Spotlight On…Silicon Valley Partner Mike Rueckheim

In this Spotlight Q&A, Silicon Valley Partner Mike Rueckheim discusses his support for Bike MS and their mission to help end multiple sclerosis.

You recently participated in Bike MS: Waves to Wine 2019. How did you get involved in this event?
I’ve been participating in Bike MS for the last five years, first in Texas then in California. It’s a great organization that raises millions each year to help fund research to end multiple sclerosis. I first got into the event when a close family member was diagnosed with spasticity issues. At the same time, I was opposite an attorney on a case who had similar circumstances and was a very vocal supporter/fundraiser for the event. Even though I wasn’t much of a cyclist at the time, these two events in my life motivated me to get involved. I did my first bicycle century – 100 miles – that year on day 1 of the ride from Houston to Austin, Texas.

Tell us about the jersey you wore during the race.
The jerseys for these rides are one of my favorite parts. I think there are about 2,000 cyclists that participate in the Waves to Wine (San Francisco to Sonoma) ride each year, and more than 10,000 that participate in the BP MS150 (Houston to Austin) ride. That translates into tons of cool-looking jerseys everywhere you look that show off great organizations like Google, Cisco, HP, etc. that are supporting their employee teams who ride and volunteer in these events. I’ve happily worn my Winston & Strawn jersey each year since joining the firm and am grateful for the support I’ve received.

What is the mission of the National MS Society?
Bike MS is a cycling fundraising arm of the National MS Society. The group organizes cycling events across the country in which participants ride hundreds of miles to raise money to stop MS in its tracks. The organization brings together thousands of cyclists and volunteers across the country and has raised more than $1B to date for this great cause. 

Any future bike rides planned for the upcoming year?
Maybe. There are a lot of great cycling events for a number of great causes, particularly here in the Silicon Valley area. That being said, God and time willing, I’m definitely planning on participating in the Waves to Wine Bike MS again next year (September 2020).