Why I support the MS Society
Some of our Team Wells Fargo/Wachovia members have shared the compelling, personal stories of why they ride with you. Learn more about what inspires them to support the fight against MS by riding in the MS Bike Tour.
I'll keep riding for the love of my life
I ride, because my inner peace is not about me
I ride for those whose discomfort may be much longer lived
Everyday is a gift . . . that’s why I ride
My grandmother . . . is why I continue to ride in the MS150
Two-for-one
I'll keep riding for the love of my life
Seventeen years ago my wife and I received our first child into the world in October. My wife had experienced some health problems in the past that were vague and never really amounted to much, but after the birth she had some serious problems emerge. She developed Optic Neuritis in her left eye, experienced some slurring of speech, tingling and numbness in her extremities, and was plagued by fatigue. With me working and her at home with an infant, we were fortunate to have both sets of grandparents around to assist with our baby and to take Melissa to and from various doctors. After many fruitless visits, she spoke with the eye doctor about the vision problems. He diagnosed the Optic Neuritis and suggested that she had either a stroke or MS and referred us to a Neurologist. The Neurologist made the call of MS and put her on steroids to ease the symptoms. After a few months the exacerbation remitted and she came back to almost normal.
It was about this time I met my best friend Chris, who was a big time bike rider. So combining the MS with biking, the Tour to Tanglewood was a perfect fit. The summer of 1990 I got a bike and started riding for 2 months, and then he and I rode in our first tour and have ever since. There have been many ups and downs on the way, but my wife continues to be blessed by good overall health and fewer exacerbations as time goes on. To look at her you would never know the struggle she deals with every day. The fatigue still is the major debilitater, so the rest of the family just picks her up and carries on.
One day we won't have to ride anymore. Our efforts will bring about a cure, but until then I'll keep riding for the love of my life.
W. Mark Julian
Project Manager
Electronic Services - Integration Support Services
I ride, because my inner peace is not about me
Seven years ago, I was bragging around the water cooler on a Monday morning about a great bike ride I did the day before. I typically ride about 70-75 miles every Sunday and was making light of my co-workers sedentary lifestyles. One co-worker asked if I had ever done the MS 150 Bike Tour. I hadn't, and dismissed the chance of doing the Bike Tour because cycling to me was just for me, my activity, my exercise, my inner peace.
Later that day, this co-worker, a young woman in her early 30's, married, 2 kids, pulled me aside. She told me that I was the first person at work she had ever admitted this to, but she had Multiple Sclerosis. In no real uncertain terms, she challenged me to use what I had taken for granted, an ability to ride a bike, for a higher and worthwhile cause.
This is why I ride, because my inner peace is not about me. It's about the impact that I can make in the lives of others.
Ed Haski, 7-year MS 150 veteran
Credit Risk Review Commercial
I ride for those whose discomfort may be much longer lived
Almost 20 years ago my mentor asked if I would get involved to start some events to raise money for Multiple Sclerosis. At that time I didn't know what MS was but wanted to help the community. That initial involvement led to many years of service with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS), which included volunteering with the MS 150 Bike Tour but never as a cyclist.
Two years ago I was looking for a major challenge to celebrate a personal milestone. Now, knowing many people who battle with MS every day, I thought that I would try getting in shape and riding in my first MS 150. I was very much the beginner not even owning a bike, nor having ridden one since I was in my teens. Once I got through dealing with the basics of purchasing a bike, shorts, helmet, etc. I started to train. As my muscles ached, or my seat was uncomfortable, I was reminded that my discomfort is temporary. I ride for those whose discomfort may be much longer lived and where planning life is based on how you feel that day. I ride because I feel that I make a difference by raising money toward a cure for this horrible disease. One day, I hope that MS stands for "mystery solved".
Anne Marie Graves
Sr. HR Business Partner
Everyday is a gift . . .that's why I ride.
