HAMPTON ROADS — Virginia resident Randall Pope has completed his 250-mile power chair ride throughout the commonwealth to help raise awareness and funds for Multiple Sclerosis research, reaching the Pentagon on June 2.
Pope, who was diagnosed with MS in 1995, served in the Army as a helicopter mechanic. After returning from a run in June of 1994, Pope’s vision in his right eye was gone. He visited the medical clinic at the base and was diagnosed with optic neuritis, an early indicator of his MS diagnosis that eventually came in 1995.
On May 28, Pope began his ride from Christopher Newport University headed to William & Mary, and while the rain poured down, Pope’s spirit didn’t dampen.
“To reach Williamsburg, it took away the doubt from anybody who thought we weren’t going to do it. Even in all that water and with all the rain, getting splashed by cars, we did it,” Pope said.
Taking off from Williamsburg for the longest day of his ride, Pope and the team headed to the Virginia Capital Trail to ride the 60 miles to Richmond.
His ride also included stops at Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Richmond, Randolph-Macon College, Mary Washington University and George Mason University.
When he arrived at the Pentagon on June 2, Pope was met with a celebratory welcome from the Pentagon Police and was also given a special challenge coin from the Pentagon Police Chief.
While sitting in his chair, a uniformed Navy officer came out from the Pentagon and saw Pope. Pope, wanting to show respect for the officer, stood with the help of his friends to offer a salute to the officer.
“I don’t know his name, I don’t know who he was but I was not going to have an officer standing in front of me as a non-commissioned officer and not render and return his salute. I will not do that. I couldn’t just look at him and talk to him without saluting him back,” Pope recalled.
While the 2025 ride is now complete, plans are already in the works for rides in 2026, 2027, and 2028.
Pope’s hope is that money raised can help paralyzed veterans in the Virginia and North Carolina areas.
“If a vet can’t get in his house because he doesn’t have a ramp or a chair, we need to be there to help that vet. Why can’t I be the one that helps people? I’ve gotten plenty of help from the VA and everybody else over the life, why can’t I provide their help? That’s all I want to do,” Pope said.
Pope’s fundraising page is still accepting donations. The total amount raised will be revealed to Pope at a special after-party taking place June 13.
To donate or to learn more, visit Rolling with Randall on Facebook.