HARTFORD, Conn. – When the Lady Katherine
Mystique ship pulls away from the Charter Oak Landing Saturday, May 21, the ship will be full of hope in the form of hundreds searching to find a cure for multiple sclerosis.
Development Director for the Velox Rota (TVR) Bike MS team, Avon resident Rachael Bubbs spearheaded the event along with a few other TVR members.
Team Velox Rota, one of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s (NMSS) largest fundraising charity bike teams in the northeast, has organized the event to help raise funds for the Society. TVR proudly holds the title of the largest friends and family cycling team in New England, sporting 430 cyclists over 12 years. The team started by Michael Augustine, President, in Massachusetts, with the Cape Cod Getaway as its primary ride. The team has expanded and now participates locally in the Bike MS Praxair Ride, scheduled for Sunday, June 5, in Windsor and Sunday, June 12, in Norwalk.
“I’m incredibly passionate about Bike MS,” said Bubbs, sharing that her sister-in-law, Amy Bubbs, was diagnosed with the disease about 16 years ago. “My motto is ‘Go big, or go home.’ And as development director for the team, I’ve met a lot of great people who are helping me do even greater things than I could on my own.”
One such connection is with Nancy Manafort. Manafort heard about a cruise event Team Velox Rota hosts in Boston and wanted to help bring such an event to Connecticut. She agreed to underwrite the cost of the cruise to help ensure that more funds went directly to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Patrons of the cruise can expect a fun night out with friends and family, meet new people, and support a great cause - all at the same time. Tickets for the cruise are $200, which thanks to Manafort's generosity, will go directly to the National MS Society. There will be dinner, three hours of cruising, dancing and access to exclusive silent auction items, ranging from an African Safari trip to diamond and ruby jewelry sets. Boarding begins at 5 Saturday, May 21, at the Charter Oak Landing, departure is at 5:30 and the boat will return at 9 p.m.
Bubbs, who has consistently been the top fundraisers for Team Velox Rota, said, “We’ve had a lot of breakthroughs with research, and we’re getting closer to a cure. It feels good to know we're making a difference. We are hoping to raise $75,000 to continue to support programs and research locally and nationally.”
Team Velox Rota will be distributing funds raised from the cruise across three key areas for the National MS Society: research, programs and locally, the Hayley’s Hope and Michaela’s Miracle MS Memorial Fund.
In July 2007, after the tragic loss of Jennifer, Hayley and Michaela, the Petit family established the Hayley’s Hope & Michaela’s Miracle MS Memorial Fund. The Petit women, who were beloved members of the Connecticut Chapter family, had been instrumental in helping to raise awareness and funds in the fight against multiple sclerosis. The locally-restricted memorial endowment fund continues their work, providing for the more than 6,500 Connecticut residents and their families living with MS. The interest and income from the fund makes available scholarships for college students who either have multiple sclerosis or have a parent with MS. The memorial fund also provides for family educational programs and programs and services related to pediatric multiple sclerosis.
Cruising for a Cause hopes to sell an additional 100 tickets by May 21 to fill the boat to capacity with individuals who want to help ‘sink’ MS for good and find a cure for those with MS.
“Amy is more than a sister-in-law to me; she is my sister,” said Bubbs. “I really wanted to do something to help support the cause. The National MS Society enables me to unite my passions with my desire to help make a difference in the lives of people living with MS.”
Tickets can be purchased online at cruz4MS.eventbrite.com. Multiple sponsorship opportunities are also available. To purchase tickets by check or cash please contact Rachael Bubbs at
rbubbsTVR@gmail.com or 860.490.6440.