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