Cycling evolves uniquely for each individual. My first MS150 in 1992 was for me. It was an escape, a challenge. Training rides and the ride itself afforded me some peace and time to myself. Then my bike sat in the garage for seven years until other circumstances intervened. A coworker's wife, a talented nurse, was struggling with MS. Then I became aware of a friend's cousin, then a company officer's mother...so I decided to ride again. I didn't have much money, but I had health and I could spend some of that. My brother and daughter joined me for the first of what will be seven consecutive Houston to Austin MS 150s. And then "evolution" really began to grab me. People in wheel chairs with signs "thanks for riding." The young mother who cried and gave me a hug at a rest stop because medications had gotten her out of a wheel chair and back on her feet. The young secretary who gave me the only four dollars she had to support MS and me. The man on the corner near Corpus Christi who stood there the whole day with a "thanks for riding" sign because his daughter had been stricken with MS at age 35. A letter to a teammate from his sister-in-law with "You give hope to me and my family. I have a picture of you and your bike on the refrigerator..." All of these encounters made me cry (and by the way, it's not easy to ride and cry at the same time), made me grateful for my good health and to be a part of this "team" of riders, volunteers, staffers, health care professionals, sponsors, donors and supporters that ultimately will bring home a cure to MS. The stage is set. Each sequence reminds me that ‘every day is a gift'. That's why I ride.
Jim Chaplin
Mortgage Consultant
My grandmother . . . is why I continue to ride in the MS150
I started riding in 1997 in a charity event for PUSH (People Understanding the Severely Handicapped), which was a 10-day, 800 mile journey across Florida. The purpose was to gain publicity for the philanthropy, and make site visits to those benefactors of the charity. From '97 - '02, I did not continue cycling. In 2002, I rode in the MS150 to raise awareness for MS, and to get back into shape. My grandmother, who passed away last year due to a long battle with MS, and a short battle with cancer, is why I continue to ride in the MS150. This year will be my fourth year riding in the event, which I will continue to do as long as I have the ability to do so. It is a unique event to raise awareness for MS efforts, build friendships, and meet a goal in fitness that others are not as fortunate to have.
Sam McGee
Relationship Manager
Wachovia Wealth Management
As a freelance artist, for many years I've had the good fortune to work with the Mid Atlantic Chapter of the MS Society on their MS 150 Bike brochures. Five years ago, my husband decided to bike the MS150. As a surprise, I met him at the half-way point in Rockingham. The next morning I stood with him and 2,000 other people at the starting line. I was stunned that the majority appeared to be average people. I thought to myself: "I'm an ABOVE average person, I should do this." The next May, I started training with a walking buddy on my hybrid bike. I found that biking was not only a superb way to stay in shape, but at my pace a wonderful way to meet people. Then I started reading the brochures I was working on and realized that my participation in the MS150 not only improved my health and well-being, but the funds I raised helped do the same for those with MS. Two-for-one!
Rachel Hewitt
Freelance Graphic Artist
Team Wachovia Member
I ride to honor my friends...and because I can!
I grew up in GA, and when I was 25, my best friend, also 25 years old, was diagnosed with MS. That was 35 years ago, and she was engaged at the time. He ran scared. Some years later, I was living in the San Francisco Bay Area and listening to the radio. I heard about the "Waves to Wine" ride from San Francisco to wine country. I knew that was what I wanted to do to honor my friend. It was a fabulous experience, and I've been doing these rides ever since, both in San Francisco and now in Charlotte. I've subsequently met other MS survivors and witnessed their struggles. When my tail hurts on the ride, I remember that my friend can barely walk across the room, and I keep peddling. When I'm tired, I remember another friend with MS who is bed-ridden, and I keep peddling. When I think I can't go any farther, I remember yet a third friend who has a wife and young children and is no longer able to support them, and I keep peddling. I have the gift of health, they don't. I'll keep peddling until they do. 2007 will be my 14th ride!
Neel Stallings
Enterprise Learning team