HARTFORD, Conn.—The 2014 Praxair Bike MS, presented by Louis Dreyfus Commodities, will be held Sunday, June 1, in Windsor and Sunday, June 8, in Westport. Although there are two separate rides, there is only one destination for these cyclists — a world free of MS.
Cyclists at the Windsor location will gather at Griffin Land and ride across the Connecticut countryside, opting to cycle 2, 10, 25, 50 or even 100 miles.
In Westport, the ride will begin at Sherwood Island State Park and travel along the Connecticut shoreline. Route options include 10, 25, 50 and 100 miles, as well as a Kiddie Ride.
Last year, Bike MS attracted more than 800 cyclists and raised a record $578,000 for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Connecticut Chapter. This year, the chapter hopes to raise $595,000.
Finish line festivities include a barbeque lunch, live entertainment, local vendors offering product samples, free massage therapy and more.
Darren Kramer, evening news anchor for WTNH News 8, has teamed up to serve as the grand marshal. Kramer, of Madison, has a personal connection to multiple sclerosis and has worked closely with the chapter since 2006, when he joined News 8.
“National MS Society events are especially important to me and my family because my mother-in-law battles the effects of multiple sclerosis,” says Kramer. “News 8 is dedicated to helping different charities throughout Connecticut.”
The registration fee for this year’s ride is $25 prior to March 31, and $35 thereafter. The minimum fundraising amount per registered rider is $125.
Community partners include WTNH News 8, The Fox 95.9, and WRCH Lite 100.5, which has supported and promoted the ride for more than 27 years.
More than 6,000 Connecticut residents are affected by multiple sclerosis, a potentially debilitating disease. The cause is unknown and there is currently no cure for MS. Symptoms can include numbness in the limbs, difficulties with vision and speech, stiffness, loss of mobility and, in some more severe cases, total paralysis. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot be predicted.
Funds raised by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Connecticut Chapter, through events such as Bike MS, ensure ongoing scientific research to find better treatments and a cure, as well as help to provide vital programs and services offered by the chapter to those in the state living with multiple sclerosis.
For more information on the 2014 Praxair Bike MS ride, presented by Louis Dreyfus Commodities, or to donate, visit www.bikeMSct.org.
3/25/14