Wednesday, April 18, 2012

MS ... It's that time, the riders in Texas are READY


Laura and daughter Shauna after the
MS ride in 2009

Our warrior Laura Roorda is getting getting on the plane today to fly the friendly skies to Texas,
the excitement is mounting
as she readies to board the plane to see her beloved daughter Shauna and her partner Dixie out there...
Shauna and Laura
2010
boy is she fast, lean, and determined!
And this year?
Heaven only knows she will take the road
the wind
and
one thing is certain
Laura will be jumpin at the finish
to welcome her once again
with
OPEN arms a flailing
and hollering like an eagle at her
eaglet that has soared once again!
She has been training
she and Dixie
they together are quite a duo
two women on a mission!

They have been riding their butts off (quite literally) in training,
each riding spin classes, each putting in the miles on week-ends over 100 miles a week-end,
training for the big event.
THE BP MS RIDE FOR THE CURE!
Sponsored by the
MS Foundation annually
and usually met with weather that would make even seasoned campers head for the nearest comfy hotel to await the sun;
riders will come from all over,
will mount their bikes
and
take to their mission with dedication and focus, praying this is the year
that they run MS out of town
and out of the lives of the millions
who are fighting the fight
to keep this disease at bay.
And Laura will once again fly from Florida to Texas to be there, to follow by car
each stop, to encourage and provide hope
to provide love and care to all who ride
while beaming with pride and a love that fills the world of a daughter and her ongoing devotion to find a cure for a disease that has entered the life of a  Mother
and my deares friend,
my family of choice.
We want the cure NOW.
MS run, cos we are hot on your trail!
The mission, the vision is clear.
The riders will face wind gusts, rain, sun
and
they will not falter, they will not fail,
they are determined
and
they are fierce.
Some will be differerntly abled,
some will feel they cannot go on,
but
they will.
Others will cry along the way,
many will wish they had just sent money,
but all will ride like there is no tomorrow
and test their limits as they may have been never tested before.
There will be a joining of people who may have never met before,
but will come together for something greater than each person there.
They will come together to rid this disease
and to enhance each others belief in the power of people and the ability to rise above everything
with hope.

Go Shauna and Dixie
we will be thinking of you,
I will even take your leg cramps and your butt cramps!
My heart is with you
and
all the riders out there in the land
of Texas!
I pray you great weather,
I pray you strength
and
YES
MS RUN COS WE ARE ON YOU.


Mission
We mobilize people and resources to drive research for a cure and to address the challenges of everyone affected by MS.
Company Overview
The National MS Society is a collective of passionate individuals who want to do something about MS now—to move together toward a world free of multiple sclerosis. MS stops people from moving. We exist to make sure it doesn't.

We help each person address the challenges of living with MS through our 50-state network of chapters. The Society helps people affected by MS by funding cutting-edge research, driving change through advocacy, facilitating professional education, and providing programs and services that help people with MS and their families move their lives forward.
Description
The BP MS 150 is a two-day fundraising cycling ride organized by the National MS Society: Lone Star. This ride is the largest event of its kind in North America. In 2009, the event raised more than $17 million for multiple sclerosis.

The ride is a 180-mile journey for MS from Houston to Austin. Breakpoints are positioned every 8-15 miles. The ride begins Saturday morning at three convenient...
starting points: Omni Westside Hotel in Houston, Rhodes Stadium in Katy and Waller Stadium in Waller. Riders follow scenic roads into Bellville for lunch. Day One ends at the Fayette County Fairgrounds overnight in La Grange.

On Sunday morning Club 300 members lead the mass on one of two routes that lead to Bastrop Intermediate School for lunch from the fairgrounds. Take the Bechtel Challenge Route and enjoy the rolling terrain of Bastrop and Buescher State Parks or bypass the parks via the Pfizer Lunch Express Route. The final leg of Day Two takes riders into Austin for exciting Finish Line festivities at the capital.
The exhaustion, the tears, the absolute enormity of emotions is enough to take ones breath away.
As is this disease.
Many may give up when diagnosed, many will look for easy outs,
many have claimed to have something they do not, have feigned symptoms when they could do more, could work, could volunteer,
but others
have decided they will not be defined by their diagnosis, their symptoms, their disease.
they have refused to be diminished by any disease,
by any diagnosis,
they will never become what they are labelled nor will they quit.
Many of the millions who are diagnosed also participate in the many events held by the MS foundations,
even ride in this event.
Many more find ways to contribute,
by bake sales, yard sales,
by being in it to win it.
They do not quit, nor give in.
They refuse to give room in their heads to what others think they should do or not do,
how they should respond or not respond
and
they are the ones that survive and thrive.
They are warriors of a special breed
and
they are the ones who ache
but yet seldom complain
they are the ones who if they cannot ride,
they get in a car and drive or are driven to each stop
and then provide drinks and nourishment and encouragement to the riders!
They are at the finish line to celebrate wildly while thanking them
for taking the ride for the team
and they know that a cure is in sight thanks to those that serve to see it happen.



