SOUTH WINDSOR, Conn. – When the cyclists on Team Saint Francis Care suit up in their team jerseys and head out for the 2016 Bike MS Praxair Off The Chain Ride this June, one thing is for sure – there will be passion in each push of their pedals.
 
“As soon as a very close loved one was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2004, I paired my love for cycling with the MS cause by registering for Bike MS,” shared Jeffrey Moss, a physician assistant with Saint Francis. “I’ve loved to ride ever since my grandparents gave me my first 10-speed bike when I was 13. I guess you could say Bike MS was a natural fit.”
 
For a few years, Moss rode alone, driven solely by his passion to help find a cure for MS, a potentially debilitating disease affecting the central nervous system. In fact, it wasn’t until Moss shared his cycling journey at the hospital that coworkers gained interest in the ride, and in 2009, Moss met his match in a registered nurse  and colleague named Jae Lorenzet.
 
“Jae is the organizer of Team Saint Francis Care,” Moss said proudly, noting that Lorenzet will never be the first to take credit for getting the team together year after year. “He keeps all the lists, sends all the emails, and handles all the coordination that goes into organizing a team of colleagues.”
 
Lorenzet, too, is a dedicated cyclist, who shared that he’s been participating in charity cycling events since the 80s, when he remembers asking people to sponsor him at 5 cents a mile.
 
“I rode a lot when I was younger, and then took a long hiatus from cycling events,” shared the 57-year-old Lorenzet. “I got to know Jeff through working together in the surgical ICU at Saint Francis in Hartford for the last decade. Once I heard about his passion for cycling and his connection to multiple sclerosis, I knew I could get on board with the Bike MS ride.”
 
The two co-captain the Saint Francis Care Bike MS cycling team, which at its peak, had 33 riders and raised more than $6,000 in a single year.
 
“The National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter’s Bike MS ride is by far the best supported event I’ve experienced,” said Moss, with Lorenzet quick to agree. “The event is organized, the routes are clearly marked, the entertainment and food at the finish line are great. And, it’s a great opportunity for us to foster a sense of camaraderie and togetherness outside of work. After the ride, our team has our own tent, we share a few beers and talk about how we all did.”
 
This year, Team St. Francis Care will join hundreds of cyclists for the 2016 Bike MS Praxair Off The Chain Ride, presented by Griffin Industrial Realty and Louis Dreyfus Company, Sunday, June 5, at Griffin Center Business Park in Windsor. A second ride will take place Sunday, June 12, in Norwalk.
 
This year, Windsor’s Bike MS is Off the Chain, with the most exciting rides and the most entertaining post ride celebration yet. Participants will wind their way through the Connecticut countryside before crossing the finish line and being welcomed with a cold brew from Broad Brook Brewing Company, some hot barbecue from Danny’s Little Taste of Texas and a rejuvenating massage.
 
“Bike MS offers 2-, 10-, 25-, 50- and 100-mile options in Windsor, and usually cyclists from our team will choose to participate in a few different routes,” said Moss. “This year, I’ll be heading out for the 25.”
 
Lorenzet shared that he’ll take on the 50-mile course, along with the majority of his returning team members.
 
“I usually will be out on my bike two or three times a week at this point in the season,” said Lorenzet. “How far I ride is highly dependent on the time I have, but I’ll be sure to be prepared for the real deal come June 5.”
 
When asked what keeps Bike MS interesting year after year, Moss referenced the excitement of lining up with a team to head out on a journey, together, for a good cause.
 
“I’ve done other rides with colleagues in the past, but the environment wasn’t the same,” said Moss. “There weren’t volunteers and staff members waiting at the finish line, cheering you on as you came in like there are at Bike MS. I’ve never been last to come in, but the staff and volunteers at the National MS Society wait until every last cyclist returns from their ride and their accomplishment is celebrated.”
 
Lorenzet also shared that though working in healthcare, he’s met many individuals living with MS, and riding for a cause he’s witnessed is one of the most rewarding parts of Bike MS.
“I’ve seen the devastating effects of MS, and within the past year have had a good friend diagnosed with the disease,” said Lorenzet. “This year, I’ll actually be riding in her honor.”
 
More than 6,500 Connecticut residents have self-identified with the National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter, as living with MS, a potentially debilitating disease. The cause is unknown and there is currently no cure. Symptoms can include numbness in the limbs, difficulties with vision and speech, stiffness, loss of mobility and, in some more severe cases, total paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot be predicted.
 
Last year, Bike MS attracted more than 500 cyclists and raised $518,000 for the National Multiple Society, Connecticut Chapter. Funds raised by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Connecticut Chapter, through events such as Bike MS, ensure ongoing scientific research to find better treatments and a cure, as well as help to provide vital programs and services offered by the chapter to those in the state living with multiple sclerosis.
 
“Bike MS is a physical challenge for cyclists of every level, but it's so much more than just a ride,” said Alicia Barrows, development specialist in charge of recruitment for Bike MS at the Connecticut Chapter. “The camaraderie, passion and memories that come from sharing the experience with family, friends and teammates last a lifetime.”
 
Community partners include Serendipity Magazine, WFSB Channel 3, WTNH News 8, Connoisseur Media’s The FOX 95.9 and WRCH Lite 100.5, which has supported and promoted the ride for almost 30 years.
 
For more information on the 2016 Bike MS: Praxair off the Chain Ride, presented by Griffin Industrial Realty and Louis Dreyfus Company, or to donate to Team St. Francis Care, visit ctfightsMS.org.