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PITTSBURG —
Drought or no drought, it will probably rain Sept. 8 and 9. That’s the weekend for the Bike MS Ozarks Ride.
“I’ve been doing this since 2005, and it’s rained almost every weekend,” said Tess Carl, Frontenac, team captain of Synner-G, a local team participating in the ride.
But the ride will go on, rain or shine, unless conditions become dangerous.
Many riders have a personal connection with MS, and for Carl, that connection is her brother, Peter Cattaneo, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2005.
The disease attacks the central nervous system and produces a variety of symptoms, from numbness in the limbs to paralysis or loss of vision. MS varies from person to person, with some patients doing well and remaining active, while others become disabled.
Cattaneo’s name is on the jerseys that team members wear. Also listed on the shirts are Mariann First, Lloyd Floyd and Gina Peak.
The ride will begin Sept. 8 at the Clever, Mo., High School, and wind its way to Schifferdecker Park, Joplin. After spending the night there, riders will return to Clever for the conclusion of the race.
Veronica McDonald, Arma, Synner-G co-captain, said that riders can choose between several ride options.
“On Day one they have the short route, which is 40 miles, the regular route of 80 miles or the century route which is 100 miles,” she said. “On day two there’s the regular route of 70 miles or another century route of 100 miles.”
McDonald said that she started riding last year.
“Tess recruited me,” she said. “I do not have a personal connection with MS, but I see how important it is to Tess.”
The cause has become important to McDonald as well.
“All along the ride, every 10 or 12 miles, there are people cheering you on,” she said. “Some of them are volunteers, and some are people who have MS. Riding for them is very rewarding. No words can describe the feeling.”
Last year there were only three riders on the team — Carl, McDonald and Tonya Choate. They’re back this year, along with additional riders Amy Evans, Theresa VanBecelaere, Renee Thompson-Lindsey, Greg Peak, Craig Walker, Diana Peak, Todd Carl and Tim Blancho.
They have set a team goal of $5,000, and have been seeking donations from family, friends, co-workers and any others who wish to give. Local team sponsors are Evans Construction, Watco and VanBecelaere Machine Works, Inc.
Drought or no drought, it will probably rain Sept. 8 and 9. That’s the weekend for the Bike MS Ozarks Ride.
“I’ve been doing this since 2005, and it’s rained almost every weekend,” said Tess Carl, Frontenac, team captain of Synner-G, a local team participating in the ride.
But the ride will go on, rain or shine, unless conditions become dangerous.
Many riders have a personal connection with MS, and for Carl, that connection is her brother, Peter Cattaneo, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2005.
The disease attacks the central nervous system and produces a variety of symptoms, from numbness in the limbs to paralysis or loss of vision. MS varies from person to person, with some patients doing well and remaining active, while others become disabled.
Cattaneo’s name is on the jerseys that team members wear. Also listed on the shirts are Mariann First, Lloyd Floyd and Gina Peak.
The ride will begin Sept. 8 at the Clever, Mo., High School, and wind its way to Schifferdecker Park, Joplin. After spending the night there, riders will return to Clever for the conclusion of the race.
Veronica McDonald, Arma, Synner-G co-captain, said that riders can choose between several ride options.
“On Day one they have the short route, which is 40 miles, the regular route of 80 miles or the century route which is 100 miles,” she said. “On day two there’s the regular route of 70 miles or another century route of 100 miles.”
McDonald said that she started riding last year.
“Tess recruited me,” she said. “I do not have a personal connection with MS, but I see how important it is to Tess.”
The cause has become important to McDonald as well.
“All along the ride, every 10 or 12 miles, there are people cheering you on,” she said. “Some of them are volunteers, and some are people who have MS. Riding for them is very rewarding. No words can describe the feeling.”
Last year there were only three riders on the team — Carl, McDonald and Tonya Choate. They’re back this year, along with additional riders Amy Evans, Theresa VanBecelaere, Renee Thompson-Lindsey, Greg Peak, Craig Walker, Diana Peak, Todd Carl and Tim Blancho.
They have set a team goal of $5,000, and have been seeking donations from family, friends, co-workers and any others who wish to give. Local team sponsors are Evans Construction, Watco and VanBecelaere Machine Works, Inc.
Proceeds go to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, which helps fund research, facilitates professional education and provides programs and services for MS patients and their families.
“Bike MS actually raises more than 65 percent of the funding for the National MS Society,” Carl said.
Synner-G will have a “Flapjack Fundraiser from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday at Applebee’s, with pancakes and a breakfast beverage available for $5. Advance tickets may be purchased from team members, but they will also be available at the door.
Team members have been getting in shape for the Ozarks Ride.
“We’ve been doing early Saturday morning rides,” McDonald said. “We started with 20 miles, and last weekend we did 41 miles.”
Carl said that additional team members are welcome and, of course, so are donations from community members. Donations may be made online by going to bike.msmidamerica.org/ and searching for Synner-G.
