Yes, we're riding agin, but not in bunches.
This time last year I thought that this time this year Covid-19 would be behind us and we would be back to dealing with MS as our main concern. Alas, both evils are still with us and while Covid-19 has captured most of the general attention, MS continues to make life miserable for tens of thousands of Canadians, and many more than that around the world. Alleviating their struggles with MS requires research and services, and in the circumstances of Covid-19, it's not everyone who is able to help out. If you are, please support our efforts by hitting the Donate Now button at the borrom of the page and doing what you can.
It's about reducing suffering.
Cyclists like to tell themselves that it's all about pain and suffering, but it's nothing compared to what MS patients go through. There may be a little suffering involved in the Cowichan Valley Experience ride, but we're happy to do it if it helps the people who really count, the tens of thousands of MS patients in Canada and less directly, millions elsewhere.
This is personal
I've generally had good luck with health, but my brother-in-law, Mike Addison, was not so fortunate. He suffered from MS for about 25 years until passing away on November 6, 2018.
In 2004 his two kids, James and Nicky, and I plus a couple of other friends decided to do something about MS by signing up for the Grape Escape, as it was then called, and seeing whether we could raise some money for MS research and services. At the time we hoped, of course, that our efforts would in some way improve Mike's life as well as those of other MS patients, but now we're carrying on in his memory.
There has been progress on several fronts, but MS is unfortunately still with us, and the need for patient assistance services is ongoing. Please support our effort to improve the lives of those with MS, and hopefully progress toward an MS-free world in the long run, by pledging whatever you can to our project. It's deeply appreciated.
Putting the money to work
A few years ago I was selected as a member of one of the national panels that review applications for research support. This was part of the MS Society's effort to ensure that supported research is relevant to members of the MS community as well as being scientifically sound. My term is now over, and looking back I think it was worthwhile as well as interesting - I was especially pleased by the level of interest that the scientific members of the panel took in the views of us "civilians" and it reinforces my confidence that the money we raise is getting put to good use.
This video gives you an idea of what is being done: https://youtu.be/fiC_VRpxrgw
What is the ride?
We are out of luck for a masss ride again this year, but we will be out on our bikes all the same. The details are still being settled, but we will be riding individually and probably not just on August 7, accululating kilometers to demostrate our commitment to fighting MS.
The MS Society has established a Facebook group that many of us are using to log our training rides so you can find out what we're doing to demonstrate our commitment here
https://www.facebook.com/groups/591131004943724
I will also post my rides here, from June 1 up to July 31, so stay tuned to see how we are doing!
July 15 https://www.relive.cc/view/vXvLXxjWK1v 32 km
July 5 https://www.relive.cc/view/vXOnGJG9n56 21 km
July 5 https://www.relive.cc/view/vNOPr1zwm2q 32 km
June 27 https://www.relive.cc/view/vrqDQLo3Lwv 22 km
June 20 https://www.relive.cc/view/vNOPrRrBZ2q 50 km
June 18 https://www.relive.cc/view/vXvLdQnJ47v 31 km
June 16 https://www.relive.cc/view/vJOKgndrNwO 18 km
June 13 https://www.relive.cc/view/vMv8QPNZZPO 23 km
