Mar 06, 2009
Riders With A Cause
Beth Cohen
Fort Lauderdale, FL – Each spring for the past 22 years, countless cyclists have been making a 150-mile journey from Miami to Key Largo and back, and they do it all in the name of charity. In its 23rd year, The Zimmerman MS Bike Ride anticipates breaking record numbers in participants and fundraising to reach a goal of $2 million.
The National MS Society event, which will be held May 2nd & 3rd, 2009, is Florida’s largest and most exciting charity bike tour, raising money to help 6,000 South Floridians affected by multiple sclerosis.
Last year’s ride generated over $2 million through corporate sponsorships and fundraising efforts of 3,000 cyclists.
Riders will begin their trek at 7:00 a.m. at the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami start line, and spend the night in Key Largo at The Village at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Once all the riders arrive, they will celebrate at a tropical beach party with food, fun and entertainment. After a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast, riders will return to BankUnited Center at UM, where dedicated volunteers will cheer them across the finish line. One of the highlights includes a highly anticipated NASCAR style lap around The Maroone Pit Stop at Homestead-Miami Speedway as friends and families cheer them on the second day of the ride. Participants receive a medal from a person with multiple sclerosis or volunteer before they sit down for lunch and chat with their new friends.
“MS Bike Ride participants, volunteers and supporters are individuals that are passionate about creating a world free of MS. This year more than ever as a community we need to help raise the funds necessary to support those in dire need.” said Karen Dresbach, National MS Society, South Florida Chapter President. “It is inspiring to see each rider share a common goal of cycling hundreds of miles to support the cause.”
In addition to the generous support from title sponsor, Zimmerman Advertising the following have committed as major supporters of the Zimmerman MS Bike Ride: Maroone, Dade County Federal Credit Union, Miami-Dade County, American Medical Response, FedEx, UPS, Ryder, Cordis, Homestead-Miami Speedway, BankUnited Center at the University of Miami, Publix, Bacardi USA, 790 The Ticket, 93 Rock, NewsRadio 610, Comcast, Sun-Sentinel, The Miami Herald, el Nuevo Herald, Telemundo 51, Univision, CBS 4, Clearchannel Worldwide and The Palm Beach Post.
To register for the Zimmerman MS Bike Ride please contact 1 800 FIGHT MS
(800-344-4867) or online at www.msbikeflorida.org
About Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis interrupts the flow of information between the brain and the body and it stops people from moving. Every hour in the United States, someone is newly diagnosed with MS, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. 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 more than twice as many women as men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 400,000 people in the U.S., and 2.5 million worldwide.
About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
MS stops people from moving. The National MS Society exists to make sure it doesn’t. The National MS Society helps each person address the challenges of living with MS. Last year, through its 50 state network of chapters, over $136 million was devoted to programs that enhanced more than one million lives. To move closer to a world free of MS, the Society also invested over $50 million to support 440 research projects around the world. Early and ongoing treatment with an FDA-approved therapy can make a difference for people with multiple sclerosis. Learn about your options by talking to your health care professional and contacting the National MS Society at www.nationalMSsociety.org or 1-800-FIGHT-MS (344-4867).
Contact: Beth Cohen of Boardroom Communications, 954-370-8999 or e-mail bcohen@boardroomprcom.