Firm founder Stephen Susman rides again as #1 fundraiser
HOUSTON, TX, April 20, 2015—When the annual BP MS 150 charity bike ride to benefit multiple sclerosis finished yesterday in Austin, Susman Godfrey LLP’s “Swift Justice” team completed the ride with more than $1.1 million funds raised to date and with firm founder Stephen Susman crossing the finish line as the number-one fundraiser for the fourth year in a row.
Susman, 74, made his sixth and last appearance in the ride, joining Susman Godfrey partners, associates, family and friends from all the firm’s offices in Houston, Dallas, New York, Los Angeles and Seattle. As the top fundraiser in last year’s event, Susman earned the right to wear the coveted #1 bib at this year’s race and lead the riders across the finish line in Austin. In honor of his final year as a rider, he rode with his son Harry Susman, and his grandson Nicholas Kuhn.
“My wife Ellen finally made me promise this would be my last year to ride in this great event, which raises money to fight this terrible disease, Susman said. “It was exciting to do so with all my friends and colleagues from the firm. But it was a special privilege to cross the finish line in Austin with three generations of my family and I thank Harry and Nicholas for doing this with me.”
Swift Justice Team Captain Trey Peacock noted that this year’s MS 150 will be the 10th BP MS 150 in which Swift Justice has participated. In that time, the Susman Godfrey team has raised more than $1.1 million to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
“In 2014, we surpassed our goal of $250,000 and were one of the top 10 fundraising teams and the top team in fundraising per rider.” Peacock said. “This year, we raised more than $225,000, bringing our team to date total to more than $1.1 million. We have now joined the National MS Society’s Circle of Distinction, which recognizes those teams that raised $1 million or more to bring us closer to a world free of multiple sclerosis.”
Several of the team’s other riders, Jonathan Ross, Trey Peacock, and Terry Oxford, were among the top 100 fundraisers in the event, which includes over 13,000 riders.
The 180-mile BP MS 150 is the nation’s top fundraising ride for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The two-day, Houston-to-Austin ride attracts thousands of riders, who join together to raise both money and awareness. Since its inception in 1985, the BP MS 150 has raised approximately $195 million for MS research, programs and services.