Did you know that MS affects 400,000 + people in the USA, and about 2.5 million people world-wide?
Those folks have an interesting array of symptoms...
Things like not being able to stand the heat...
Warrior Laura out there in the heat washing cars, planting butterfly plants, coming to me when I am not well and mowing my yard or insisting on sharing the butterfly plants against my saying no no no!)
Then of course there is the mind boggling
Fatigue, numbness, walking, balances and coordination problems; dizziness, vertigo, optic neuritis (Laura had that last year and OMG... that was scary).
Yet
She had no time to complain or whine,
she was too busy living life, working full time, plus a part-time job, too busy doing some volunteer good deeds and of letting folks know about this upcoming ride
and trying to make plans of an upcoming bake sale/car wash for MS
where she will bust suds harder than the rest of us...
Yes, Whoopi Goldberg once said,
"We're here for a reason. I believe a bit of the reason is to throw little torches out to lead people through the dark."
Laura is certainly a bright light in a world that needs to shine more
and whine less.
So I am wishing Shauna and Dixie out there in Texas
smooth riding, along with all who are riding.
I am hoping they raise more money than any year before
and
that THIS IS THE YEAR
WE FIND THE CURE!
Here in Florida once again
we are even more blessed
as
Laura's brother works at Home Depot and they are matching any contributions that come in... cash donations, check form made to the order of Laura Roorda

Isn't that wonderful?

So: If you can help I'm asking today...
$1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $10,$20,$30, $20,000.... whatever and however you can help.... Remember me saying there is NO shame in asking for what ya need? Well, I'm askin now...
If you can help,
let me know
and I will send you Laura's email
she can mail you her address
and
we can go from there once she returns from Texas.
Please hold them up out there
for a magnificent ride this year.
Last I heard she is picking up some special
"butt cream" for the girls
as their behinds get a bit sore
from all that riding on those little itty bitty seats on those bikes
over such a long haul.

Ah but imagine hitting that finish line!
Bet they just cant wait for that butt butter!

I even had to laugh at that,
but
they are some fierce young women and men
and ride they will.
Safe journey dear friend to tExAx
I'll join you in spirit,
I'll hold you up in prayer.

WE MUST CURE THIS DISEASE NOW
...
wALK in Beauty
or in this case...
RIDE FOR THE CURE

DRSES








4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wishing a safe trip for Laura, and a successful ride for all those in Texas! I so admire the people who step up to make something good happen for others who suffer. You go girls!!
This needs to be the year that MS is indeed run off the road. Laura, you are AMAZING!Wonderful that you are there to share the ride and lend support as you cheer on the riders. What a sight that must be to stand at the finish line.
Take good care of you and tell the girls we are cheering on this end.

Dot/Mom/Cob said...

Good morning to all and especially to Tinker Bell and her mission to Texas with the butt butter. I am thinking my hook up in Fl.. will float me a loan to contribute to the wonderful case of so many people working so hard for the cure of MS and all of this dreaded disease that we have invading our bodies. Come on people lets step up to the plate and count out those $$$ bills and help the people who are working real hard for a cure. Wonderful her brother working for Home Depot will take the time and money to help out the people who are really working. I know you think I dont really have the funds but we all know we can give up something to help out. I for one would enjoy some of those good old candy bars that wonderful Paul of Tiffanys buy and give to his customers for treats. Go on buy and see one of the most generous men in Tarpon Springs that steps up to the plate and works for the community and all of the people who need help. Me I cant wait to get back there and get one of his great omlets, and all that comes with it. Most of all I love me one of those great big old hugs from a wonderful person, loved by all. Go girls and have a glorious time. Tinkerbell hang in there and soon you will be cured. Blessings to Dr. SES for keeping these causes going and Keeping it Real. Have a sun shine day as it is steady raining here in Virginia. Happy day later Birthday DLB.

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Sherry, for your encouragment and support! We will not give up until MS does! Looking forward to seeing my Mom's smiling face at the finish line both days!

Irene M said...

Is it THAT time, again?
The car wash benefit, raising $$ for MS in the heat. I do remember. Laura, cheer @ the finish line.
I admire your daughter and her partner for training & riding their butts sore. MS will never have YOU. Stay strong and
FIRM, everyone.