I was invited on this ride as part of Team Cox (Cox Enterprises – a large Atlanta-based media company), which collectively raised $89,000. My friend Yukon invited me to join the Cox team. A few years ago he had a really nasty motorcycle crash and sustained a brain injury. His doctors told him that he would be fortunate to walk again.
Indeed I thought that his speech had been impaired by the accident, but it turns out that the perceived speech impediment is just a heavy Boston accent. On his way home from one of many rehab visits, he passed a bicycle shop. He bought a bike and within a few months went on his first bike for MS ride. That was 10 years ago. He walks, rides and was able to return to his job as an aviation mechanic.
The Georgia chapter has two rides a year. There are over 100 MS rides nationwide each year and in almost every state. I participated in ride at Callaway Gardens, located in Pine Mountain, Georgia, a state park about two hours south of Atlanta and near where President Franklin D. Roosevelt vacationed (and died). This is a two-day, circuit-style ride with options for 35, 65 or 100 miles daily. Being out of shape, I decided to take the 35-mile option. It turned out to be a wise choice.
After the ride, I discovered that Piedmont Hospital of Atlanta had sponsored their massage therapy staff to minister to the riders! Of course there was a long queue for the massage tent. During this time I met a quite a few people including a lovely couple from Atlanta, Bill and Donna. Bill is the CEO of a medical equipment company. As we sat and waited our turn for blissful relief through the strong and well-trained hands of Lorraine and Taylor, many new friends came and went. It was at this time that I was introduced to Marie of Hammond, Louisiana. Marie is the co-captain of Team Cox and a patient afflicted with MS. Throughout the event, I met many people from diverse backgrounds, most of whom have a personal connection to MS.
The second day of the ride I met Hank and Priscilla. Hank is a six-foot-plus U.S. Marine of Caribbean descent, riding with his wife Priscilla, who barely makes five feet. Hank was our guardian angel that morning, with a booming voice and keen vision; no free roaming dogs came to “greet” us. Although a few considered it — until Hank issued orders to the contrary. It was cold on the second day of the ride (a chilling 62 degrees F), so I had to wear my Hawaiian shirt over the rider shirt; this drew a few comments from my fellow riders. To me comfort can be a state of mind, so I pretended to be in Hawaii instead of Georgia that day.
Our ride was well organized. Every 10 miles there was a break point staffed with bike-repair staff and plenty of refreshments. At one break point, I was introduced to Shot Bloks; these little gems gave me a good burst of energy and are an adult version of gummy bears. All along the route we received encouragement from the volunteers, family members of riders and local residents.
The event sponsors provide meals for each day of the event; local bike shops provide maintenance (much of it gratis) and Piedmont hospital sponsored a massage after each ride! These rides occur nationwide. If you like to get on bicycle and really go somewhere, throw in your time with MS.
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