This year, I will be participating in the virual ride July 25/26 weekend, by riding with my husband and daughters through the country north of Waterloo with two 75 km routes each day.    

Through your support and the fund raising efforts of our team, I have hope that those afflicted by MS and their families will win the fight to end MS.   I am also part of one of those families. My brother Mike was diagnosed in 2009 with a severe, agressive, form of MS. The past few years, his MS disease has been more dormant with some improvements in mobility, sight and cognitive ability. Due to the severe congitive and spinal damage experienced in 2010, he'll likely always need to live in the complex care hospital, but over time, there's been acceptance and there's joy in his life. Knowing the uncertainty of this debilitating disease, our family is appreciative of the long recovery phase he's been in and try not to worry about the unknown and when a MS attack could occur. Living day by day, is the norm for those with MS as this disease seems to lay in wait at times then strike out and take away capability and freedom without reason.

Can you imagine

Having multiple sclerosis means that one morning you may not be able to walk when you wake up. Or that you may suddenly have impaired vision. Or that your memory will fail you for no apparent reason. The symptoms of MS are many and vary for everyone. It is estimated that approximately 55,000-75,000 men and women in Canada have the disease, and every day about three more people are diagnosed.

a future without MS

I have registered for the MS Bike tour to fulfill a personal challenge, and to help the MS Society fund research, advocate for change, and help people with MS and their families. The MS Society is the only national voluntary organization in Canada that supports both MS research and services, and the MS Bike Tour has been a critical part of the MS Society’s fundraising efforts for over 20 years. Proceeds from this event and others like it provide support and services to help those living with this disease, their families and caregivers. They also fund research with three primary goals: to find a cause and cure for MS, repair nervous system damage caused by MS and stop MS attacks. By supporting me, you too can make a difference in the life of someone with multiple sclerosis.

I am part of an MS Bike event because I believe in a future without multiple sclerosis and with your help we can get there. Please give generously.