Father, Son Ride 100K For MS

By Tanjua Damon

A Newtown father and son traveled to Sherwood Island in Westport September 9 to do a good deed – ride 62.5 miles, or 100 kilometers, in a benefit bicycle ride for multiple sclerosis, while enjoying the scenery of the Connecticut coast.

Sean P. and Sean W. O’Connell collected $700 for the MS ride, but they also were able to spend time together during the six-hours ride. Mr O’Connell had participated in rides about ten years ago and decided he wanted to do it again. When he started talking about it at home, his son Sean wanted to join in to.

“I haven’t done it for ten years,” Mr O’Connell said. “Once I put a baby seat on the back of my bike that was the end of it. Once he heard I was going to do it, he wanted to too.”

Sean, who is now 12, did not need a baby seat to follow his dad on the 60-plus miles. The duo wanted to do something they enjoy and wanted an adventure.

“My godmother has MS,” Mr O’Connell said. “I did rides six or seven times between 1985 and 1991. I like biking riding and a challenge.”

Sean, a first-time MS rider, knew he would make it to the finish line. The two rode in a big loop from Sherwood Island and back riding east to west. The two said the closest they got to riding to Newtown was at the Bethel/Redding line near Putnam Park.

“I knew I could make it the whole time,” Sean said. “I just kept pedaling. The first ten miles was flat, then it got more hills.”

There were 450 riders who participated in various mile lengths. Only 80 people did the 100 kilometers, while other riders participated in 10-, 30-, and 60-kilometer rides.

Sean was the youngest rider in the 100-kilometer ride. People on it were surprised to find out how young he was and that he was willing to participate, Mr O’Connell said.

There are no regrets, only feelings of success from the father and son team. They both enjoy being outdoors.

“I felt that it was a good idea for something like that,” Sean said. “It was fun and it was worth it.”

“I like to be in the outdoors no matter what it is. We spend most of our time outdoors doing some activity,” Mr O’Connell added. “It was a beautiful ride. It was spectacular. It was perfect.”

With a smile on his face and a sparkle in his eye, Mr O’Connell explained how pleased he was that his son wanted to ride and that he made it to the finish line.

“I was pretty proud of him. I thought it was great that he responded to the concept of giving to charity,” Mr O’Connell said. “The mental toughness… he was determined to finish. I was very proud of him and I still am.”