Bike the US for MS News Update..........

March 1st, 2009

Three months until we depart Yorktown for the rocky cliffs of the Oregon coast (hopefully not off the rocky cliffs of the Oregon coast). Might be a good time to get in shape. Also looking forward to the Wild West for MS event in Palm Beach, FL on March 21. Thanks to MS Cure Fund for making arrangements for us to head down to Florida to help out with the event and represent our group. Here's a link to the website: Wild West for MS.

Spring can't come soon enough for those of us in colder climates and we can't wait to hit the road in June. We are going to scout the route through Virginia on Monday to see what we're up against and to meet with some allies in the battle against MS. Working on getting custom jerseys for those crucial first impressions- no guarantees but I think most of us are going to look pretty sharp. We are also developing an impressive portfolio of services and activities that we can provide in localities along our route, including free bike tune-ups.

Bike Barn rules!

They grow up fast...

It seems like just yesterday we gave birth to Bike the US for MS- we were young and our hopes and dreams for our new creation were boundless. At times it was tough, as rearing any infant isn't complete without blood, sweat, and tears, not to mention the all-nighters and the occasional temper tantrum (no diapers thank goodness). But today we proudly stand on the cusp of a triumphant graduation into the toddler years, and although we occasionaly dust off the home videos for a trip down memory lane, from here on out its full speed ahead at a breakneck 18 mph.

The season for riding is upon us and we have less than four months to prepare our bodies and souls for the big one. Some unseasonably warm weather in Virginia promted the first few training rides of the year as some of the new members had the chance to take their new bikes for a spin. We encourage all members to ride as much as they can- if only a few miles a day to work, class, or the grocery store- to get their cycling muscles acclimated to daily use.

We have also been working on some exciting partnerships that could expand the scope of the organization and help us build a great foundation for the future. Look out MS- we are coming for you and we mean business! Stay tuned to find out exactly how we plan to make this happen...

We hope everybody in the MS community is doing well and looking forward to helping us meet our goals in 2009.

-Mason

How it started and why we are continuing the ride.

My mother has had MS since I was born and her condition has progressively gotten worse over the years. Back in the 80’s when she was diagnosed, very little was known about MS and there were few promising treatments. I’ve participated in walks and bike rides throughout my life but wasn’t satisfied that only 30% of the funds went to research. I decided to contact a research institute myself and send the money directly to doctors working towards a cure. Partners MS Center looked promising and when I spoke with them they were helpful and encouraging. I took an HTML class, made the website, and convinced three friends to ride with me. A few months later we were on bikes leaving Seattle.

We felt that asking for money was not enough so we called local radio stations and offered volunteer services to listeners in the area. Only a few people actually contacted us for help, but the offer was greatly appreciated and we received many nice emails. Having a lot of stuff on your bike is a conversation starter in itself and it gave us the chance to talk about why we were riding. It was quickly apparent that almost everyone we met had some connection to MS. The personal connections we made on the trip were in some ways more satisfying than the bike ride itself. For this reason it was more than just a cross-country bike ride and this is why we have to try again.

I had not planned on riding across the country again but as normal life took hold and sleeping in a bed was no longer luxurious I began to change my mind. Some friends contacted me and expressed interest in riding across the country for Bike the US for MS, so a few days later we bought the maps and started planning. I posted the information on our website and people around the country began contacting us. When you google “Bike the US” our website is #1 on the search results. People pay a lot of money to go on supported bike tours – why not do it for a good cause?

There is no cure for MS and there seems to be no shortage of people who want to bike across the country. If we can contribute towards a cure in a fun and inspiring way i think we should keep trying. 

Don

I flipped over the handlebars of my bike when I was 8 and didn’t get back on until 14 years later when Don and Kristen convinced me to give bikes another chance. Soon afterward I bought my mountain bike. When Don decided to Bike the US for MS again in 2009, that pair convinced me to get a touring bike and give biking across the country a first chance. I’ve been saving up ever since. I’m currently an AmeriCorps volunteer making about $11,000 this year, so when I say I’m saving money to be a part of this bike ride, you have an idea of how much I care about Bike the US for MS.

I work for a non-profit food distribution group called SHARE, and I plan to continue in the vein of non-profits when my year with AmeriCorps is over next fall, so being a part of Bike the US for MS fits into my long term goals perfectly. To be honest, I’ve never done anything like this ride before. Previously I’ve only run a few half marathons, but I’m up for the challenge.

