On behalf of all those that live with Multiple Sclerosis, I want to thank each of you for your involvement and dedication to the cause.
We will beat this disease! No longer will careers be shortened by MS. No longer will care-givers struggle to fill the needs of both themselves and the person for whom they care. No longer will people have to think about their every move. No longer will there be a need to gain awareness of MS and no longer will there be a need to simply try to make people understand.
And maybe we’ll know why MS exists, what triggers it and why it’s progression can’t be predicted. Maybe we’ll know that there is (or for that matter isn’t) a genetic component. Or, why more women than men are stricken by MS. Why it is more prevalent the farther you go from the equator. We might even know why in some people it effects their balance, some their stamina, some their basic motor skills, some all of the above, and why some seem to lead (normal) productive lives interrupted only by occasional exacerbations that come and go leaving no long term evidence of MS’s flare-up.
MS is a giant question mark. It would be one thing to say there are more questions than answers. With MS there are really only questions, and the questions never stop coming and very few have answers.
So… What you’ve done is significantly help fund the cause. The cause of:
· Research
· Awareness of Multiple Sclerosis
· Advocacy for MS patients, be it Independent Living, Health Care, Medical Insurance, or the Rights of the Disabled.
· Peer self-help. Persons with chronic conditions helping others in the same situation.
· Helping those with MS navigate the Government’s bureaucracy to get Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Insurance approval.
· Care-giver support.
· Providing a place that people with MS can go to find someone that cares and understands, someone that they can relate to and that doesn’t judge them.
I hope to see each of you out there again next year! If you’ll have me I’d be privileged to be the team’s connection to Multiple Sclerosis, unless of course they find a cure! If that happens I promise to ride with you!
Finally, were it not for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (funded by events like Bike MS) I’d be very unfulfilled. But, the MS Society gives me the opportunity to reach out to others with MS, advocate for our needs and rights while relating to my fellow MSers and educating the public.
I Sincerely Want To Thank You
Until next year,
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Thursday, October 09, 2008
2007 Most Inspirational Rider
From the Pacific South Coast Chapter's Web Site:
The Land Rover Miramar Bike MS Tour provides the opportunity for any cyclist to ride along the coast with cyclists ranging from beginner to expert, individual to team, and celebrity to family.
For the past few years, a tandem bicycle has made its way up the Torrey Pines Hill pedaled by team "Lloyd's Lagers" fearless leader, Lloyd von Sprecken, and his son, Todd. Lloyd has been inspiring riders with and without multiple sclerosis (MS) for many years. In honor of his commitment to a world free of MS, we created The Lloyd von Sprecken "Most Inspirational Rider Award."
The 2007 Lloyd von Sprecken Most Inspirational Rider Award was presented to Darren Martin. It all started when his short-term memory began to fail. His wife would ask him to go out and get some milk and he would get to the store a quarter-mile away and would have to call her and ask what he was doing there. Darren was diagnosed with MS in 1999.
Before he started getting any exercise, in 2005, he was basically in a chair all day because he was unable to work any longer. According to Darren he used to be in a depressed, miserable mood. Cycling changed his outlook. Darren has this disease, but it's not going to hold him back. He started going to the gym just to get some resistance going and he realized he can sit really well. Darren can sit on a bike and he can pedal, yet he can't stand for any length of time. Darren can't run, he can't jog, but he can ride a bike all day long.
The Land Rover Miramar Bike MS Tour provides the opportunity for any cyclist to ride along the coast with cyclists ranging from beginner to expert, individual to team, and celebrity to family.
For the past few years, a tandem bicycle has made its way up the Torrey Pines Hill pedaled by team "Lloyd's Lagers" fearless leader, Lloyd von Sprecken, and his son, Todd. Lloyd has been inspiring riders with and without multiple sclerosis (MS) for many years. In honor of his commitment to a world free of MS, we created The Lloyd von Sprecken "Most Inspirational Rider Award."
