Loud applause and blaring rock music greeted bicyclists crossing the finish line Sunday at a fund-raising event at North Myrtle Beach Middle School.

Gov. Mark Sanford, the most well-known participant in the Breakaway To The Beach MS 150 event, slipped into the crowded parking lot around 11:30 a.m.

Sanford still showed a big smile, even after a five-hour, 100-mile bike ride from Florence.

The event raised thousands of dollars for the study of multiple sclerosis and helped the governor promote his ideas on physical fitness in South Carolina.

"This is a great event for MS," he said. "We have 3,500 people with MS in South Carolina and 6,000 in North Carolina."

The governor, who has participated in other fitness challenges, wants South Carolinians to become more active. After loading his bike, he was heading to his son's soccer game.

"I won't be able to walk tomorrow," he joked.

Students from North Myrtle Beach Middle School volunteered to load bicycles and sort luggage while the participants sipped Gatorade and rested their sore muscles.

The finish line at the high school was decorated with balloons and signs to encourage hundreds of riders on their final lap.

First over the finish line were Jeff Nunnaley and Ed Haski, both employees of Wachovia Bank. The two left Weddington, N.C., on Saturday and rode 190 miles.

"A fellow employee with MS said that she appreciated me putting my legs to a good cause," Haski said. "We have a friendly competition with Bank of America. We'll raise about $250,000 between us."

Sunday's event started at Wilson High School in Florence and finished in North Myrtle Beach.

Some riders with more endurance started the fund-raiser Saturday in Camden and Rockingham, N.C.

Many riders were inspired by by close friends and family members who have the disease, which causes inflammation of the central nervous system and can cause motor skills problems.

"We have two very close friends who have MS," said Charlene Hamilton, who waited for her husband to finish his ride. "A lot of people do it for the exercise, but the cause is important."

Juanita Mosteller from Lincolnton, N.C., waited for her daughter to cross the finish line. Her son-in-law also was participating in the MS 150.

"I lost a daughter to cancer last October," Mosteller said. "My other daughter knows what illness is, so she wanted to help out in some way."

Charlene Hamilton

MS 150 biker