The Pilot News - Reality show host welcomed in Plymouth

Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter presented Phil Keoghan with a key to the city, after proclaiming Sunday, April 26, 2009 “Phil Koeghan Ride Across America” day in Plymouth. Keoghan has crossed the country for causes before, but this trip, which brought him through Plymouth, is designed to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis. Pilot Photo/John K. Reed

By Rusty Nixon Correspondent
PLYMOUTH — Bicyclists raced across Plymouth Sunday with reality show host Phil Keoghan for a reason.
The star of CBS hit reality show “The Amazing Race” stopped in Plymouth as part of his bike across America to raise awareness and money to find a cure for multiple sclerosis.
“My dad’s cousin has MS,” said Keoghan. “It’s a terrible, crazy disease, and the way he’s dealt with it is inspirational. He hosts a fishing show in New Zealand and he’s refused to give up. He’s a big burly man like my dad and now he hosts his show from a wheelchair. He refuses to quit.”

Keoghan became involved with raising money for the MS Society four years ago. His original goal was to come up with $250,000 for the charity on this ride. Having already surpassed that, the new goal for he and his father is half a million.
He’s also had his share of adventure on his ride.
“We had 60 mile per hour tail winds at one point,” he said. “I was riding at 57 miles per hour on a flat run. When I didn’t peddle I was running at 30 miles per hour. We had the opposite too. I was riding at 300 volts and was only doing six and a half miles per hour.”
Even a trip to the hospital didn’t stop Keoghan’s trip.
“I remember feeling horrible one day, really terrible, one of those days that you just don’t want to get up,” he said. “That day a young man with MS got out of bed for the first time in six months just to come and meet me. As bad as I felt, he feels that bad every day. That’s why I keep going.”
Fans across the country have kept up with his ride by logging on the Web site www.philridesacrossamerica.com which has led to some interesting moments.
“People can see exactly where we are on the site,” he said. “And they’ve literally been running out of their houses to wave as we go by.”
Keoghan’s ride is scheduled to end up in New York City on May 9. Locally the MS Society will hold its annual fundraising walk in South Bend and the College Football Hall of Fame on Saturday beginning at 9:30 a.m. Mary High of Plymouth is collecting donations for the walk locally and those wishing to make a contribution can contact her at 574-936-4290.