The 2007 Lloyd von Sprecken Most Inspirational Rider Award was presented to Darren Martin. It all started when his short-term memory began to fail. His wife would ask him to go out and get some milk and he would get to the store a quarter-mile away and would have to call her and ask what he was doing there. Darren was diagnosed with MS in 1999.
Before he started getting any exercise, in 2005, he was basically in a chair all day because he was unable to work any longer. According to Darren he used to be in a depressed, miserable mood. Cycling changed his outlook. Darren has this disease, but it's not going to hold him back. He started going to the gym just to get some resistance going and he realized he can sit really well. Darren can sit on a bike and he can pedal, yet he can't stand for any length of time. Darren can't run, he can't jog, but he can ride a bike all day long.
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
It is that time of year again! A random Bike MS Webpage story
...the Cucinotti Family at the 2007 MS Bike Tour...Christian, Giannina (diagnosed with MS in 2003), Peter, Joe, Kylie and Giovanna...please join us again in our fight against MS!
It is that time of year again, to begin fundraising in our battle to find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis. As we continue our battle we call on you all again for support. We understand that there are many great causes out there and we hope you will again consider ours. Our family has been blessed the past two years by all of you. On October 11th and 12th I will again ride my bike 100 miles from O.C. to San Diego to raise money in search of a cure for MS.
Unfortunately for Giannina the disease continues to take its toll on her, although most of the time you wouldn’t know it. She is as beautiful as ever! She continues to have a great attitude while dealing with raising four kids during her sickness. Of course some days are better than others but little by little permanent deficits appear to be taking hold. Giannina’s right leg from the knee down has been 80% numb for the past eight months or so. It’s just part of the hand we are playing. Giannina does not complain and I try not to. Sometimes the reality of all this seems to be harder on me and the kids than it is for Giannina. We often feel so helpless. We just get to watch it all happen. Giannina continues her regiment of medication. The shots are painful and the meds still make her sick but we think it slows the process of the MS.
That is why this time of the year is such a blessing for our family. We get to do our part in raising funds for research centers to continue to look for a cure for this awful disease. MS affects millions of people. We have joined those folks in their battle. We are again asking you to join with us in our struggle to find a cure by donating though my website. If you cannot donate this year we would love your prayers...and we thank you in advance for whatever you wish to do.
Sincerely,
Joe Cucinotti
"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."
- Helen Keller
Donate to Joe Cucinotti's Fund Raising effort.
Or, donate to mine. It really doesn't matter we're all working for the same result! My fundraising web page.
It is that time of year again, to begin fundraising in our battle to find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis. As we continue our battle we call on you all again for support. We understand that there are many great causes out there and we hope you will again consider ours. Our family has been blessed the past two years by all of you. On October 11th and 12th I will again ride my bike 100 miles from O.C. to San Diego to raise money in search of a cure for MS.
Unfortunately for Giannina the disease continues to take its toll on her, although most of the time you wouldn’t know it. She is as beautiful as ever! She continues to have a great attitude while dealing with raising four kids during her sickness. Of course some days are better than others but little by little permanent deficits appear to be taking hold. Giannina’s right leg from the knee down has been 80% numb for the past eight months or so. It’s just part of the hand we are playing. Giannina does not complain and I try not to. Sometimes the reality of all this seems to be harder on me and the kids than it is for Giannina. We often feel so helpless. We just get to watch it all happen. Giannina continues her regiment of medication. The shots are painful and the meds still make her sick but we think it slows the process of the MS.
That is why this time of the year is such a blessing for our family. We get to do our part in raising funds for research centers to continue to look for a cure for this awful disease. MS affects millions of people. We have joined those folks in their battle. We are again asking you to join with us in our struggle to find a cure by donating though my website. If you cannot donate this year we would love your prayers...and we thank you in advance for whatever you wish to do.
Sincerely,
Joe Cucinotti
"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."
- Helen Keller
Donate to Joe Cucinotti's Fund Raising effort.
Or, donate to mine. It really doesn't matter we're all working for the same result! My fundraising web page.
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