Registration Fees Increase July 1st

It is hard to believe we are already at the end of May! For those of you who haven’t yet registered, that means there’s only one more month before the RONA MS Bike Tour registration fees go up on July 1st, 2010.

Register as an individual rider or form a team with your family, friends, and coworkers. Visit http://www.mssociety.ca/ontario/biketour.htm, select one of our five exciting tours, and click Register Now.

Follow Us on Twitter!

Looking for an additional way to receive instant, concise information about the RONA MS Bike Tour? Join our community of more than 1000 followers on Twitter, where we regularly tweet about Tour updates, links to helpful fundraising advice, training tips, and upcoming events and opportunities.

You can help us develop a more dynamic Twitter community by posting questions, updates on your own progress, inviting friends to follow, and sharing our news through re-tweeting. Twitter is also a fantastic way to fundraise and excite your family and friends about the RONA MS Bike Tours!

Start tweeting today at http://twitter.com/msbiketours.

Organize a Team Fundraising Event

Have you asked, emailed and knocked on the door of everyone you know already? Don’t stop there - get creative with your team this season and host a fundraiser of your own! If you’re hosting a fundraiser this season - let us know by contacting Andrea Davidson.

Team Eramosa is doing great things!
You know what they say – it’s worth the drive to Acton… especially for a team fundraiser Garage Sale & BBQ! Visit Tracy and several other members of Team Eramosa at 14007 Fifth Line, Halton Hills on June 12th form 10am – 2pm for some great finds, tasty lunch and to give your support to end MS!

Stay tuned for details on more exciting fundraisers hosted by Team Eramosa and others, including a Niagara Wine tour, Murder Mystery Dinner & 50/50 draw and Silent Auction.

Other Great Team Events

bell canada high speeds
Each Sunday night throughout the bike season, team captain Lilian will be baking 2 dozen cookies & muffins to sell at her Bell Canada office in Barrie for $1 each. Last year Lilian raised $300 toward her fundraising on cookies alone! If you’re lucky enough to get hold of one of these cookies – be sure to buy more than one!

Team Quest Cycle
Teammates Chris Aitken and Will Parsons will be spinning to raise funds for the Rona MS Bike Tour this Saturday May 22nd, at the RONA location in Milton (700 Main St.East, Milton Ontario) Come out and show your support and meet a couple of amazing fundraisers who aim to raise $51,500.00 this year. For more information visit http://www.teamquestcycle.ca/.

Fitness and Training Tips

The sun is out and the weather is warming up. It’s time to get in gear and start your training for one of the RONA MS Bike Tours. Preparation is key to a smooth ride. Follow these 7 steps and you’ll be ready for the event in no time.

Step 1: VISIT A BIKE SHOP
Stop in at one of the MS Friendly Bike Shops and ask for the free inspection to be sure your bike is ready to hit the road.

Step 2: TRACK YOUR KILOMETERS
Assess your progress. Use your car’s odometer or a website like http://www.mapmyride.com/ to determine the distance of a particular training route.

Step 3: SHORT RIDES
Take a week or two to work up to a 30km ride. Don’t worry about the time or speed, this is simply to gain and maintain basic cardiovascular fitness.

Step 4: GROUP RIDES
Working together helps with motivation and keeps everyone on track. If you're starting a group training ride, list it on your facebook site to invite other cyclists along.

Step 5: DOUBLE THE KILOMETRES
Now try a weekly ride of 50km to 60km. Maintain the same pace you established on the moderate days but slow down if necessary to complete the full route. The purpose is to gain distance and confidence.

Step 6: MASTER THE UPD AND DOWNS WITH HILLS AND INTERVALS
To further challenge yourself, try advanced training once you’ve mastered the basics. After warming up with a moderate ride, ride up a hill without exhausting yourself. After pedaling uphill, recover on the way down and repeat. Add more repeats as your fitness level improves.

Step 7: CONSIDER SPIN CLASSES
Spin classes are a great indoor training alternative, and you don’t need to consider daylight or weather. Spin training is also a time saver – a one hour spin class can be as intense as 2-3 hours on the road.

*Be sure to train at your own pace and check in with your doctor if you aren’t sure if something is right for you.

Celebrating 10 Years with RONA

Throughout Canada, on June 5 and 6, RONA stores will be celebrating 10 years of involvement with the RONA MS Bike Tour. Stores will have special discounts and events throughout the weekend and RONA MS Bike Tour Teams will be out in full force raising awareness about the MS Society and collecting donations.

