Bicyclists of all skill levels will be enjoying a scenic ride through the Maine countryside while supporting an important cause this weekend at the 2005 Blue Rock Industries MS 150 Bike to the Breakwater, August 6 and 7, 2005.
The MS 150 cyclists, traveling from the Sebago Lake Region through the Saco River basin for the Maine Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, will be part of more than 80,000 cyclists nationwide biking to raise money to end the devastating effects of multiple sclerosis.
The MS Society’s successful 2004 bike tour hosted 400 team cyclists and raised $300,000 to support MS research and treatment. The 2005 fundraising event is expected to be even bigger, hosting more than 500 Maine participants and potentially raising more than $350,000.
The MS 150 Bike Tour
The MS 150 Bike Tour is the largest organized cycling event in the United States. Events like the Bike to the Breakwater provide much-needed support for continued research into multiple sclerosis, a chronic and unpredictable disease of the central nervous system, with symptoms ranging from blurred vision to total paralysis. Nearly 400,000 Americans are currently living with MS, and a new diagnosis is made every hour. In Maine alone, over 3,000 people live with the disease.
Register for the Maine Ride for a Cure
There’s still time to register for the Bike to the Breakwater, whether you’re an experienced cyclist or you haven’t ridden a bicycle in years. The MS 150 is not a race; participants choose their own pace on a fun and challenging ride through the Maine countryside. Cyclists can participate as individuals or in a team of at least three riders.
Beginner cyclists are invited to join Saturday’s Family Fun Race, a relaxed, 25-mile route that riders of all ages can enjoy. Beginning at Sebago Lake at 9:00 a.m., and stopping for refreshments and a rest in Buxton, riders can take the Family Fun Ride at a more leisurely pace. It is part of the more challenging 50- and 75-mile courses.
Cyclists looking to test their mettle can take part in two fully supported 50- and 75-mile routes, over two days, for a grand total of 150 miles, touring through a charming Cornish village to the ocean over scenic country roads. Starting from Saint Joseph’s College, the hub of the 2005 Blue Rock Industries Bike to the Breakwater, the MS 150 begins at 7:30 a.m. each day. Teams can reserve blocks of rooms at the college, and all cyclists are welcome to stow gear on campus.
Along the way, rest stops, snacks and technical support will be provided, and fully-equipped support and gear vehicles survey the route to assist participants if they are tired and want a ride. And there’s more to the tour than just cycling, massages are available, Sebago Lake provides a refreshing place to swim, and entertainment will be provided on Saturday and Sunday nights, with a lobster-bake/barbecue greeting cyclists Sunday at the finish line.
Funds raised from the MS 150 go towards finding a cure toward multiple sclerosis; you’ll be helping a great cause. To register, call 800-526-8890 or (207) 781-7960; or log on to www.msmaine.org.
Team Work
Corporations, organizations, social groups, families, churches, or any four individuals can form a team, and all participants are eligible for the top-fundraiser prize: a TREK 1000 Aluminum Touring Bicycle, donated by Cyclemania of Portland. Other prizes include L.L. Bean and Borders gift certificates and MS 150 cycling jerseys. Asking family, friends and co-workers to join a team gives them the opportunity to enjoy a physical challenge, to take part in a community of people working together, and to help out with an important cause, one that affects not only those diagnosed with MS but their loved ones as well. Many riders have a personal investment in helping to raise money to further research into the devastating effects of multiple sclerosis, and friendly competition between local teams infuses the MS 150 Bike to the Breakwater with a spirit of generosity and excitement.
Volunteers and businesses also needed
Pedaling a bike is not the only way to support the 2005 Blue Rock Industries MS 150 Bike to the Breakwater. If cycling the route sounds too taxing for you, volunteers are needed to help others along the way, by dispensing water and snacks, helping to change tires and grease chains, or simply offering encouragement. Many riders have said it is the volunteers they’ve encountered along the way that inspire them to keep pedaling.
Corporate Sponsors
MS 150 Bike to the Breakwater gets a huge financial boost from many local and national businesses, as well. Sponsors include: Blue Rock Industries (title sponsor); TD Banknorth (presenting sponsor); Cozy Harbor, G.M. Pollack & Sons, Hillside Lumber, Smiling Hill Farm, and Spectrum Medical Group (leadership sponsors); Central Maine Motors, Sheridan Corp., Serono, and Berlex (supporting sponsors); and Uncle Andy’s Digest, WCSH, and WJBQ (media sponsors).
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