The Miracle Riders will travel to 34 states between May 2 and 23 as they continue to raise awareness of the Columbus State University School of Nursing and additional funds for its new neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) simulation lab.

On Wednesday, March 26, Scott Ressmeyer, co-owner of Country’s Barbecue and founder of the Miracle Ride, announced the riders' plans for the nearly 9,500-miles, round-trip trip. Riders, including 11 riding for the first time, will stop in 32 cities and towns along the way to deliver postcards with personal greetings from family and friends back home. Recipients were selected from more than 40 submissions to the ride website earlier this year.

Dubbed the “Pony Express Ride,” this year's trek honors the iconic symbol of the Old West, which for 18 months beginning in 1860, delivered mail on horseback. While some Miracle Riders will travel the entire cross-country route, others will deliver personal greetings to several people here in Georgia.

The Miracle Riders have supported the Columbus State School of Nursing since 2021, when they established a multi-year fundraising goal of $1 million to enhance the school’s pediatric nursing program. To date, they have raised $600,000 toward that goal through three separate rides. In 2022, they funded life-like mannequins, technology and other enhancements for a new pediatric simulation lab. Funds raised in 2023 provided similar technology and enhancements for the school’s mother-baby simulation lab. The 2024 ride provided initial funding for the new NICU simulation lab.

President Rayfield speaking at a podium“We are always excited about the ride and telling the story of CSU’s nursing program, but this year is something special,” Ressmeyer said. “This year we get to connect friends with friends and families with families through the Pony Express.”

“This is the greatest group of men I have ever had the opportunity to spend time with. For Columbus State to be affiliated with them is our honor and our privilege,” said President Stuart Rayfield (pictured). “I want to thank these guys; their heart for Columbus and every child in our community means everything to Columbus State. We are the lucky beneficiaries of their hard work and devotion.”

The new lab is scheduled to open to nursing students and faculty in Frank D. Brown Hall this fall. Nursing leadership and faculty have worked since last year on identifying needs for equipment, technology and furnishings and developing the curriculum for training. Dr. David Levine of Neonatology Associates of Columbus and a long-time Miracle Ride supporter has provided guidance throughout the planning and development process.

Ressmeyer standing behind a podium introducing Levine

Miracle Rider founder Scott Ressmeyer (behind podium) introduces Dr. David Levine at the March 26 media event.

“Simulation has become one of the most important parts of training healthcare workers in the last 15 to 20 years, particularly in neonatal care. To have a state-of-the-art neonatal simulation lab here at Columbus State is incredible. We are so blessed to have this in CSU's nursing school,” Levine said.

The new lab will provide opportunities for Columbus State student-nurses, area NICU nurses and other local healthcare providers to train together in the care of premature infants. A premature baby mannequin from Laerdal, a world leader in medical simulation technology and education, will be used in the lab. The mannequin’s name is “Paul,” derived from the Latin word for “little one.”

Equipment will also include a simulation radiant warmer bed designed to keep the infant’s temperature regulated, and routine and emergency equipment scaled to the premature infant. There will also be “skill trainers” scaled to the premature infant for practice in procedures such as inserting intravenous needles in scalp veins and completing heel sticks for lab blood draws.