Press Release:
ORLANDO (April 5, 2012) – Cyclists looking for a challenging ride, a scenic route and a great cause to support are invited to take part in 2012 Bike MS: The Citrus Tour, a two-day ride held Saturday, April 21 and Sunday, April 22 benefitting the National MS Society Mid Florida Chapter.
Registration is now open for both teams and individuals for this two-day event which begins and ends at the historic Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, Fla. On day one, riders may choose from a 50, 75 or 100-mile route from Bok Tower Gardens, through scenic orange groves and pastoral terrain, to arrive at The Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, where they are invited to participate in a celebration dinner held in their honor. On day two, the route reverses with a choice of a 50 or 75 mile return route to Bok Tower Gardens where the two-day event culminates in a Finish Line Victory Picnic.
Bike MS: The Citrus Tour is recognized as one of the best two-day fully supported cycling events in Florida, annually attracting more than 1,500 cyclists of all skill levels from across the country. Now in its 25th year at the Mid Florida Chapter, Bike MS takes place in more than 100 cities nationwide and is one of the largest fundraising bike events in the United States.
Bike MS: The Citrus Tour, along with Walk MS, are the two biggest annual fundraisers for the National MS Society’s Mid Florida chapter. Bike MS: The Citrus Tour generated an astounding $921,569 in 2011, but this year’s goal is even higher at $966,000. Together, in 2011, Bike MS: The Citrus Tour and the eight Walk MS events generated more than $1.3 million in the fight to cure MS.
Registration is $55 for individual cyclists and $45 for members of a team. Cyclists must raise a minimum of $250 per person to participate in Bike MS: The Citrus Tour. A variety of incentives are available for those who meet and exceed the $250 goal, starting with a 2012 25th anniversary Bike MS T-shirt and a finish line medal. Fundraising tips and tools, as well as tips for training and cycling safety are available online at bikeMSmidFL.org.
“This is an exciting year for Bike MS as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the event for the Mid Florida Chapter and the third year of our increasingly popular Citrus Tour route,” said Carroll Franklin, President, Mid Florida Chapter. “We’re so thankful to the Florida cycling community for making this one of the premier cycling events of the year and for so generously supporting our fundraising efforts. With every dollar we raise, we are one step closer to ending MS.”
The Mid Florida Chapter also holds eight Walk MS events annually. Beginning March 10 and running through April 14, Central Florida cities including Lakeland, Orlando, Tampa, Sarasota, Lady Lake, Largo and Ormond Beach, as well as Brevard County (Melbourne), will welcome thousands of walkers in support of the fight to cure MS. The Mid Florida Chapter also offers a Virtual Walk option for those who live too far from scheduled Walk MS events or are unavailable on their city’s scheduled date.
To register for Bike MS: The Citrus Tour, Walk MS, or the Virtual Walk, or to make a donation or volunteer, visit http://www.nationalmssociety.org/FLC For more information about Bike MS: The Citrus Tour, contact: Cody Yerian, Development Manager, 813-889-8363, ext. 201.For more information about Walk MS, contact Gaby Casado, Development Manager, 407-478-8880, ext. 27.
Multiple Sclerosis Facts
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an incurable, chronic disease of the central nervous system. MS interrupts the flow of information between the brain and body, causing unpredictable symptoms that can include numbness and blurred vision, as well as paralysis. Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with twice as many women as men affected.
About the National MS Society Mid Florida Chapter
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society Mid Florida Chapter serves more than 70,000 people in a 23 county area, including family members, friends, caregivers, employers, and an estimated 10,000 people in Mid Florida living with MS. Founded in Nov. 1958, the mission of the Mid Florida Chapter is to end the devastating effects of MS. With a wide range of services, including educational programs, self-help groups, research, medical equipment, loan closets, transportation, literature, referrals, information and advocacy. The Mid Florida Chapter is proud to be a source of empowerment for those living with the disease.
About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
MS Stops people from moving. The National MS Society exists to make sure it doesn’t. We do this through our home office and a 50-state network of chapters by funding more MS research, providing more services to people with MS, offering more professional education and furthering more advocacy efforts than any other MS organization in the world. We are people who want to do something about MS, now. Join the movement at JoinTheMovement.org.
