Vicki Desantas, Ware, Mass., Joe Desantas, Ware Mass., David Wolfram, Middlefield, and Alan Weir, Manchester, get ready for the 2014 Bike MS Cardio Express Ride on Sat., Sept. 13, at Riverside Park in Hartford. The four made up the Pachaug Biker Dawgs Bike MS team, which rode in support of Vicki Desantas, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis last year. Weir led the team as captain in raising more than $1,600.
(From left to right) Tony Drakes, Bloomfield, Maurice Vassell, Broad Brook, and Paul Wilson, New Britain, catch up before the start of the 2014 Bike MS Cardio Express Ride, which took place on Sat., Sept. 13, at Riverside Park in Hartford. Drakes and Vassell are members of the Octagon Cycling Club. They started participating in the ride when Wilson, who is living with multiple sclerosis, became friends with Drakes, his mechanic, at Tony D’s Auto Repair Shop, LLC, located in Bloomfield. While Wilson could not participate in the ride, he is an advocate for the National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter, travelling to numerous public policy conferences across the country. He also was a participant of The Voice, and sang the National Anthem at the ride.
Vernon resident Jason Turek and South Windsor resident Krystia Kvietkauskas have a Benidorm Bikes representative give their rides a once over before setting out for the 2014 Bike MS Cardio Express ride, which took place on Sat., Sept. 13, at Riverside Park in Hartford. Turek, a manager at the Southington Cardio Express location, has participated in the ride since he joined Cardio Express’s staff five years ago. Kvietkauskas has participated for four years.
Cromwell resident Desiree Sabo leads the pack at the 2014 Bike MS Cardio Express Ride on Sat., Sept. 13, at Riverside Park in Hartford. Sabo, a district manager for Cardio Express fitness centers, has participated in the ride since she joined the gym’s team eight years ago. To date, Sabo has raised more than $1,100 for Team Cardio Express, which has a fundraising total of $35,000.
Marlborough resident Pam Chudzik, sister Karen Crebase, and mother Joyce Crebase don their Team PAT jerseys for the 2014 Bike MS Cardio Express Ride on Sat., Sept. 13, at Riverside Park in Hartford. Together, Team PAT has been riding in the fall Bike MS ride since 1999 in honor of Pam’s twin sister, Patricia, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1997. Karen, now an assistant superintendent for the Nashua School District, travelled home from New Hampshire to participate in the ride. Joyce resides in Wallingford. Since its beginning in 1999, Team PAT has raised more than $100,000 for the National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter.
(From left to right) Middletown couple Peter and Mary Schmitt meet up with friends Janet Choutka, Chris Choutka and Colleen Canny, all of Tolland, at the 2014 Bike MS Cardio Express Ride, which took place on Sat., Sept. 13, at Riverside Park in Harford. This was the group’s first time participating in the ride, which they did in support of Janet’s husband who is living with MS. They are members of Team VCC, Vernon Collision Center. To date, the team has raised $2,150, well over their original $1,000 goal.
Daniel Howell, Lena Howell, Mike Hill, Sue Huntington and Lisa Gabrielle line up at the start of the 2014 Bike MS Cardio Express Ride on Sat., Sept. 13 at Riverside Park in Hartford. The five were members of the Ride Away Riders Bike MS team, captained by Gabrielle. Ride Away, one of the America's largest providers of wheelchair vans, vehicle modifications, and adaptive equipment including hand controls, wheelchair and scooter lifts, ramps, raised doors, lowered floors and specialized gas, brake and steering controls, is based in East Hartford. Despite forming the team only one week prior to the event, the team has raised more than $600 for the ride.
Ellington residents Gianfranco and Amanda Conti pose by the Connecticut River while getting ready for the 2014 Bike MS, Cardio Express Ride. Amanda signed up to ride as a member of the Cardio Express fundraising team after hearing about it while attending the gym.
Vernon resident Danielle Holdridge saddles up for the 2014 Bike MS, Cardio Express Ride, which took place on Saturday, Sept. 13 at Riverside Park in Hartford. Holdridge was inspired to cycle 25 miles at the event after learning that the owner of Cardio Express fitness gyms, of which she is a member, is living with multiple sclerosis. She and a few friends from the Vernon-based gym joined the Cardio Express Bike MS team and finished the ride together. To date, Holdridge has raised more than $350.
More than 200 cyclists turned out for the ride, which included 75-, 50- and 25-mile routes. To date, the ride has raised $100,000 for the National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter. Fundraising will continue until Tues., Sept. 30. For more information or to make a donation to Team Cardio Express, visit www.bikeMSct.org.