Last year I journaled my experience during the MS Ride and shared it with as many people as I could think of.  This year i've written a letter to the people that sponsored me,  not only to thank them but to explain why I ride for MS.

 

I'm sharing this with this group in hopes of encouraging others who rode last week to share their experiences on the ride.  And hopefully to encourge even more people to join us next year.

 

I'm also sharing because I need to say thank to so many others on this list for helping me make it to the MS ride this year.  Strength and inspiration can and will come from places were you least expect it.

 

Thank you Jen J and Nikki for sitting with me during my appointments  and being there when I needed you.

Thank you to everyone who told me I looked good even thought I knew better.

 

Thank you to Randy and Vic and many others for riding with me when I wasn't 100%.  Staying back with me even thought I didn't think I needed them to.  They new better,  I did.

 

And...Thank you  to my partner, John, for tell me I was being ridiculous when I was being ridiculous.  And for being my hairdresser for almost a year and not charging me.

 

It is amazing to be part of this ycling community that we have created.

 

"This chapter is closed"  Time to start a new one.  Hope to see you all next year on the MS ride.

 

Ann

 

oh...BTW  I think we can start signing up for next year in Nov. :)

 

 

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Thank you for sponsoring me this year in the Rona MS Bike tour.  My team, Roger’s Angel’s raised almost $18000 between 33 riders this year. The events total was over $1 240 000.

 

 Last year I rode for MS for the first time because a friend of a friend was doing it and I thought it would be a great opportunity to test my new abilities as a cyclist.  This year I rode for a completely different reason.

 

Below you will see a picture of part of my team crossing the finish line on Sunday in Grand Bend.  I’m the 5^th person coming in the gate.  The man in the wheel chair is Mike.  Mike has MS.  Each year Mike sits at the finish line both in London and in Grand Bend and “High Fives” us as we cross.  This year, in London , Mike sat in the rain and sun and rain  waiting for each and every person to cross the finish line.  There were 1725 people who started arriving at 11am and didn’t stop until 4pm.

 

Last year Mike spoke at the MS awards ceremonies on the Saturday night.  He spoke of his dreams, his goals for the next year, how he was planning to train to climb Mount Everest and how he was planning to ride with us in 2011 on an adapted bike.  I found Mike’s speech very inspiring.  It’s hard to believe that someone one with so much going against him could find the strength and the motivation to continue to challenge him self so.  Mike’s speech inspired me to promise myself to stay strong and motivated no matter what challenges came up in my life.  Three weeks after Mike’s speech I was diagnosed with cancer and had to put this newly made promise to the test.  It’s funny how things always work out. Seems like more often than not the universe or what ever you choose to call it offers up just what you need when you need it.

 

So why did I ride for MS this year.  There are two reason.  The first was to challenge myself……to prove to myself that I had come out the other end of my diagnosis just as strong, motivated and happy as before.  The second reason was to thank Mike on Sunday morning after crossing the finish line for being the inspiration that got me through one of the roughest challenges of my life.

 

Why will I ride next year?  To ensure that Mike and others who have MS have what they need to live as healthy and productive lives as possible, including a cure, as you never know who they may inspire in the future and under what circumstances.  They might just “Say the right thing at the right time to the right person” and inspire them to great things.

 

Once again…Thank you so much for sponsoring me.  

 

Ann