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The TelstraClear Challenge

The TelstraClear Challenge

Hello Everyone

In our last newsletter we gave advance warning of an exciting event involving the MS community and a cycle ride over the Harbour Bridge.

Well it’s now official the MS Auckland Region Trust is the official charity for the first approved Harbour Bridge ride. The Trust has as its purpose the support of MS Society in Auckland and funding research into MS.

We have been working for some months with the event organisers to secure this event and we are delighted to have done so. In association with the event organisers ClipOn NZ Ltd and main sponsor TelstraClear we are planning for this event to be a spectacular success.

The event is the first approved cycle ride over the Harbour Bridge since it opened in 1958. On 11 December, 9000 lucky cyclists will start in Shelley Beach Rd and ride north over the eastern clipons and down the bus lanes. Participants will have a choice of completing a 15km ride finishing at Smales Farm or for the experienced cyclists completing a 115km ride finishing in Kumeu. In addition there are two children’s rides planned on that morning starting and finishing at Smales Farm. MS and cycling have strong connections overseas where in both Australia and the US cycle rides are every year major fund raisers for MS

It will be really important that as many of our members and their families as possible become involved in one way or another. If you can help in any of the following ways it will be great for the future of people with MS in our region.

  1. Ride or encourage your family and friends to ride in the event either as individuals or as a family and friend team.
  2. Ask your employer to adopt the event as a staff health and fitness initiative or staff Xmas event and sponsor a team.
  3. Make a donation to the MS Society’s team MS Movers..

In future weeks we will be announcing valuable spot prizes as well as prizes for the top individuals and teams who raise the most money.

Although I have not ridden a bike seriously for over forty years, I am about to begin training for the ride and I look forward to being joined by as many of our members their families and friends as possible.

MS AucklandNeil Woodhams - President MS Auckland Region,

To sponsor me in the ride and help me fundraise go to : www.everydayhero.co.nz/neil_woodhams

Neil Woodhams

To join the MS Team “MS Movers” and ride in the event, go to the registration site : www.telstraclearchallenge.co.nz

 

After agreeing to entry conditions click on “search for an existing team” Type in “MS Movers”
Select one of the rides you wish to complete and I will see you on the start line.

To help us fundraising and be part of the “MS Movers” fundraising team go to :

http://www.everydayhero.co.nz/
events/register/
34?event=96&join_team=586

 

To ride in the event and to set up your own team for you, your friends and family or your employer go to the event registration site : www.telstraclearchallenge.co.nz

 

To set up your own fundraising team go to : www.bikems.org.nz
Click on the Start Fundraising button

 

If you need help with any of these options please contact Dave Living at dave@bikems.org.nz or
021 855 910.

Bike MS

 

 

 

 

MS Auckland Region Adopts Bike MS brand

 


Bike MS originated as one ride in 1980 in Minnesota and is now the largest organised charity bicycling event series in the United States, according to the National MS Society. In 2007, more than 100,000 cyclists participated in 100 rides throughout the country, raising more than $77 million. In total, Bike MS cyclists have raised more than $600 million.

XRID

Club Physical -Bike MS Partner

Put the X Factor in your training today!  Club Physical and BikeMS are teaming up for the TelstraClear Challenge – your exclusive opportunity to bike the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Check out their locations and find out how $1 of each XRide session supports the movement for a MS free world.
Club Physical

BIKE THE HARBOUR BRIDGE - Club Physical Offer:

For corporate MS fundraising groups

  • Ten session concession card normally $125 …..for Bike MS …….$79 with $9 going to Bike MS
  • Or HALF the casual rate of $15 a time = $10 ….with $1 per casual going to Bike MS
    Identity needed for Bike MS
  • If they join as a Club Physical member, XRIDE classes would become FREE! There will be no joining fee (save $99) for bike MS

Accept The Challenge

 

Fundraising Total To Date

 

Give Gauge

 

 

 

Unitec New Zealand

 

Paul Condor

Paul Condor - Man on a Mission

Paul Condor, Unitec’s Chief Financial Officer, has taken biking in the TelstraClear Challenge as personal challenge to get fit and as a fundraising challenge to raise money for MS Auckland. Follow Paul’s journey on his blog site at: www.everydayhero.co.nz/
paul_conder



The benefits of volunteering for the MS Street Appeal - an MS Nurse's Perspective

When you ask the average person on the street who or what they think of when they hear the words Multiple Sclerosis the answer invariably is either; a wheelchair or Dr Sarah Potts, a character on Shortland Street.

A certain percentage of people living with MS will need to use a wheelchair at certain stages of their lives but this is not representative of the condition as a whole and it is an image to those newly diagnosed that can be very frightening.

Sarah Potts’s character has undoubtedly helped to educate New Zealanders about MS – a long-term neurological condition affecting the myelin covering nerve cells. MS is prevalent in NZ and mostly diagnosed in young adults between the ages of 20-40. Current statistics indicate there are 700 People with MS in Auckland alone.

Most people with MS, with support at times from their family, friends, medical team, MS Nurse and MS Society lead normal lives and pursue satisfying careers and family life.

The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Auckland and North Shore is holding it’s annual Street Appeal on Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd September. This is a great opportunity not only to raise funds for the MS Society who provide such valuable support to people with MS in Auckland but a wonderful chance to be involved in changing the commonly held misconceptions people have about MS.

By volunteering your time and enthusiasm for the street appeal you will have the unique experience of helping spread greater understanding about the condition and the challenges faced by people living with MS.

If you are able to help with this year’s MS Street Appeal or would like more information, please contact Reena on 0800 MS INFO (67 4636) or email reena@msakl.org.nz.

All the money raised from this year’s appeal will go towards our Field Worker service, which provides free information, support and services to support people living with MS in the Greater Auckland area.

Notes to the Editor:

Thanks to Fiona dYoung – MS Nurse at Auckland Hospital.

For more information on the appeal, or to interview a local volunteer in your area, please contact:

Reena Mehta
Project Manager – MS Street Appeal
021 114 3044
reena@msakl.org.nz

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