May 09, 2012
Jackson, NJ – Jackson resident, Leslie Miller, will get on her bike this coming May 19th to cycle the New Jersey coastline to help to fund a cure for multiple sclerosis, a chronic disease of the central nervous system for which there is no cure. This year is Leslie’s second year supporting the National MS Society by participating in the Bike MS event. She will cycle 25 miles, in of itself it is no easy feat, but to add to that she is also a person living with multiple sclerosis.
Leslie was diagnosed with MS two years ago, when she was 41 years old. Leslie’s symptoms are similar to those of any busy mom over 35 - fatigue, forgetfulness and blurred vision. When Leslie began to experience some "balance" issues, she knew that what was happening to her was more than just getting older. A visit to the doctor yielded two possibilities, Lyme disease or MS. A spinal tap would reveal that is was MS.
“I joined the Bike MS ride for the first time last year and my team “Pedal Pushers” won an award for best new team. We did the 25-mile ride and I had 12 friends from my daughter's travel soccer team, "Jackson Alliance" join me. This year I have 20 friends doing the ride and everyone is really looking forward to it,” says Leslie.
Two years after Leslie’s diagnosis, she is doing well and taking disease-modifying medications. “The shots still hurt and it is an inconvenience to do every other day, but it seems to be working and has slowed down the progression of the disease. My friends and family have been very involved and supportive - which makes all the difference. My goal is not to have MS alter my life too much, you can't sit around and complain, you need to keep moving and stay positive!”
On Saturday and Sunday May 19, 2012 Leslie and her team will put the pedal to the meddle and coast the New Jersey coast to help create a world free of MS in the 2012 Bike MS “Coast the Coast” Ride. Her goal is to create MS awareness and raise funds to support critical programs and services and help fund a cure.
The New Jersey Metro Chapter’s “Coast the Cost” Bike MS ride will host over 2,000 participants and volunteers with a goal of raising $1 million as they pedal along the Jersey Shore. Participants are welcome to register individually, or join or create a team, and choose from one or two day ride lengths. For more information about Bike MS please contact: Mary Beth Maclearieat 800-344-4867 or visit http://bikenjm.nationalmssociety.org.
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. Every hour in the United States, someone is newly diagnosed with the disease. 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 2.1 million worldwide.
About the National MS Society
The National MS Society is a movement by and for people with MS. The Society funds cutting-edge research, drives change through advocacy, facilitates professional education and provides programs and services that help people with MS and their families to move their lives forward. MS stops people from moving. We exist to make sure it doesn’t.
Join the movement.
Find out more at nationalMSsociety.org/njm
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