Riding for MS

This October I am doing something I have never done before, I am participating in a charity ride. Yep, me, on a bicycle peddling for 30 miles, not something I have remotely considered myself capable of, but I’m beginning to see that there is much I can do to help other’s while helping myself along the way. Last year, my boyfriend took part in the ride and I went along to volunteer. Never having met anyone with Multiple Sclerosis, I was unsure what to expect. Would I see people in wheelchairs that couldn’t speak with me? Would the atheletes participating be like the men I saw riding at the beach, heads down, helmets to the wind?

Much like the 3 Day Breast Cancer walk that I participated in 3 years ago, I found that the day was filled with people from all walks of life, with a diversity of reasons for riding and volunteering. Some were there because they were avide bicyclyst, and just wanted the opportunity to ride a century (100 miles). Some had been touched by MS in their lives and wanted to make a difference through donations. My boyfriend has been touched by a courageous woman who raised her 3 children with love and patience, while MS raged through her body making the smallest tasks difficult. A wonderful man that I worked with at the registration table had MS and was doing this to help other’s avoid the treatment and care that he has faced since his diagnosis in his twenties. Moron that I was, I didn’t even realize he had MS until he pointed out to me his cane and explained his motives for joining in the MS fundraiser.

Sure, there were women and men in wheelchairs or driving little electric carts, suffering from a variety of aspects of the disease. What stood out for me was the smile and vivaciousness of one of the women with her electric wheelchair. Her sheer force of personality, her positive energy and outlook was so much stronger then what her body could or could not do with MS. It was inspirirng, which is why I’m going back, which is why I am riding and fundraising this time. I’ve raised over $700 so far, a fact I am very proud of. Think about donating, if you have a spare $5-10. Not to me, but to the cause. Here is where your tax deductible donation can be made, and if you do particpate, please let me know.