Amanda, Nina and Kristen

I’ve known Don and his family for three years now, and Nina is my main inspiration for this ride. She is a wonderful person, and it’s the least I can do to bike across the country on her behalf. Of course this trip is much bigger than just Nina. I am so excited to meet and help other individuals with MS while simultaneously raising public awareness and money for MS research. This will be a powerful experience: biking further than I’ve ever gone, seeing amazing things, and meeting incredible people. I will grow as a person to say the least. I’m so proud to be a part of this, surrounded by good friends and knowing that I will make many more along the way.

Watch out America! Here comes the Shark☺

Amanda “the shark” Clark

Here we go again...

So it's official- Bike the US for MS lives on! I've been living in a van working for immigrant wages so it can only get better from here. Don and his associates in Blacksburg are hard at work planning the 2009 edition- applying what we learned from the first trip and improving where we could do better, this time with a full year's head start. The basics of the organization are in place but we want to extend our reach and get the attention of more people affected by MS and more people who can help us contribute to research efforts. This is where you can help- and yes I'm talking to you blog-addicts who still check the website daily for more worthless additions much to your disappointment- start talking it up and don't hesitate to send us suggestions for how we can make this trip astronomically successful. Also, please feel free to contact your old favorite, Karl, at karl@biketheusforms.org and encourage him to participate. If these efforts are unsuccessful I shall distribute his phone number in the next entry, then credit card numbers, then darkest secrets and confessions, and so forth, respectively. Anyways, we've got quite a team assembled from all walks of life and the gender barrier has been shattered. Hopefully Vidshadow will sign on and continue to air our adventures to the masses. The excitement is thick, the possibilities are endless, and the girlfriend of a certain member of the team has a whole year to convince him to remove the patch of back hair just above his bike shorts! Welcome back!

Mason

Calling all bikers!

I have followed the Bike the US for MS team by reading blogs, watching webisodes, and talking with the bikers from the minute they pushed their bikes out of the Pacific Ocean. Needless to say, I am very proud of their accomplishment. The total amount raised is now up to $19,174.81!! That’s $19,174.81 that Partners MS Center can use to continue the search for a cure for MS! But even more than the money raised, I feel so proud of the team when I see emails and letters received from people (often total strangers, spread throughout the country) expressing their gratitude for what they have done.

The Bike the US for MS crew is now planning a second ride during the summer of 2009. This ride will differ from the first in that it is going to begin earlier in the summer and follow a different route. Hopefully more people will come along for the 2009 ride, and most importantly, more girls will come along ☺! This ride is a wonderful way to raise money and awareness for MS, see the country, get in better shape, and have an unforgettable summer. In addition, there will be experienced leadership from Bike the US for MS veterans. This time around I am going to follow Bike the US for MS in a different way: on my bike.

-Kristen Scheller

Bike the US for MS - Summer 2009

Join us for the ride of a lifetime in 2009! If you have ever dreamed of riding across the country on a bicycle this is the perfect opportunity.


Bike the US for MS is a grassroots effort to raise awareness and funds to help people with MS. Along the way we will organize volunteer stops which may include helping out around the house or stopping by adult care facilities to relax and enjoy some good conversation. I can't tell you how rewarding this is - people are genuinely thankful for our efforts.

Joining Bike the US for MS is a great idea because we offer experience and leadership at no cost to you (except personal expenses of course). Unlike many other guided tours, you can help play a role in planning and daily decision making. Also, the reward of helping people with MS makes it much more than just a cross country bike ride.


Our visit with researchers and patients at Partners MS Center made it abundantly clear that we need to get back on our bikes and continue where we left off.

For more information please email us - info@biketheusforms.org.

Sincerely,

Donald Fraser
BiketheUSforMS.org

After the ride

At this point it's hard to say if we'll plan another transcontinental ride - but who knows? The webisodes continue to raise money from the ads, so check them out - and expect a BIG donation from vidshadow soon. Also, check out the Partners MS Center home page!

