EDMONTON- Nearly 2,000 cyclists took off from Leduc Saturday morning, on a 185 kilometre ride in hopes of ending Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
The MS Bike Tour, now in its 24th year, is an annual ride to Camrose and back that raises money for MS research and much needed support services for those living with the disease.
“This is an unpredictable disease,” said Anne Belohorec, who was diagnosed with MS in her late 20s. “It’s a disease that comes and goes and we don’t understand a lot about it.”
Belohorec is riding the course on a tandem bike this weekend, because she doesn’t have the strength to ride on her own. Her partner is Stewart Hutchings.
Hutchings has been taking part in the tour for 20 years now, and admits the first year was little bit daunting.
“I wasn’t sure about the distances. But after I did it I had a sense of accomplishment. And then after meeting Anne … that’s when I really, really knew why we were doing this.”
MS is a disease that attacks the central nervous system. It is unpredictable and can cause loss of balance, impaired speech and paralysis.
“Some people go slowly downhill, some on and off. It’s totally unpredictable. Nobody knows who’s going to remain well,” Belohorec explained.
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Alberta has one of the highest rates of MS not only in Canada, but in the world. There are currently more than 11,000 Albertans living with the disease.
“People with MS can, at times, feel isolated and alone so these support services, support groups, education sessions really can help people with MS,” said Alison Hagan, with the Alberta division of the MS Society of Canada. “These events are vital for us to raise money in order for us to provide those services.”
Over the past 24 years, the Leduc to Camrose tour has grown from just 120 cyclists to 1,900, and has become the largest MS Bike Tour in Canada.
“We had more watermelon than we did cyclists that first year,” Hagan laughed.
In 2012, this ride raised over $1.9 million. Organizers hope to raise $2 million this year, which would be a new record. All of the money raised this weekend will stay in our province.
“Alberta is very supportive of a lot of non-profits and a lot of people that need help and they will really step forward to help people,” Hagan said Saturday morning.
That mentality rings true for Hutchings. For him, what started as a personal challenge quickly turned into much more than that.
“I’ve met so many wonderful people. I call them my MS angels,” Hutchings said. “They’re there and it’s a real motivation for me.”
“This is something I’ve made a promise to do and I’m going to ride until I can’t ride any more or we find a cure.”
Participants will stay the night in Camrose and have a hearty pancake breakfast Sunday morning before heading back to Leduc.
With files from Shannon Greer, Global News.
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