Bike MS

Lion Sid brought a good friend to speak with us this evening about Bike MS.  Tom Andrews is an attorney who has been riding in this event for many years.  He has a passion for it because his sister actually died from MS and another relative has been affected as well.  Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves in particular.  The disease affects different people in different ways and behaves differently as well.  For example, sometimes the disease progresses but more often it goes into remission and a person has periodic relapses thereafter.  The National MS Society is the primary organization which raises funds for MS research.  And Bike MS is a big part of that effort.  This year over 100,000 cyclists will participate across the country and approximately 2100 of them will be in New Bern, NC early in September.  This is the 25th year for the event in New Bern.  Options for cyclists are 30, 50, 75 and 100 mile routes on both Saturday and Sunday.  It is an extremely well run and organized ride with EMS support, clear route markings, “SAG” vehicles and rest stops every 12 miles or so.  Approximately 80% of the riders are from the Triangle area.  If you would like to contribute to this cause, please make a check payable to “National MS Society” and give it to a rider (like Lion Sid, who will also be riding) or to to the National MS Society web site by clicking this link and you can choose the “Bike MS: Historic New Bern Ride” button. Pictured above are Lion Bekki Bennett, Tom Andrews and Lion Sid Harrell.