Foster first became interested in Bike MS when a relative emailed him about the ride. It was suggested that Foster could "do a charity ride or laze on the beach" during his holiday vacation to North Carolina. Foster chose to ride. "I have never been a runner and walking is too sedate, so cycling seemed like the obvious choice for me." Unfortunately for Foster, this August has also been the wettest in more than 100 years in the United Kingdom. Despite the setbacks, Foster has stayed positive. "The added benefit of raising money for worthwhile cause keeps me motivated and on my bike," he says.
On September 13 and 14, Foster and more than 2,000 other riders, will gather at Union Point Park in historic downtown New Bern for the National MS Society’s 20th Anniversary Bike MS ride (formerly the MS 150). The two-day ride is one of North Carolina’s largest recreational rides, featuring courses of 30 miles, 75 miles, and 100 miles each day. It benefits the mission of the Eastern North Carolina Chapter of the Society with the money going to support services for local people affected by multiple sclerosis and the Society’s efforts to find better treatments and a cure.
Bike MS is the largest organized cycling series in the country. More than 100,000 cyclists participate in 100 rides across the United States. Unlike a racing event, Bike MS is designed to provide a scenic, challenging ride for both the experienced cyclist and the energetic novice. Bike MS includes fully-stocked rest stops with bike mechanics, support and gear vehicles on the routes with the cyclists in case of mechanical problems, and dinner with live entertainment at the end of the day. The ride is complemented by a schedule of training rides across the region that began May 3.
Foster’s goal is to raise more than $1,000 for the event, and he is confident that he can exceed that amount with the help of his pledges. "I have never cycled 100 miles back-to-back, but it will be a great experience and challenge for me. I am looking forward to the event."
It is not too late to register. For more information, registration and event sponsorship, visit www.msbike.org or call 1-800 FIGHT MS.About Multiple Sclerosis:
Multiple sclerosis interrupts the flow of information from the brain to the body and stops people from moving. Every hour in the United States, someone is newly diagnosed with MS, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with more than twice as many women as men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 400,000 people in the U.S. and 2.5 million worldwide.
About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society:
MS stops people from moving. The National MS Society exists to make sure it doesn’t. We help each person address the challenges of living with MS. Each year, through our home office and 50-state network of chapters, we devote approximately $125 million to programs and services that enhance more than one million lives to move us closer to a world free of MS. In 2007, the Society invested more than $46 million to support 440 research projects around the world. We are people who want to do something about MS NOW. If you or someone you know has MS, please contact the National MS Society today at www.nationalmssociety.org/nct or 1-800 FIGHT MS to learn about ways to help manage multiple sclerosis and about current research that may one day reveal a cure.
