Why I Ride

I can't imagine what it is like.

Being trapped in your body.

Going from being a free and agile person to slowly losing the use of your legs, hands... entire body.

I can't imagine what it is like.

I can't imagine what people with Multiple Sclerosis have to live with every day.

After a long race I feel like I can't get my legs to move properly, that, no matter how hard I think, my legs just don't function the way they should. It is a strange sensation, it is a bit frustrating, but it is completely temporary.

The MS Bike Tour helps raise money for MS research and other efforts undertaken by the MS Society of Canada. The Tour is a two-day, 180km ride that is undertaken by many people of all fitness levels and for a myriad of reasons.

I know two people who have MS - an uncle of C and the father of S, a good friend of mine. I also know a woman, R, whose mother had MS her symptoms began to show when she was in her 40's. In a way, she was lucky; her symptoms would worsen and abate a bit, then worsen, then abate over and over for 30 years. As R put it; eventually she was trapped in her body, her mind still as sharp as ever but unable to move, her body having had betrayed her.

You may think these people are the reason why I ride, but that's only part of the reason.

The rest of the reason is simple - I ride because I can.

I ride because my friends and family will pledge me to do so. I ride because my small efforts help raise money for a good cause.

I ride because I don't have any other skills that could help find a cure.

I ride because I can't afford to fund the research on my own.

I ride because there are people who cannot afford for me not to ride.

I ride because I can.

I ride for all of those who can no longer ride.

It is that simple, I ride because it is the least that I can do.

If you'd like to support me on the ride, and help people like C's uncle or S's father, then click on the link and pledge my pedals.

It is that simple.