17 Jun
2004
17 Jun
'04
4:19 p.m.
Fellow Brewers :
"Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed,
that's all who ever have." Not just words from Margaret Mead, but a call to
action. I'm asking for your help for a very special cause - The Ride Across
Minnesota (TRAM) for the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
It has been over 22 years since my wife was first diagnosed with Multiple
Sclerosis (MS) - more than half of her life. MS is a chronic, often
disabling disease of the central nervous system. Symptoms may be mild, such
as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision.
Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50 but
unpredictable effects are lifelong. Every case is different and my wife has
been lucky - the disease continues it slow relentless attack but so far the
progression has been slow. Daily medication helps combat the fatigue but the
disease, and it's effects, is always there.
Each year I pedal the 300+ miles across Minnesota to raise money for the
fight against Multiple Sclerosis. The money goes to programs to help
education and services to people with MS, to help them live with MS, stay as
healthy as possible and to maintain their independence throughout the course
of their disease. Over 7,500 Minnesotans are living and dealing with MS
every day. This is a fight in which I chose to be personally involved and
each year it becomes more important that we find the cure.
This year's TRAM starts Sunday July 25th in Brainerd, with stops in Park
Rapids, Wadena, Little Falls, and Sauk Centre, finishing Friday July 30th in
St. Joseph. This is my 14th ride across Minnesota and my 17th year riding
for MS, in search of a cure. Lots of hills, beautiful scenery, and more
hills as we wind our way across the state riding in search for the cure.
Three young heroes will accompany me this year- my nephew James (13) will
make his 1st ride this year along with sons Andrew (16) on his 8th ride and
Eric (14) on his 5th year of riding.
As a family we have ridden over 10,000 miles toward finding a cure. Every
mile I ride, every mile my sons and nephew ride, we get a little closer to a
cure. Each and every mile we ride we hope this is the mile that earns the
dollar that finds the cure. A cure for Diane and for all the other patients
with MS. We ride for them and we ride for you. Every mile we ride we thank
all our generous sponsors that help us to reach that goal. Until a cure is
found, we will continue the fight against multiple sclerosis - one mile at a
time.
Many of you have been very generous in the past (Thank You!) and I hope that
you will again choose to help with this fight. Our goal this year is to
raise at least $4000. Any size donation helps, and you can sponsor any of
us or all of us.
Thanks again for your support.
Jonathan Crist
Cristj(a)bsci.com
(763) 494-2745