25th Anniversary Bike MS Event Raises Money to Fight Multiple Sclerosis

On Saturday and Sunday, October 4-5, 2008, the Louisiana Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society held its annual Bike MS event. Bike MS celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary with about 1,000 cyclists making the 150-mile bike ride from Hammond, LA (starting at Southeastern's University Center) to Percy Quin State Park in McComb and then back to Hammond on Day Two. The majority of participants come from Louisiana but there are a few that come from all over the U.S. There are six rest stops each day about ten-twelve miles apart for cyclists to stop and refuel. There are also SAG (support and gear) vehicles that will pick up a cyclist if they are having issues with their bike or just need a drive to the next rest stop or to the end. There is a bike shop mechanic at each rest stop and at the park. This year a couple who met at last year's ride got married at the park! Bike MS provides all the cyclists meals on Saturday and Sunday. This year included steak and shrimp. The minimum fundraising amount is $250 and there is a $40 registration fee.

Bikers resting at Percy Quin after the long bike ride.

(Special thanks for helping with this blog to Jessica Tuite, Development Associate for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Louisiana Chapter.)

More photos can be viewed online at www.photoworks.com/members/tmorgan100. (Click on "View all" to see albums not pictured on the first page.

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