Miracle Riders ‘Pony Express Ride’ delivers continued support for nursing program, sim labs
May 28, 2025
The Miracle Riders returned to Columbus on Friday, May 23, after their 21-day motorcycle ride, which raised awareness of the Columbus State University nursing program and additional funds for the School of Nursing’s new neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) simulation lab.
This year’s group of riders returned from their 34-state motorcycle trek to a celebration in Uptown Columbus, where they joined Columbus Mayor Skip Henderson and Columbus State President Stuart Rayfield on stage. In keeping with this year’s “Pony Express Ride” theme, a rider on horseback preceded the Miracle Riders down Broadway and delivered a letter from Ride for Miracles founder Scott Ressmeyer and the riders, which Henderson read to the crowd.
“Yes, we have daily struggles,” Henderson read. “But if we look for the good in people and our own community, life will be better for everyone we touch.”
“We did right at 10,000 miles and delivered 38 letters from y’all out there,” Ressmeyer told the crowd after taking the stage. “But there’s nothing that feels any better than coming back home to Columbus, Georgia. We saw tears in people’s eyes, we saw joy, we saw laughter and we saw what the great American spirit is all about.”
Rayfield noted that while the riders rode for the university’s nursing program and its students, they rode for more than that.
“They were riding for each and every one of your families. There is not a family member in this community that does not benefit from one of our nurses over the time they are here—especially children,” Rayfield said, calling the group “ambassadors” and crediting them with “keeping children healthy and giving all children a shot at life once they are born. I can’t tell you what a privilege it is to be associated with these guys.”
President Rayfield (with microphone) addresses Scott Ressmeyer (holding check) and
the crowd following the Miracle Riders' return to Columbus.
Ressmeyer and the riders presented Rayfield with a ceremonial check for $227,950 raised
during the ride for the new NICU simulation lab. That brings the total they’ve raised
for the NICU simulation lab to more than $425,000—and $827,950 through four rides
since 2021 toward its $1 million pledge to benefit the School of Nursing’s pediatric nursing program and
its three Miracle Riders-funded simulation labs. The group’s first ride to benefit Columbus State departed in 2022 to fund life-like mannequins, technology and other enhancements for a new pediatric
simulation lab. Funds raised in 2023 provided similar technology and enhancements for the school’s mother-baby simulation
lab (pictured). The 2024 and 2025 rides provided funding for the new NICU simulation lab.
The newest lab will open to nursing students and faculty in Frank D. Brown Hall this fall. It will provide opportunities for Columbus State student nurses, area NICU nurses and other local healthcare providers to train together to care for premature infants. A premature baby mannequin from Laerdal, a world leader in medical simulation technology and education, will be used in the lab. The mannequin’s name is Paul, derived from the Latin word for “little one.”
Equipment will also include a simulation radiant warmer bed designed to keep the infant’s temperature regulated, and routine and emergency equipment scaled to the premature infant. There will also be “skill trainers” scaled to the premature infant for practice in procedures such as inserting intravenous needles in scalp veins and completing heel sticks for lab blood draws.
ABOUT THE MIRACLE RIDE
The Miracle Riders began in 2009 when Ressmeyer set out alone on a ride through the 48 contiguous states to celebrate his 50th birthday and raise funds for the Children’s Hospital at Midtown Medical Center in Columbus. Over the next six years, 29 motorcyclists joined the ride, raising $1.2 million for the hospital’s pediatric services.
After meeting their initial goal, the riders broadened their fundraising efforts to
include other local services for children. In 2015, they established the Miracle Ride
Fund in the Community Foundation of the Chattahoochee Valley. Since that inaugural
ride in 2009, generous individual donors and corporate sponsors have gifted more than
$3 million to support services for children.
The riders pay all their own expenses on their annual cross-country trips. Collectively,
they have spent more than $825,000 of their own money to participate in the rides.
For more information or to support the Miracle Riders financially, visit rideformiracles.com. For a recap of this and past years’ rides, visit their Facebook and Instagram accounts.
ABOUT THE SCHOOL OF NURSING
Based in Columbus State University’s College of Education & Health Professions, the School of Nursing offers undergraduate and graduate nursing programs, including a BSN program; an RN-BSN program with on-campus and online options; an on-campus and online MSN program with Nurse Educator, Nurse Informaticist or Nurse Leader tracks; and an FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner) MSN program with both on-campus and online options. With more than 10 faculty members, students enjoy a 15-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio.
The School of Nursing has full approval from the Georgia Board of Nursing and is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and many of its programs are ranked regionally and nationally for their affordability and academic rigor.
Main image: Miracle Riders founder Scott Ressmeyer presents a ceremonial check for $227,949.56 to support the Columbus State University's School of Nursing NICU simulation lab.
Media contacts:
Columbus State University: Michael Tullier, APR, Executive Director of Strategic Communication + Marketing, 706.507.8729,
mtullier@columbusstate.edu
Miracle Riders: Marion Scott, marion.scott120@gmail.com