CITGO Community Action Team Helps Put an End to Multiple Sclerosis

DeKalb, Ill., July 15, 2013 /3BL Media/ – The CITGO Community Action Team (CCAT), the employee volunteer team at the CITGO Lemont Refinery, cycled between 35 and 200 miles to raise money for multiple sclerosis in the 32^nd Annual Bike MS: Tour De Farms Event. Hosted by the Greater Chicago-land Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 51 Team CITGO riders and volunteers participated in the ride on June 22-23, 2013.

“Participating in Bike MS was a deeply rewarding and challenging experience,” said Team CITGO rider, John Gobert, a Training Manager at the CITGO Lemont Refinery. “During the times of pedaling into a strong headwind, the thought of those stricken with this disease gave me the motivation to keep going when my body wanted to quit. Team CITGO was excited to ride alongside the other riders and make a positive impact in the lives of those living with MS.” 

Bike MS is a national cycling series that was created by The National Multiple Sclerosis Society to raise money and awareness to fight multiple sclerosis (MS). Held at more than 100 locations across the country, thousands of riders come out each summer to join the ride and fight the disease. 

The Chicago-land area race is a two-day event in which riders personally fundraise and choose to ride anywhere from 35 to 200 miles. This year’s participants began their journey at Northern Illinois University and continued along the back roads of the beautiful DeKalb countryside.

Team CITGO, comprised of a total of 51 riders and volunteers, were among the nearly 2,000 cyclists participating to help the National Multiple Sclerosis Society find the cause, cure and treatment of MS. The team raised more than $19,000 this year. The CITGO Lemont Refinery has been a part of the Bike MS event for 16 years. After the ride, the event staff hosted an outdoor celebration for teams to relax after two full days of biking. In addition to its fundraising victory, the CITGO team had another reason to celebrate. For the fifth time in six years, the Tent Decorating Committee won the best tent award, as their Chicago Blackhawks theme proved to be a hit. 

The CITGO Lemont Refinery employs more than 800 local residents on a full-time and contract basis in support of the local economy. While Lemont refinery employees produce high quality fuels for a large portion of the network of nearly 6,500 locally owned CITGO stations across the country, they also make a major positive impact on the community. Each year more than 2,500 volunteer hours and thousands of dollars are given in support of community programs such as Muscular Dystrophy Association, United Way and a variety of environmental and preservation programs. For more information on the CITGO Lemont Refinery, visit www.citgorefining.com/Lemont.

CITGO, based in Houston, is a refiner, transporter, and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by PDV America, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. For more information, visit www.CITGO.com.

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