Hartford County Gearing Up for the 2016 Bike MS Ride
May 17, 2016
Bike MS: Praxair Off the Chain Ride 2016 is a ride that will take you farther than you’ve ever gone before.
WINDSOR, Conn. – The 2016 Bike MS Praxair Off the Chain Ride, presented by Griffin Industrial Realty and Louis Dreyfus Company, will be held Sunday, June 5, in Windsor and Sunday, June 12, in Norwalk. Although there are two separate rides, there is only one destination in mind for these cyclists - a world free of MS.
This year, Windsor’s Bike MS is Off the Chain, with the most exciting rides and the most entertaining post ride celebration yet. Choose your route and wind your way through the Connecticut countryside as dedicated supporters cheer you on. Cross the finish line and be welcomed with a cold brew from Broad Brook Brewing Company, some hot barbecue from Danny’s Little Taste of Texas and a rejuvenating massage.
Cyclists at the Windsor location will gather at Griffin Center Business Park and ride across the colonial countryside of Northern Connecticut, opting to cycle 10-, 25-, 50- or even 100-miles. A two-mile ride is also available for children.
Bike MS is a physical challenge for cyclists of every level, but it's so much more than just a ride. The camaraderie, passion and memories that come from sharing the experience with family, friends and teammates last a lifetime.
All routes are well supported with fully stocked rest stops, safety provided by medical personnel, HAM radio operators, law enforcement, and local bike shops.
Last year, Bike MS attracted more than 500 cyclists and raised $518,000 for the National Multiple Society, Connecticut Chapter.
The registration fee for this year's ride is $35 with a minimum fundraising amount required per registered rider of $125.
Community partners include Serendipity Magazine, WFSB Channel 3, WTNH News 8, Connoisseur Media’s The FOX 95.9 and WRCH Lite 100.5, which has supported and promoted the ride for almost 30 years.
More than 6,500 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 2016 Bike MS: Praxair Off the Chain Ride, presented by Griffin Industrial Realty and Louis Dreyfus Company, or to donate, visit ctfightsMS.org.
About the Connecticut-Rhode Island Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society
The Connecticut Chapter strives to provide knowledge and assistance to help people with MS and their families maintain the highest possible quality of life. These goals are achieved through vital national and local programs.
About Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are leading to better understanding and moving us closer to a world free of MS. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with at least two to three times more women than men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 2.3 million people worldwide.