900 Cyclists Raise Nearly $1.2M for Multiple Sclerosis in Quebec Fundraiser

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by Patricia Silva, PhD |

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More than 900 peopleĀ biked through the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada, late last month,Ā raising money for theĀ Quebec Division of the Multiple Sclerosis Society ofĀ CanadaĀ (MSSC) and awareness forĀ multiple sclerosis (MS)Ā all-around.

The 27thĀ Medavie Blue Cross MS Bike,Ā Ā the largest cycling-related fundraising event in North America, was an outstanding success ā€”Ā Ā surpassing expectations and raising $1.18 million over its two days, Aug 27ā€“28.

Money collectedĀ will help advance research in the field of MS, and servicesĀ availableĀ to patients and their familiesĀ throughĀ the MS Society of Canada. That’s particularly important, because CanadaĀ hasĀ from the highest rate of MS worldwide.

Since its inception, MS Bike has raised over $17 million for the society and its efforts. Every year, more than 10,000 cyclists participate in one of its events, heldĀ June to September across Canada.

This August, new cyclists and long-time participants pedaled together through the charismatic villages of the Mauricie region, sometimes riding alongĀ the St. Lawrence River and other times riding throughĀ wooded trials. All were riding their bikes toward the same objective and to fight the same cause.

ValĆ©rie Chevalier, the spokeswoman for this year’s event and a columnist with Salut, Bonjour!,Ā cycled with her friend and team leader Christiane Thouin, an MS patient.

ā€œMS Bike is an incredible event because everyone is riding in the same direction and for the same cause: to support MS research. Most of all, it’s a very joyful, wholesome sporting event because there’s no competitionĀ ā€“ there’s just the fun of riding with your pals. It’s a beautiful weekend spent surrounded by people who all have the same motivation: ending MS,ā€ she saidĀ in a press release.

MS is a chronic and disabling disease of the central nervous system. The MSSC supports research into the cause, improved treatments, and a potential cure for MS, as well asĀ providing essential services toĀ patients and their families.

The Medavie Blue Cross MS Bike event wasĀ organized by MSSC in collaboration withĀ VĆ©lo QuĆ©bec ƉvĆ©nements.