I just talked to my friend Nick a little while ago. He was on his lunch break after riding his bicycle for several hours already this morning. You see, every year for the past several years, he has joined a team of cyclists who bike 150 miles across two days to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
My family fortunately has not had anyone with multiple sclerosis, but I knew several people in my hometown who did. Mrs. K., my 4th grade teacher and one of my favorites, has only been able to get around via motorized cart for the past 15 years or so. Another Mrs. K., my 9th grade health and phys ed teacher, also has it. The mom of a high school classmate was diagnosed when my classmate was a baby, and was told that she would not live to see her daughter grow up. Fortunately, the doctors were wrong. Two of my college friends had fathers who were disabled by the disease. G's dad could not even travel to his wedding due to the MS.
My friend Melissa's sister also has it. Her sister is a widow with two young children. Nick rides for everyone with the disease, but particularly for her.
Multiple Sclerosis is a tricky disease. It is progressive, meaning that it gets worse over time, and there is no cure. It can go into remission, but also can eventually lead to disability and death. The National MS Society supports research and advocacy efforts to raise awareness and hopefully someday discover a cure.
Nick is on his bike working his legs as we speak. If you would like to hear more from him about last year's ride, see some photos, and learn why he does this, go here. If you wish to make a donation toward his fundraising efforts, you can do so on that page.
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