Jul 21, 2009
Get ready for the ride of your life!
Carla Koss
Whether you’re cycling in one of the one-day Bike MS events on Saturday, October 3, or are committed to the time-honored two-day ride, Delaware’s premier cycling event promises to be stunning, scenic, and memorable—especially if you start training now.
“Bike to the Bay takes you through two counties in Delaware,” explains Holly Maddams, M.P.A., C.F.R.E., development director for the National MS Society, Delaware Chapter, “from the city streets of Dover to the sands of Rehoboth. It’s a unique route, and the cyclists who have been riding year after year appreciate the sense of community that comes with such an effort made on behalf of loved ones with MS. But it is an effort. We understand that. So, we at the Delaware Chapter work year round to create the safest and most enjoyable environment possible.”
“We have lots of ideas for motivating you, too,” notes the chapter’s teams coordinator, Karen Shore. “We realize that you need to get out there and take training rides to ensure you achieve your goal, whether it’s to complete the 17-mile ride or the 150-, and we’re here to help. We offer strategies, incentives, and awards, and of course, we’re always here to answer your questions and to cheer you on.”
“I can guarantee,” adds Maddams, “that your effort will be worth it. You will feel that you’re on the ride of your life, not only as you look into the grateful faces of the folks with MS working at the rest stops along the route, but also at the finish line party at the beach. Bike to the Bay is the event of a lifetime.”
For more information, call Karen Shore at (302) 655-5610, ext. 26, or email your inquiry to karen.shore@MSdelaware.org.
About the 2009 Bike MS: NRG Energy Indian River Power Plant Bike to the Bay
A long name for a good cause—New to Bike MS last year, NRG Energy and the Indian River Power Plant continue to support the event in a big way: with a team of cyclists, as the sponsor for the Ellendale rest stop, and as the lead sponsor of the event. Because of this generous support, the company’s name has been incorporated into the event’s name, but more importantly, more of every dollar raised through the event will go directly to support more than 1,500 Delawareans living with MS and the research needed to, eventually, find the cure.
A choice of rides—Taking place October 3–4, 2009, the event actually comprises five rides. The 17-mile ride begins at 1:00 P.M. at the famous Uncle Ted’s rest stop on Route 88 in Milton. The 45-mile ride begins at 11:00 A.M. at the Lake Forest High School in Felton. The 75- and 100-mile rides begin at 8:00 A.M. at the Terry Campus of Delaware Technical & Community College in Dover. And the ever-popular 150-mile ride also begins at 8:00 A.M. at DelTech, but the cyclists on this ride retrace the route back to Dover on Sunday, October 4.
Fundraising support—Hoping to raise $1 million in this year’s event, the Delaware Chapter supports the cyclists’ fundraising efforts in a big way. After registering for the event, each cyclist receives everything needed to collect contributions and stay motivated. Cyclists who raise more than $550 earn great prizes, including high-quality commemorative gear and gift certificates from local bike shops.
Support on the road—More than 200 compassionate and highly competent Delaware Chapter volunteers work tirelessly over the two-day weekend to maintain a safe and enjoyable route for all the bicyclists. These volunteers also set up and man rest stops every 10 to 12 miles along the route. Each rest stop is well stocked with beverages, fruit, and high-energy snacks. Professional bike mechanics and support-and-gear wagons constantly patrol the route for cyclists in need. If necessary, the cyclist and his or her gear are transported to the end of the ride. And overnight accommodations in Rehoboth Beach hotels are also available. In other words, the Delaware Chapter tries to anticipate and meet the cyclists’ every need.
About multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis, an unpredictable, often-disabling disease of the central nervous system, interrupts the flow of information within the brain and between the brain and the 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 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 400,000 people in the U.S. and more than 2.1 million worldwide.
About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
MS stops people from moving; the National MS Society exists to make sure it doesn’t. We help each person address the challenges of living with MS. In 2007 alone, through our home office and 50-state network of chapters, we devoted more than $136 million to programs that enhanced more than one million lives. To move us closer to a world free of MS, the Society also invested more than $50 million to support 440 research projects around the world. We are people who want to do something about MS—NOW.
Join the movement at nationalMSsociety.org.
Early and ongoing treatment with an FDA-approved therapy can make a difference for people with multiple sclerosis. Learn about the options by talking to a health-care professional and then contacting the National MS Society at nationalMSsociety.org or at 800-FIGHT-MS (800-344-4867).
In Delaware, call (302) 655-5610. Or visit www.MSdelaware.org.