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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.
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.
To sponsor me in the ride and help me fundraise go to : www.everydayhero.co.nz/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” To help us fundraising and be part of the “MS Movers” fundraising team go to : http://www.everydayhero.co.nz/
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
If you need help with any of these options please contact Dave Living at dave@bikems.org.nz or |
MS Auckland Region Adopts Bike MS brand
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. BIKE THE HARBOUR BRIDGE - Club Physical Offer: For corporate MS fundraising groups
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Fundraising Total To Date
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/
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Neil Woodhams - President MS Auckland Region, 
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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