Bill Benner: Overcoming Odds and Supporting Our Community
Look out, FMR coming through! Bill Benner aka FMR aka Fat Man Rolling has been a consistent feature of the Washington D.C./Maryland Bike to the Beach ride since he first rode in 2019, bringing a smile to the face of everyone who interacts with his positive energy and can-do attitude. A lifelong athlete, Bill brings the same determination that took him through college football and playing rugby through a tour of Ireland to each and every ride he participates in. He is still going strong after two spinal fusions and overcoming cancer in 2021, finding motivation in the positive effect that the money Bike to the Beach raises and all the lives that it can help.
Bill was shown the importance of giving back at a young age. After his sister was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, he watched as his mom helped co-found the United Cerebral Palsy Foundation of Central Pennsylvania when she realized there were no organizations out there to provide support to individuals with CP in the state. It was after his second spinal fusion, a nine fusion surgery, that Bill was told he could no longer participate in any athletics that involved running. His desire to find something to continue stroking his athletic fire led Bill to hop back on a bike for the first time since he was a kid. On one of his early rides, Bill was on the road in Richmond with a good friend of his. They were cruising when they came across another group of riders and spent a few miles passing each other back and forth. After one of the passes, Bill heard one of the other riders say something to the people he was riding with, even though he couldn’t quite make it out. Bill’s friend could though, and turned to Bill, asking him if he had heard what they said. When Bill said no, his friend told him, “They said, that fat man is rolling.”. And on that day, FMR was born.
After participating in a few other charity rides, the Suan G Komman cancer ride specifically after his mom passed away from cancer, Bill was looking around online and came across the Bike to the Beach ride information. The cause got him interested and signed up, and the fantastic experience he had on that first ride is what kept him coming back. Throughout the years, Bill has found success in his fundraising efforts by maintaining consistent contact with his past donors, updating them about his progress and really allowing them to participate vicariously through him. From the first year to now, he has managed to retain about 85% of his original donors year after year, something that he credits as key to reaching higher and higher donation numbers. Throughout his years of participation, Bike to the Beach has become a true family affair for Bill. His sister lives in Rehoboth along the trail path, so he’s able to stop in and see her, and his youngest daughter (who is now a lacrosse coach at a major college) has recruiting trips in the area at that time of the year so she’s able to pick him up after the ride. Between his fellow riders, strong donation team, and the volunteers/staff that help the event run smoothly, Bill has no plans on stopping his riding any time soon! Come on out to next year’s Washington D.C./Maryland ride to see the Fat Man Rolling in action!
