This past weekend, hundreds of bicyclists converged on the University of New England’s Biddeford campus to raise money to fight multiple sclerosis through the Bike MS: Great Maine Getaway.
Riders who participated should be applauded for taking on the task of riding either 25, 50, 100 or 150 miles on either Saturday or Sunday to draw attention to a disease that, according to statistics from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, afflicts 350,000 people worldwide.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
While sporting events are used to raise awareness for cancer, such as the Tri-For-A-Cure that takes place annually in South Portland, MS doesn’t usually get the attention that other diseases receive because it is not fatal for about 95 percent of patients, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
While the disease doesn’t often lead to death, it does dramatically affect the lives of those with MS as well as their family and friends. Many people with the disease can end up in a wheelchair to move around and can experience severe pain. Blindness can occur, as well as loss of motor functions and paralysis that drastically reduces the person’s quality of life.
The MS ride in Biddeford was part of several rides that take place throughout the United States during the year. Biddeford’s ride raised about $300,000 in two days.
The more money that these events can raise, the better, as more research funding could help lead to a cure for this debilitating disease. The money raised, however, does not just go toward paying for research; it also goes to help those who suffer from MS pay medical bills and to support them in their daily lives.
It’s inspiring to see so many people take part in a worthwhile cause such as the Bike MS rides, which started 30 years ago when the president of the Minnesota chapter, Will Munger, and his 10-year-old son decided to ride their bikes from Minneapolis, Minn., to Munger’s father’s house in Duluth, Minn. The two riders had to stop part way and finished the 150 miles in two days, according to the National MS Society.
Munger decided that if he and his son could complete the ride in two days, it would be a good challenge for other riders, and a way to earn money for the society. In 1980, 200 riders participated in Minnesota and raised nearly $33,000 for that state’s chapter. Now, more than 10,000 riders participate nationally, with about 500 participating in Maine’s ride on Saturday and Sunday.
We hope the event will continue to grow and eventually fund research that will lead to eradication of the disease. It is through events such as Bike MS that people can make a difference, and it is also through these events that awareness and understanding is raised, which is key to battling any disease. When scientists began researching MS in 1947, no medications were developed to fight the disease in the next 50 years. From 1993 to now, more than 20 drugs and therapies have been developed as more awareness and research is geared toward eradicating MS, which is why events such as Bike MS are important.
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Today’s editorial was written by Sports Editor Al Edwards on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski by calling 282-1535, ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.
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