Phil Cooper Participated in Bike MS: City to Shore and Raised Funds for Multiple Sclerosis Society

Phil Cooper participated in the Bike MS: City to Shore annual fundraising event for the 29th year in a row to benefit the Multiple Sclerosis Society. The Cooper Pest Solutions staff also set up 420 yellow jacket traps along the bike route to prevent the bikers and volunteers from being stung.

The Bike MS: City to Shore event is held annually in New Jersey, where participants raise funds and gather donations with the support from their family, friends, and the community. In 2019, 7,000 cyclists rode across New Jersey over the course of two days, ending in Ocean City, NJ, on September 22. Cooper and his team raised over $3,000 which goes directly back to the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

In addition to Cooper’s contributions as a cyclist, the Cooper Pest Solutions staff set up yellow jacket traps at the volunteer tents along the bicycle route and rest areas to ensure that volunteers and riders were not stung in the summer heat when yellow jackets are active. This year, over 8,000 yellow jackets were caught in the traps, greatly minimizing the populations in the area.

“When I first started, at every rest stop, yellow jacket stings were a normal way of existence for the volunteers and the riders. The ride is held at the end of September, which is the height of the yellow jacket season. With all of the food and drink present, yellow jackets pose a major health concern,” said Phil Cooper.

“We started working with the MS Society 26 years ago hoping to reduce the number of stings, and it is now an expectation that stings do not happen. It is a massive undertaking with the majority of the Cooper Pest team helping to place 420 yellow jacket traps at all of the rest stops. This year the weather was perfect for yellow jacket activity with clear blue skies and temperatures in the low 80s. The trapping which utilized only organic materials (beer and fruit juice) caught over 8,000 yellow jackets. Our plan is to be part of the event for years to come so that riders and volunteers can focus on what is important: raising money to help those with MS and to find a cure.”

The Cooper Pest Solutions Business Development team supported the riders at the finish line and created a buzz with their booth. Their annual Madagascar hissing cockroach races were an immediate hit, putting smiles on hundreds of riders and their family members in attendance.

“At Cooper Pest Solutions, we’re always looking for ways to WOW the community and give back. Our teammates each year look forward to joining the MS bike ride at the finish line in Ocean City.” Said James Haidacher, Director of Business Development at Cooper Pest Solutions. “The roaches are always the center of attention when the children and families come to visit us. The roaches and our team love to put smiles on everyone’s faces!”

Embedding into the community is innate to Cooper and the Cooper Pest Solutions staff. With staff members across New Jersey and into Eastern Pennsylvania, supporting the communities where they live and the clients they help is paramount.

“As part of the We Care culture of our parent company ServiceMaster and WOW the Community within Cooper, I truly believe giving back to the community is a critical part of corporate America. We use the MS Ride as our signature event to create a yellow jacket free environment for the riders and volunteers during the City to Shore weekend. It has become an annual event for the members of the Cooper team, and they shine every year,” said Cooper.

About Cooper Pest Solutions

Cooper Pest Solutions is a progressive and full-service pest management firm that provides pest control services for residential and commercial clients throughout New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. Since its founding in 1955 by Theodore H. Cooper, they strive to develop and adopt the most advanced and effective pest treatment methodologies available. Cooper Pest Solutions has been the recipient of several local awards including the Best of Bucks & Montgomery Counties in Pennsylvania. Cooper Pest Solutions is a business unit of ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SERV), a leading provider of essential residential and commercial services. To learn more about Cooper Pest Solutions, visit www.CooperPest.com.