Last weekend, I had the great good fortune to participate in a fantastic Bike and Yoga workshop with Cathy Guest, my regular yoga teacher. After an hour or so of yoga and basic bike instruction, we were served up a yummy lunch. The six participants, including myself, needed fuel for practicing our hill climbing, braking and aerodynamic skills! We biked from the studio to Bayswater Beach, and back. Twenty-four kilometers along what I believe is one of the most beautiful coastal routes in the world.
All of this is in preparation for the big MS Bike Tour on July 25 & 26. I’ve just finished trying to post my plea for team members and sponsorship on various social media tools. Hopefully, I’ll reach someone! Here’s the copy in case you didn’t see my appeal on Facebook or Twitter:
Windsor-Wolfville-Canning-Wolfville-Windsor
25k + 35k +25k = 85k (53 miles) July 25 & 26, 2009
A young people’s disease. MS – Multiple Sclerosis— is usually diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 40. My dad, Don, was diagnosed in his early 40s. In the prime of his life. Attacking the brain and spinal cord, the symptoms of MS show themselves in horrible ways. Victims lose mobility, they lose their eyesight, they lose their ability to balance. They’re often tired and in pain. When Don was diagnosed, he was an active runner, he was the leader of a 20-person crew, and he was an avid outdoorsman. The disease took away most of what he found enjoyable in life. Robbed him, really. But most of you who know this great spirit named Don, know that he has always looked on the bright side of life, and remains positive. He even spends time in the mountains each year, albeit sitting in his wheelchair instead of roaming the woods. And, he’s thinking about learning to chair ski next winter! My dad is able to do this largely because he takes daily injections of a drug that holds the disease’s attacks at bay. This drug would not be available to MS sufferers without research funding from fundraisers like the MS Bike Tour.
Only 18% of the funds raised for the Canadian MS Society go to administrative costs. The rest goes to research, education and services. I believe in this organization; I know that they work well with other health service providers and fund international research projects. If I didn’t trust them, I wouldn’t consider bruising my bum over a total of 85 kilometres (that’s 53 miles for you, my American friends and family)!
Don is my motivation. He’s my dad. His positive attitude and will in light of this horrible disease that is diagnosed three times each day in Canada alone, serves as my inspiration. While MS is more likely to attack women as it is men, there are many dads among the 50,000 victims in Canada. Please, won’t you consider sponsoring me in my effort, “Doing it for the Dads”?
Join my team or pledge me. Visit https://msofs.mssociety.ca/2009Bike/Sponsor.aspx?&PID=1129982&L=2 There, you’ll have an opportunity to help me to make a difference.
25k + 35k + 25k = 85k (53 miles)
$2.50 + $3.50 + $2.50 = $8.50 (Canadian!) If you donate $.10 for each kilometre I will pedal, we’ll all be doing a small part in helping to make a big difference in some people’s lives! Every little bit counts.
You’d do it for your dad, wouldn’t you?
DeNel Rehberg Sedo 