May 16, 2009
Cycling To Create a World Free of MS
New Jersey – This weekend, The New Jersey Metro Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society hosts the 18th Annual Bike MS “Coast the Coast” ride, with approximately 1,600 cyclists pedaling varying lengths from Monmouth University to Cape May. Participants ride the 25, 50, 85, or 170-mile rides on both Saturday, May 16th and Sunday, May 17th, with the ultimate goal of raising over a million dollars for MS services and programs that directly benefit the lives of 13,000 people in New Jersey and 400,000 people nationwide suffering with MS.
“The inspirational cyclists and volunteers that come out to support the Bike MS “Coast the Coast” ride, combined with the beautiful backdrop of New Jersey coastal towns, make the ride an unforgettable experience for all,” said Gina Murdoch, Vice President of Development for the National MS Society – New Jersey Metro Chapter. “For 18 years, “Coast the Coast” has been a crucial part of helping the 13,000 New Jersey residents and over 400,000 people nationwide move forward in their lives.”
The Bike MS “Coast the Coast” is hailed as one of the premier cycling events in the area. Riders are treated to a first-class bike ride complete with mechanical support, clearly marked routes, terrific food and snacks including and supportive volunteers and post-event parties. On Saturday, May 16, 25-, 50-, 85-, and 170-mile courses begin at the William T. Boylan Gym at Monmouth University. The 25- and 50-mile courses follow a loop through waterfront communities, while the longer courses travel down the New Jersey Coast, breaking in Tuckerton, and continuing down to Victorian Cape May on Sunday. Participants are also welcome to join the ride in Tuckerton on Sunday morning where a second 85-mile trip down the coast will begin.
About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
MS stops people from moving. The National MS Society exists to make sure it doesn’t. We mobilize people and resources to drive research for a cure and to address the challenges of everyone affected by MS. In 2007 alone, through our home office and 50 state network of chapters, we devoted over $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 over $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 your options by talking to your health care professional and contacting the National MS Society at nationalMSsociety.org or 1-800-344-4867. For more information about Bike MS or to make a donation please contact the New Jersey Metro Chapter at (732) 660-1005 or (201) 967-5599 or visit us online at bikenjm.nationalmssociety.org.
About Multiple Sclerosis
• 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 advancement, 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.