For the third year in a row, Paul Baines – a REALTOR® with Oakhill Realty in Saint John – cycled his way across Southwest New Brunswick to raise funds and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis.
Paul, along with 11 other members of The Pros & The Cons team, raised over $9,376 dollars for the MS Bike Tour, far surpassing their $6,000 goal. In addition to collecting pledges, the team hosted barbecues and organized a silent auction and dance to boost their total.
The 2014 “Plains and Pastures” MS Bike tour takes cyclists on a 126 km scenic ride through the Kennebecasis Valley, from Sussex to Saint John and back in two days. The event, combined with other locations in Canada, makes up the largest cycling series in North America and attracts over 10,000 participants annually. This year’s Bike Tour was a huge success, raising over $134,000 with pledges still rolling in.
Funds raised from the MS Bike series go to support the MS Society of Canada. Canada has the highest rate of MS in the world, with an estimated 100,000 people already diagnosed. The symptoms of MS are unpredictable, affecting physical mobility, balance, brain function, and vision, as well as emotional and financial well-being. The MS Society provides services and financial support to those living with the disease and funds ground-breaking research to find a cure.
Despite some incidentswith team members, including a serious bike accident, knee injury, a case of the flu, and a broken-down bike, spirits were high for The Pros & The Cons team. They even managed to snag a plaque and bragging rights for “best team cheer”.
“We definitely experienced some hiccups along the way,” said Paul. “But everyone is okay. We’re motivated and already gearing up for next year.”
“It was all worth it; we crossed the finish line knowing we have made a real difference in the lives of those who have to face difficult challenges with this disease every day.”
In photo: Paul Baines (front left) poses with his teammates for the 2014 MS Bike Tour.
