While their connection, style and experience varied, at least 12 Austin residents united this year behind the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s “The Ride Across Minnesota,” a 275-mile bike trek designed to raise money for and awareness of the debilitating disease.

“It’s a really rewarding experience to help out people,” Mary Nelson, a 19-year veteran of TRAM, said. “Plus, I have all this help and good energy — why waste it?”

Snaking from Grand Rapids to Duluth, the five-day experience July 20-25 took more than 1,000 people across the northern range of Minnesota, with major stops in Chisholm, Biwabik and Two Harbors.

Described as a “summer camp” by first-timer Bonnie Erickson, a “family experience” by 10-time participant Jim Weiss, and almost indescribable by Nelson, TRAM provides an enriching experience also capable of raising significant dollars.

Bicyclists, each charged with garnering $300 in donations prior to, raised more than $1 million total for the cause.

“You can’t put it into words,” Nelson said.

The 12, which included Erickson, Nelson, the Knopik family and the Weiss family, entered the event for varying reasons and goals. The father of sisters Char Knopik and Jan Weiss was diagnosed years ago, and sporadically since they, their husbands and children have given the week for the effort.

“The whole family’s together, and there’s no video games, no TV — it’s just family time,” Jim Weiss said.

Nelson was urged by a friend at the first-annual event 19 years ago. The skepticism she originally had was quickly replaced by appreciation and drive. Her many years with the event has also showcased how many people she knew that suffered the disease.

“Boy, you find out how many people have MS,” she said, adding that at one point, she helped lead a local team for the event.

“Once you start getting out and finding out how many people have MS, it makes it really worthwhile,” she said.

Her sentiment is similar to Erickson’s, who rode along side Lynn Cunningham with shirts reading “Spam Town Girls.”

“I’d really like to do it again, with the idea that we’d raise more money,” she said.

Which is the perfect segue to Nelson’s pitch: “We’re trying to get the team back together,” she said, while offering praise to her annual sponsors. “Be a volunteer, and help out people that can’t do all the fun stuff we’re allowed to do.”

According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, MS is a chronic, auto-immune disease that attacks the central nervous system, causing mild to severe symptoms such as numbness, vision loss or paralysis.

Approximately 400,000 Americans suffer with the disease.