First Ever World MS Day — May 27, 2009

For as long as the National MS Society has been around it’s made outstanding strides to keep the nation informed and up-to-date about the latest developments in MS research and programs to help those suffering with MS and their families.

The NMSS has been able to do these things with the help of its donors, event participants, and corporate sponsors, and continues to do so by reaching across U.S. borders. In support of the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation’s (MSIF) global initiatives, the U.S. National MS Society has teamed with more than 60 countries for World MS Day, the first ever of which is May 27, 2009.

Today and this week more than 200 events will be hosted around the world to raise awareness about multiple sclerosis and build global collaboration efforts to rid the world of this debilitating disease. The focus of World MS Day is on the needs of those suffering from MS, the lack of resources in many countries to properly diagnose and treat MS, and the need for continued research to help end the disease.

People with MS are asked to come together on World MS Day to share their stories, contribute time and funds to support programs that help MS sufferers move on with their lives, and encourage their legislative representatives to make moves in a direction that will ensure people living with MS can live fulfilling, motivated, and comfortable lives.

MS is one of the most common neurological diseases found among 20- to 30-year-olds around the world. The disease affects twice as many women as men and as many as 60% of those diagnosed with MS will experience long-term disability.

It’s not too late to contribute to the World MS Day cause! If you’d like to know more about World MS Day events in your area, go to WorldMSDay.org, and for more information about the National MS Society, its nationwide Bike MS and Walk MS events, and the work its doing to increase MS awareness, go to NMSS.org.

Bike to Work? Why, Yes, I Think I Will – Bike MS SoCal Participates in Bike to Work Week 2009

For quite a few reasons, the idea of biking to work is becoming more and more popular. Not only is biking an incredibly healthful activity but it’s also an awesome way to conserve energy, respect the environment, and save some money. May 11th–15th, is National Bike to Work Week, Friday the 15th is National Bike to Work Day, and if you’re on the fence about participating consider these reasons to hop on your two-wheeler before you say no and hop back in your car. Also, if you’re concerned about safely and successfully executing this body- and environment-loving adventure, I’ve included some tips from the Sacramento Transportation Management Authority on how to plan a seamless bike trip to work.

Why bike to work?

1. Good for your body

Way back in the day (15 years ago or so) a study was conducted in Copenhagen, Denmark that gauged the health benefits of cycling. The study—which sampled 30,000 people who biked an average of 3 hours a week and took into account age, health status, and socio-economic factors like education—concluded that regular cycling can reduce the risk of mortality by approximately 40%. It also showed that older riders benefit even more from the exercise than younger cyclists. Numerous other studies have found that cycling improves aerobic fitness, aids in weight loss, and improves overall mood and brain function. With all the proof that cycling is good for you, why not do it?

2. Good for your car and your wallet

If you’ve spent any time commuting to work you understand how even the shortest of trips can tick days, months, or even years off the life of your car. The stop-and-go aspect of heavy traffic congestion can take a real toll on your car’s transmission and braking system, and even those trips a couple blocks down the road can take the charge out of your battery and cause rust to develop in your exhaust system. Doing all you can to get the most of your vehicular investment includes giving it a break every now and then. That, of course, can be done by cycling to work, to the pharmacy, or even to the movies. Not only will you be able to keep your car in top shape, you’ll save money on gas, and you’ll probably shave some time off your work commute if you usually sit in heavy traffic.

3. Good for your planet

If you know nothing else about the whole green initiative you probably know that one of the best things you can do to “go green” is reduce your carbon output. Well, cars put out a lot of carbon when they’re doing what they do best (i.e., going somewhere). The hybrid version of my car, a 2008 Nissan Altima, puts out 5.4 tons of carbon a year. I don’t know about you but that seems like a lot (by my calculations that’s nearly 30 pounds a day). Although I can’t find a solid number for the carbon output of you on your bike I can guarantee you put out less than 30 pounds of carbon cycling to and from work in one day.

Okay, so now that we’ve established some of the benefits you can get from cycling to work, how do you go about it? If you’ve never done it before, below are 10 steps for how to safely ride to work from the Sacramento Transportation Management Association.

1. Get your bike tuned up and checked out if it’s been awhile since you’ve ridden it.

2. Plan your route by using tools such as Google Maps. At the bottom of this post I’ve included a great (soundless) tutorial on Vimeo for how to plan a safe bike route using Google Maps.

3. If you don’t want to bike the entire way, cycle to your nearest bus or rail stop, then store your bike or take it on board.

4. Get your co-workers in on the movement and bike with a buddy. Riding with a friend can often be safer and it’s usually more fun, too!

5. Drive your route before you ride it. When you drive your route pay attention to things like the width of the lanes, if bike lanes are available, and the general flow of traffic.

6. Make sure you know the rules of the road and how cycling fits into the picture.

7. Make sure to have all the right equipment, including a helmet, bike reflectors, and a water bottle.

8. Assess your fitness level before taking on this endeavor. If you’ve been out of the exercise game for awhile, see your physician before you ride.

