Bike MS Comes to Sheridan

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Multiple sclerosis is a disease whose history spans over a century. The first symptoms of MS were separately transcribed by British pathologist Robert Carswell and Jean Cruveilhier in the early 19^th century. It was not until 1868 that French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot first formally diagnosed MS. As a disease that primarily attacks the nervous system, the pathophysiology of MS includes legions on the spinal cord and brain stem, long lasting brain damage, and other problems with vision, balance, muscle control, and other normally autonomic or basic body functions. Since Charcot’s first naming of multiple sclerosis, scientists and researches have slowly been able to chip away at the causes, in which heredity plays a part but is not the chief root, and the symptoms of this debilitating disease. Progress has been made, but there is still a long journey ahead. Helping researchers and victims of MS alike on this journey is the National MS Society. Their vision, taken directly from their website, is encouragingly succinct, “A world free of MS.”

Bike MS is a charitable organization that, through community outreach, and, as the name suggests, large coordinated bike rides, seeks to educate the public on MS and raise funds for research towards treatment and a cure. That’s not all, though. While the ultimate goal is to eradicate the disease, a large part of what Bike MS and the National MS Society as a whole do is to provide resources for those suffering to live a more comfortable and fulfilling life. As Bike MS president Carrie Nolan put it, “We provide resources! Things such as insurance, doctor referrals, assessments of homes. The MS diagnosis did not come with a manual, so we take that role.” Nolan, who has been personally involved with Bike MS for over a decade, went on to say, “It really is a personal thing for many people. Lots of people know someone or have themselves been diagnosed with MS. And it really is just terrible, a very unfortunate disease for those who are affected by it. But we’re always looking forward, always looking for ways to help those people out and create a strong network of support and care.” For the first time ever, Bike MS has brought their program to our humble little hamlet nestled in the Bighorns. They have worked heavily in collaboration with Sheridan Travel and Tourism, and Executive Director Shawn Parker told Sheridan Brand, “We’re really excited about Bike MS. We’re hoping that we can make Sheridan their new home. We’re going to be welcoming over 300 riders to the community for the weekend, and we’re hearing reports of up to 600 people when you factor in family, volunteers, and all of the people who have offered to help out this great, great cause. It’ll be a great weekend for Sheridan.”

Here is the Schedule of events:

8/11 Nutrition program 6:30pm in room W174 of Whitney Hall at Sheridan College. It’s free and open to the public.
8/12: Registration for volunteers and cyclists is 2-7pm at Black Tooth Brewery.
8/13: Cyclists leave 7am from Sheridan College headed through Ucross with lunch in Buffalo and back to Sheridan College through Story, making it an 82 mile day with a century option. When riders return on Saturday, they will be greeted with cheers and festivities to include dinner, entertainment and a program. We invite members of the community to cheer riders at the start and finish lines at the beginning and end of day.
8/14: Cyclists leave 7am from Sheridan College headed down Main Street and up to Dayton for lunch and back to Sheridan College, making it a 79 mile day with an option to go up Sand Turn for experienced riders. We invite members of the community to cheer riders at the start and finish lines at the beginning and end of day as well.