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August 5, 2008, DALLAS/FORT WORTH – Top fundraising awards were bestowed last Thursday night at a ceremony at the Texas Stadium Club, hosted by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Lone Star Chapter. The 2008 SAM’S CLUB MS 150, presented by Subway and Pure Protein, held May 3 – 4, 2008, generated more than $2.2 million to support research and fund programs for the Lone Star Chapter. The two-day, 150-mile ride from Frisco to Fort Worth attracted 3,237 cyclists, rating it the biggest ride in the Metroplex to date.
Two teams – Richardson Bike Mart and the Fiesty Devils – reached the $1 million mark since their involvement in the SAM’S CLUB MS 150 that dates back to 2002 and 2001, respectively. Founded by store owner Jim Hoyt, the Richardson Bike Mart Team is led by team captain and shop manager Woody Smith and consists of more than 250 cyclists. The Feisty Devils, established by team captain Doug Levy and his wife, Alice, who has multiple sclerosis, have been dedicated to make this a world free of MS through the support of more than 200 team members, families and friends.
Amongst teams taking top fundraising honors were Richardson Bike Mart, Feisty Devils and Gardere Gearheads, raising $305,000, $249,000 and $149,000, respectively. Richardson Bike Mart has ranked as the number one fundraising team for the past four consecutive years; likewise, the Fiesty Devils have held the honor as the number two team since 2005. The Gardere Gearheads broke into the top three for the first time this year.
Bill Moore, Chief Legal Officer and member of with Team TXU, earned the honor of top individual fundraiser, bringing in $27,170 in his fourth year of participation. Second place went to Rhonda Hoyt, with Team BikeMart.com, who raised $20,060, and third to Stacey Baer, with the Fiesty Devils, with $17,167. Moore and Hoyt both took a step up this year, having held the honor of second and third top fundraisers in 2007, respectively.
Next year’s SAM’S CLUB MS 150 will take place May 2 – 3, 2009. Registration will begin in the fall; the official date will be announced soon.
The SAM’S CLUB MS 150 Bike Ride is one of three outstanding fundraising rides hosted by the National MS Society, Lone Star Chapter in Texas. Other rides include the upcoming Bike MS: Valero Bike to the BeachRide 2008, presented by H-E-B, from San Antonio to Corpus Christi on October 4 – 5, 2008, and the 25th Anniversary BP MS 150 to be held April 18 – 19, 2009.
Registration for the Valero Bike to the Beach Ride runs through October 3. All three Texas rides are regarded by cyclists as the premier rides in the state, with experienced management, well-coordinated routes, and special attention to rider safety and comfort. Visit www.ms150.org for a complete list of individual and team awards for the 2008 BP MS 150 or for more information on the upcoming Valero Bike to the Beach Ride. Registration for the ride remains open through Friday, Oct. 3 at 10 p.m.-30-
About Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis interrupts the flow of information from the brain to the body and stops people from moving. Every hour in the United States, someone is newly diagnosed with MS, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with more than twice as many women as men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 400,000 people in the U.S., and 2.5 million worldwide.
About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Lone Star Chapter
MS stops people from moving. The National MS Society exists to make sure it doesn’t. We help each person address the challenges of living with MS and are dedicated to achieving a world free of MS. The Lone Star Chapter serves an estimated 20,000 individuals and their families affected by multiple sclerosis in 174 Texas counties. The Lone Star Chapter has offices in Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin and Corpus Christi. We are people who want to do something about MS now. Join the movement at www.JointheMovementLoneStar.org.
Early and ongoing treatment with an FDA-approved therapy can make a difference for people with multiple sclerosis. Learn about your options by talking to your health care professional and contacting the National MS Society at www.nationalmssociety.org or 1-800-344-4867.
