Sep 30, 2009
Bike to the Bay expects more than 1,500 cyclists this weekend
Carla Koss
This weekend, October 3–4, more than 1,500 cyclists will pedal their way from Dover to Rehoboth Beach—and back—at the 2009 Bike MS: NRG Energy Indian River Power Plant Bike to the Bay. According to event organizers at the Delaware Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the logistics have been worked out to create the safest, most enjoyable ride possible. “Bike to the Bay is a massive undertaking,” notes Holly Maddams, the chapter’s director of development. “The chapter and more than 200 volunteers work all year to create a safe environment over the event’s two days and a smooth operation over the event’s 150 miles—all so the cyclists can raise $1 million for MS research and the programs needed by more than 1,500 Delawareans and their families.”
For more information, call (302) 655-5610. Or visit www.MSdelaware.org.
About Bike to the Bay
A choice of rides—Bike to the Bay actually comprises five rides. The 17-mile ride begins at the famous Uncle Ted’s rest stop in Milton. The 45-mile ride begins at Lake Forest High School in Felton. And the 75- and 100-mile rides begin at the Terry Campus of Delaware Technical & Community College in Dover. The ever-popular 150-mile ride also begins at DelTech, but the cyclists on this ride retrace the route back to Dover on Sunday, October 4.
Fundraising support—Whether riding as an individual or in a team, each cyclist receives a lot of support from the Delaware Chapter for fundraising efforts. The cyclists’ goal is to raise $1 million for MS research as well as the programs and services needed by more than 1,500 Delawareans with MS. 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 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 and 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 1,500 Delawareans, 400,000 people in the U.S., and more than 2.1 million people 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 www.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 www.nationalMSsociety.org or at 800-FIGHT-MS (800-344-4867). In Delaware, call (302) 655-5610. Or visit www.MSdelaware.org.