9. Talk to your employer about benefits, the availability of showers, changing facilities, and bike storage.

10. Go for it! If you live within 10 miles of your workplace it’ll probably take you about the same amount of time to bike to work as it would if you’d driven.

Also, remember to eat before your ride, pump up your tires, and give yourself an early start so you’ve got a little extra time. Below are some links to great online resources that’ll help you get cycling next week, including that Google Maps tutorial I’d mentioned. Have a great ride!

Planning a Bike Route w/ Google Maps
Official Site of National Bike to Work Week
Advice from Wired for Last Year’s National Bike to Work Day (just because it’s a year old doesn’t mean it’s not applicable)
Great Tips from TreeHugger About Freshening Up After Your Ride

Phil Keoghan Rides Across America for NMSS

A large portion of the National MS Society’s efforts are dedicated to fostering awareness about multiple sclerosis and its debilitating effects on the human body, and one of the best ways they’ve been able to spread that awareness is by teaming up with celebrities who happily participate in their events. Spotlight + Good Cause = Spotlight ON the Cause.

Phil with Bike MS participants Stephanie, Jennica, Jennifer, and Larry on the beach in Santa Monica.

This year CBS’ The Amazing Race host Phil Keoghan has jumped on board with the National MS Society and Bike MS to raise money for the organization’s research and awareness programs by riding 3,500 miles across America, from Los Angeles to New York.

Phil’s ride kicked off on March 28 in Santa Monica, CA, with approximately 200 riders and fans coming out to send him on his way. He will ride roughly 100 miles a day and, according to the LA Times, the 40-day ride will take him to 39 different cities including Las Vegas, Chicago, Denver, Omaha, Pittsburgh, and Washington.

His reason behind pairing with the National MS Society? “The sad part of it for me is that it takes movement away from people, and I treasure being able to move so much,” he told the LA Times. “It just breaks my hear that [people suffering from MS] get this gift taken away from them.”

Along with riding for Bike MS, Phil is promoting the physical, economic, and environmental benefits of cycling and will be attending a variety of meet-and-greet events at GNC stores and Bike MS rallies across the country.

Phil’s ride ends on May 9th in New York City, so if you’d like to donate to the National MS Society by sponsoring him just go to his Website, www.philridesacrossamerica.com, or go to his Bike MS page and click on the respective Donate buttons to contribute. Or, sign up to ride with Phil! Whatever you choose to do, remember that you’re moving us one step closer to ridding the world of MS.

MS and Me…And You

My mornings consist of half a banana and a workout. Before I even begin thinking about my day I stumble into my workout clothes, grab a towel and some water, and head out the door. I’ve never even thought about not being able to start my day this way, because this routine is my unconscious call to action—it’s like flipping the ‘on’ switch. If it were taken away, well, would I ever be able to turn ‘on’ again?

I would. It would be a struggle, and I would hurt and fall and probably have a hard time getting back up, but I’d do it. Like so many people who suffer from Multiple Sclerosis do everyday.

I have to admit, MS hasn’t affected my life the way it has others. None of my close friends or loved ones have been diagnosed with it. When I was in junior high I had a very good friend who’s father had MS, but I didn’t understand the implications of the disease at the time. Until recently, MS and I weren’t even on the same plane of existence.

But, I believe (maybe to an unreasonable degree) that we are all meant to experience the opportunities, setbacks, or random occurrences that happen to us, to learn. And when the opportunity to volunteer my writing skills to the SoCal chapter of the National MS Society came up, I took it knowing that I’d acquire priceless information about MS, meet some amazing people, and learn some great things about myself, as well. Already, I’ve realized how much I take my ability to move effortlessly for granted.

For those of you unfamiliar with the disease, Multiple Sclerosis is a disease affecting the central nervous system, which includes the brain, the spinal cord, and the optic nerves. So, MS tends to cause poor coordination, loss of balance, blurred vision, and other problems. While MS isn’t considered fatal, it’s a chronic condition that can greatly affect the quality of a person’s life.

So, how does this all tie together? Movement, MS, me, you?

Me + You + Movement = Bike MS

Bike MS is an annual fundraising event consisting of more than 100 unique bike rides around the nation. These rides connect participants with over 100,000 fellow cyclists who raise money to fund national research programs and services that help people who have MS and their families.

This year, the Bike MS ride for the National MS Society’s Southern California chapter will be held in beautiful Ventura, California on October 3rd and 4th. There are countless events and training activities happening up until the event, and I’ll be writing about many of those on this blog, as well as posting personal stories from people living with MS and their family members who are participating in the ride. I’ll also talk about MS itself, the work and mission of the National MS Society, and the overall benefits of fitness and exercise in your life (and mine!). And, of course, I’ll be posting about any changes or updates to the ride that you’ll need to know about to participate.

More great stories and information to come as the weeks go by! Please let me know if there’s anything you’d like to hear about on this blog or if you have any questions. And feel free to start a conversation! That’s what this is all about—learning, connecting, and making a difference.