

1. Encounter Jesus Christ,

2. Live the Gospel of life as joyful witnesses in society,

3. Learn about pregnancy resource centers and maternity homes, and

4. Pray and raise money for families facing unplanned pregnancies.

Biese, who has since transitioned into a human resources role, said, “By 2028 we want the B4B program to go coast to coast to be a national witness to the culture and beauty of every life."

She added, "We want to transform our nation into one that values life from conception to natural death and by focusing on recruiting more missionaries across the country, we’re on course to do that.”