We're doing it again, riding in Texas MS150 to raise money for MS

[masraum]

We did it last year. We're doing it again this year. In the process, we learned about many, many more people with MS than we had realized. We met a lot of great people in the process. I like to think that we helped the cause too.

We're doing it again this year. The route is changing. For many, many years, it's been a 2 day ride from Houston to Austin that is anywhere from 140-180 miles depending upon the routes that you take each day. This year, you can start in either Houston or Austin. The end of the first day everyone ends up in the same place. Then the second day everyone heads from the midway point to College Station (home of Texas A&M). I'm curious to see what the new route is like. I'm a little disappointed that we'll miss the HUGE downhill that we hit last year.

Donation for Missus Masraum
MS150 Donation for Cheryl

Mr Masraum
MS150 Donation for Steve

Anything that you can do will help.

Last year we each raised over $1000. We'd like to do it again this year, but I'm getting a later start on the fund raising so I'm not sure it'll happen.

Here we are at the finish line last year getting ready to load our bikes into the semi to take them back to our starting location. Then a quick shower, lunch, and bus ride back.

[Jolly Amaranto]

I heard that there was no longer a place in Austin that was willing to provide the "finish line" and all the crowds and congestion that go with it. So they had to move it to College Station.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Jolly Amaranto

I heard that there was no longer a place in Austin that was willing to provide the "finish line" and all the crowds and congestion that go with it. So they had to move it to College Station.

Last year COTA was used. Compared to the USGP, the crowds and stuff were nothing, but maybe there was an associated cost issue. I don't know.

[Jim Bremner]

Thank you riders and supporters. Joanna, my wife of 23 years is 100% unable to move a muscle due to MS.

It has really made our lives difficult.

Please donate to cure this disease

[masraum]

I'm sorry, Jim.

I only hope that what we are doing helps.

[masraum]

Both last year and this year, we did our fundraising here on Pelican, I did some at work, and then I also did some on facebook. I've now done the same this year, but someone at work (not in a mean, way, but more as an "FYI") sent me a link to an internal page that says that you can't fundraise at work. Of course, that doesn't stop the folks that sell Girl Scout cookies, and it's unlikely that anyone will complain. No one complained last year or this year, and I got plenty of donations through work last year and several this year, but I guess I'll stop sending work emails and stick with the other 2 out of 3. So now you guys are our best hope!

Here are some of our threads from last year.

Holy Moly, the missus and I are about to bicycle 150 miles!
Please, donate to help fight Multiple Sclerosis! Riding the Houston MS150
Help Mrs Masraum raise money for Multiple Sclerosis, only 2 weeks left!
Mrs & I need bikes, Houston MS 150, complete beginners
Fun with cycling!
Cycling, thoughts, observations and the bonk

[masraum]

I thought this was interesting. The money donated isn't just for a cure. It also serves to provide people and families affected with services related to living with MS

$30 Trains two MS support group leaders to facilitate connections for people living with MS
$50 Helps inform a doctor on how to connect those with MS to all the services of the MS Society
$100 Pays for someone to participate in a clinical trial for 3 days, to expand life-changing new treatments
$250 Covers 3 hours’ use of an advanced microscope like the one mentioned above
$500 Provides half a year of in-person counseling to help someone with MS move their life forward