It really IS all about me

So at long last, the dreaded time has come. The members of Bike the Us for MS, each with his own dreams, each with his own path in life, each with his goal in mind... have realized that Don still has the map and we're actually quite lost. Because of that I'm actually sitting with Don right now in Blacksburg Virginia(Go Hokies! a-gobble-gobble-gobble! a-gobble-gobble-gobble! Woo! Yeah!) preparing to, of all things, go on a bike ride. Idiots, all of us.
Hello Devin and Mase. Welcome home too, sort of.
Don and I drove down from Boston Yesterday. Nice trip save for missing the exit that we had very carefully been reminding ourselves not to miss. Tuning the radio. After an extra stint through rural Connecticut we got back on the 81 and cruised. The trusty Suburban, with Don at the helm, safely and efficiently conveyed us to our final destination. Now for those of you who have never been to Blacksburg (Go Hokies! a-gobble-gobble-gobble!... a-gobble-gobble-gobble! Woo! Yeah!), you don't understand the meaning of glory. Driving into VT is like returning to Rome at its apex...while everybody was asleep. Colonnades of Limestone glisten along wide sweeping boulevards. The edifice of Academia stand tall, their graceful bulk supplying a certain sense of mass to an otherwise airy view. Gleaming lights cast authoritative shadows across vast expanses of lush grass. And in the distance, above the gentle breeze that's whispering through gilded columns, you can faintly make out a most enchanting cry...Go Hokies! a-gobble-gobble-gobble! a-gobble-gobble-gobble! Woo! Yeah!
Just got done with a little mountain biking. Mucho fun. 1st time and it was awesome. We're over to Don's house soon to hang with his mom in a bit see a little bit of the 'burg. While I'm speaking of Don's family I'd like to thank his dad Jim for coming up to Maine. First it was cool to hang out. Second, the Suburban was huge.
I'm gonna hang out here for a couple of days then back to Seattle fro this guy. I've got a new nephew, Levi Cutler Steel, that needs some poking. Congrats to Lindsy and Joe the happy mom and pop. Updates will be forthcoming. Until then, signing off.
Karlito Mang

Partners MS Center

Our trip came to a triumphant finale yesterday as we had the pleasure of meeting the kind folks at Partners MS Center in Boston. They had lunch waiting for us and gave us a tour of the Multiple Sclerosis research labs. To actually see the research projects and meet the researchers made it very clear to us that we biked for a noble cause and that our efforts will make a real difference. We also had the opportunity to meet the doctors and nurses at the MS clinic and see the treatment and patient-care aspect of the center, and it certainly seems as if the patients are in good hands. It was humbling to be in the company of people who make a tangible difference in people's lives everyday, especially since they were thanking us- we felt as if it should be the other way around. It was a special day for all of us and one we will not soon forget, and we feel like we made the right decision in choosing Partners MS Center to receive our contributions. Thanks to Bill Florentino for being our point man in Boston, and to Dr. Weiner and all the people at the center for taking the time out of their busy schedules to meet us.

Boston is nuts. None of us have ever experienced such extreme chaos. I think it must have started in colonial times before the modern practice of street grids. The sidewalks are packed with ambitious people and the roads are literally lawless. Honking is something I forgot about until I came to Boston. We've enjoyed our stay but are reminded of the tranquility in small towns all across the country.

Our 4,300 mile journey is over but we still have a lot of work to do and will continue to raise money and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis research at Partners MS Center. Thanks for following our trip and stay tuned for more pictures and webisodes.

Trivia Question:

Who is Karl's future wife?

Taste of Maine

We just returned home from our celebratory dinner in Bar Harbor. The "Taste of Maine" special - chowdah, salad, lobstah, potato, blueberry pie & ice cream - was ridiculous. Tomorrow we pack up our bikes and head to Boston, the last step of the journey. Photos and video from the rest of the trip will be posted soon. But for now, just more celebrating.

Trivia: The geographical term "Down East" refers to the coastal region of Maine from Penobscot Bay to the Canadian border. Why is this area referred to as "Down East"?

Today's destination: BAR HARBOR

Believe it or not, today is the day our tires take a drink in the salty waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The last leg of the journey should take us about 40 miles from Bucksport to Bar Harbor, where Don's dad will be waiting with a camera and other implements of celebration. This morning is incredibly surreal, as it doesn't occur to you as you leave Seattle on a bike that you will actually make it to the Atlantic. What next? We have all become so accustomed to our lifestyle on the road that returning to our normal lives will take some adjustment. Regardless, we are excited to be here and proud of what we've accomplished. Coastal Maine is every bit as beautiful and interesting as you would think, and although it's cold, it doesn't seem like we will see any snow. After we load the bikes on the rack and polish off the champagne and lobster, we plan on taking a drive through Acadia National Park to check out the scenery. Then Beantown awaits...