NBC Connecticut Returns as Title Sponsor for a Third Year

WALLINGFORD, Conn. – One of the newest members of West Hartford-based NBC Connecticut’s news team will serve as grand marshal for the NBC Connecticut MS Motorcycle Ride, which will be held Sunday, July 22 at the Oakdale Theatre inWallingford.

A Farmington resident, Todd Piro recently joined the station as a reporter after four years with KPSP, a CBS-affiliated station in Palm Springs, Calif., where he served as weekday morning anchor for the past two years. Prior to making TV news his career, Todd practiced law for five years at a prestigious Wall Street law firm and also worked for the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office.

In college, Piro was news director and anchor at WDCR/WFRD Radio in Hanover, N.H. While there, he also performed play-by-play duties for numerous sports, including hockey and lacrosse. Piro interned at WABC-TV, Good Morning America, and Fox News Channel, all in New York, as well as WNNE-TV 31 in White River Junction, Vt.  During his career, Piro has interviewed Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum, legendary Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully, Sen. John McCain, Martha Stewart, Sheryl Crow, Sam Donaldson, and Rep. Mary Bono Mack, as well as famous chefs, doctors, comedians, and performers.

Piro graduated with a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of California Los Angeles School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in government from Dartmouth College (magna cum laude/Phi Beta Kappa).

For the first time ever, the Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford will host the NBC Connecticut MS Motorcycle Ride Sunday, July 22.  Also, for the first time, the 2012 ride will feature two satellite start locations, one inNorwalk and the other inEast Hartford.

Shoreline riders will leave from the National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter, office at 1 Selleck Street in Norwalk. Bikers east of the Connecticut River will depart from Gengras Harley-Davidson in East Hartford. The main start location will leave from the Oakdale Theatre. All three rides depart at 11 a.m. and follow a scenic, 60-mile back road route to the finish line party at the Oakdale Theatre, featuring live music by Vivid, a barbeque, vendors, drawings and more.

Last year’s ride, held in Southington, attracted hundreds of bikers and raised more than $42,000.

The National MS Society is encouraging bikers to form teams and take part in fundraising, similar to the teams formed for Walk MS and Bike MS.

Registration for the MS Motorcycle is available online at www.ctfightsMS.org, but bikers can also register the day of the event from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. There is a $30 fee for riders and a $20 fee for passengers. Friends and family wishing to take part in only the finish line activities, which includes lunch, pay just $10. The 50-mile ride will kick-start at 11 a.m. sharp. Finish line activities include live music, a barbeque, drawings for prizes, a vendor expo and much more.

Motorcycle ride sponsors include NBC Connecticut, which is title sponsor for a third year, Connecticut Cruise News, Haymond Law, and Hot Leathers. For more information on the 2012 NBC Connecticut MS Motorcycle Ride, to start a team or to register, visit www.ctfightsMS.org.

6/7/12