Brampton
2830 Queen St East

Grimsby
359 South Service Rd

London
1305 Commissioners Rd E

Scarborough
768 Warden Ave

Scarborough - Kennedy Commons
8 William Kitchen Road

Toronto
110 West Toronto St.

Waterdown
52 Dundas St E

Welland
165 Primeway Dr

Fundraising Tip: Educate Your Donors!

One of the most powerful ways to connect with potential donors is to educate them about the cause you support. As you speak to family, friends and coworkers about your participation in the RONA MS Bike Tours, you may encounter several questions about multiple sclerosis, as many donors are unfamiliar with the disease. You can strengthen your request for donations by clearing up some facts about MS, its symptoms, and how it affects the individuals and families who live with it. Prepare to educate them by visiting http://www.mssociety.ca/en/information/faq.htm.

Many donors will ask how the funds you collect will make a difference for those living with MS. Check out http://www.mssociety.ca/en/community/mssc/default.htm so you can explain how their contributions will be put to good use.

Happy fundraising!

Start with a Training Ride!

Is this your first time registering for a RONA MS Bike tour? Unsure where to start? Or maybe just looking for a way to revitalize your training? Consider joining a training ride.

Training rides are volunteer led, organized rides, designed to give participants a glimpse of the Tour. Rides average 30-40km in length, with rest stops and refreshments at the halfway point. MS Society staff members will be on hand at the rest tops to answer any questions you may have about the tour, and collect pledges you haven’t yet submitted. You’ll meet other cyclists passionate about ending MS (perhaps potential team members!), enhance your fitness level, and learn valuable fundraising tips from our volunteers!

For more information and scheduled Training Rides in your area check out http://bit.ly/TrRides.

Duet for One Opportunity

A special treat for MS supporters and theatre lovers!

After performances in London’s West End and Broadway, Toronto’s Tarragon Theatre welcomes the production of Duet for One. Based on a true story, Duet for One celebrates the inspiring life of Stephanie Abrams, a beautiful, brilliant and renowned concert violinist who battles multiple sclerosis at the height of her career.

Join the Tarragon Theatre for a special preview performance on May 27th at 8pm, where 50% of box office proceeds will be donated to the MS Society of Canada.

If you prefer to attend another performance, identify yourself as an MS Society supporter when buying tickets and $1 from each ticket purchased will be donated to the MS Society.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity! Share these news with friends and visit http://bit.ly/Duetfor1 for more details as the performance date approaches.

Happy Mother's Day from the MS Society

The MS Society of Canada would like to wish all mothers a very happy Mother’s Day. Around the world, Mother’s Day recognizes the love and support our mothers show us every day.

Today we salute all mothers who live with multiple sclerosis, facing the symptoms themselves or caring for a loved one in need. In Canada, women are three times as likely to be diagnosed with MS as men, many of them mothers.

In honour of mothers everywhere, and those who bike, fundraise, educate or support the MS Society and their communities, thank you and happy Mother’s Day!

May is MS Awareness Month

During the month of May we will be out on the streets and in your community, increasing understanding and knowledge about multiple sclerosis. Our aim is to engage supporters and inform the public about our efforts to end MS.

In addition to public awareness activities, the MS Society will be holding their annual MS Carnation Campaign. Volunteers will be in your community, selling carnations and raising funds for MS research and services.

Check out the following activities happening during May:



 Fundraising events like the MS Walk and the MS Carnation Campaign are taking place in various cities across Canada.
 On May 5, MS Society volunteers will present carnations to Members of Parliament as they enter the House of Commons with advocacy meetings taking place on both May 5 and 6.
 A special radio program focused on MS and supported by Novartis will air locally and live on the Internet on AM740 on May 8, 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m ET.
 Also on May 8, Mr. Lube will be donating $5 from every oil change to the MS Society.
 A special teleconference will take place on May 27 giving participants the opportunity to ask Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie, director of the Winnipeg MS clinic, questions about MS.
 Downloadable MS awareness posters are available at www.mssociety.ca/en/media-downloads.htm
 World MS Day will be recognized around the world on May 26. To celebrate, host an MS Global Dinner Party. Proceeds support research projects in both Canada and abroad.

Get involved! Contact Clarinda Brandao for more information about supporting our fundraising efforts or volunteering at one of our events.