Westmount resident Patricia Dumais is doing her part to change that. She participated in last weekend's RONA MS Bike Tour to raise money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada.
"I thought it would be a great way to combine something that I really enjoy doing, cycling, and at the same time raise money for a good cause," says Dumais, who ended up raising $1,750 herself. Her 13-member team, the Spirit Riders, collectively raised $27,000 for the MS Society.
"The mission of the society is to fund research and to try and find a cure for MS. We also provide services to people who have MS, and their families," says Louis Adam, Executive Director of the MS Society Quebec Division. "Each penny that someone is going to raise is going to the mission, so it's very, very important to have volunteers like Ms. Dumais."
This was Dumais' fourth time participating in the RONA MS Bike Tour. This year, Dumais cycled 170 kilometres from St-Roch-de-l'Achigan to Laval and back.
"The ride went very well. We were fortunate because this year we had the weather co-operating, so that helped a lot," says Dumais.
It takes a lot of dedication to fundraise, and cycle 170 kilometres.
"She's giving it all she can," says Dumais' husband, Andrew Burlone, also a cycling enthusiast. He helps his wife prepare for the event. "You have to train during the year to do a rally like the RONA MS Bike Tour, so we do some training together," says Burlone.
Dumais is hopeful that the money she raises will help find a cure: "Maybe in a few years we won't have to do the ride anymore,” she says. “It would be great."
