Canada Day!

July 1^st marks Canada’s 144^th birthday. This is a day where we as Canadians celebrate how fortunate we are to be able to live in such an amazing country. Canada Day is also a time of reflection where we celebrate the history, the growth, and the accomplishments of our country. The MS Society would like to wish all our members, volunteers, sponsors and partners a happy Canada Day! On this day we would also ask you to take a moment with us and think about the thousands of Canadian families living with multiple sclerosis and to help us give thanks to all of our supporters for their help and contributions in the fight to end MS.

This holiday, don’t be bashful and reserved; make sure to wear your red and white proudly and join Canadians across the country as we celebrate this important day! Have a great weekend!

Registration Fees Increase July 1st

There is just under one month left before the start of the first RONA MS Bike Tour of 2011 in Ontario!

Registration fees will increase on July 1, so if you haven’t done so already, now is the time to sign up. There are only 4 days left!

You can register as an individual or as a team. Let your family members, friends, and co-workers know about this amazing event – riders of all ages and fitness levels are welcome. You only need 4 people to register as a team! For more information about the RONA MS Bike Tours, click here. See you there!

Fundraising Tips!

With the RONA MS Bike Tours quickly approaching it is time to start focusing on meeting your fundraising goal! Participants are required to raise a minimum of $250, but with our help and your determination, that goal will be reached and surpassed in no time! Here are some helpful ideas.

• Organize a weekly 50/50 draw in your office where half the winnings go to the lucky ticket holder and the other half go towards your fundraising goals. 

• What about hosting a delicious BBQ? Ask for a small entrance fee and possibly a salad or snack so that you can keep costs down but still raise money. Remember, you’re trying to earn extra cash with an event like this, so don’t be afraid to charge a premium price for the meal!

• Now that the sun is out and weather is warm, why not host a car wash? Send an e-mail out to your friends with the details and let them know that all proceeds will be going towards your fundraising efforts.

•  Impress your friends by hosting a ‘Wine Tasting’ night. Buy a few bottles of nice wine and prepare some homemade hors d’oeuvres. Ask for a small fee for hosting the night. Or, if you’re not a fan of wine, have a ‘Beer Tasting’ night with some Ontario craft beers.

• Selling some of your unwanted belongings on eBay is a quick and easy way to earn money towards your fundraising goal. One person’s garbage is another person’s treasure. 

• Organize a trivia night down at your local saloon. Ask guests to pay an entrance fee at the door and then supply them with tricky questions and some finger foods. Make sure to clear it with the owner of the establishment first.

There are endless possibilities when trying to meet your fundraising goal; these are just a few ideas to get you thinking. Also, your friends and family are great think tanks when trying to decide the best way to fundraise, so don’t hesitate to ask around!

Trek4MS

Jordan Kozina has just embarked on an unbelievable crosscountry journey with the goal of raising awareness for multiple sclerosis across Canada while fundraising for MS research and to assist those affected by the disease. Jordan is planning to bike from Tofino BC, to Cape Spear NFLD over 3 months and started his ride on June 12^th.  Along the way he is going to connect with 29 local Chapters of the MS Society and hopes to make this the most successful “Third Party” fundraising and awareness campaign for MS yet.

 

Jordan’s fundraising goal is $100,000 and he believes that together we can blow this mark out of the water. If you would like to learn more about Jordan’s incredible journey click here. If you want to donate to his campaign, click here. 

We would like to thank Jordan for his dedication and determination and wish him the best of luck on his journey. Go Jordan!     

Enjoy Ontario's Bike Trails

Summer is a glorious time to explore our beautiful Ontario Bike Trails! There are wonderful local gems and towns dotting the thousands of kilometres of trails that run through the province. Whether you bike along the rivers, around lakes, through the forests, or into the towns, there is a perfect trail for any type of rider! This is a great opportunity to get into the spirit for the upcoming RONA MS Bike Tours!

If you can’t decide what kind of ride you want to take or where you’d like to go, we have chosen a couple that we know you will enjoy!

The Collingwood Loop Trail: 6 km

The Collingwood Loop is a fantastic ride that highlights the historic and gorgeous town of Collingwood as well as the mystic Georgian Bay. The surface is asphalt and soil so it doesn’t ride like a difficult trail which makes it perfect for the whole family! There are nearby stores and two sets of summer only washrooms along the way.

The Greater Napanee Waterfront Trail: 22.4km – 91.9km


The Greater Napanee Waterfront Trail is for the more serious rider, but it is a wonderfully scenic ride. The trail goes through the town of Napanee which is situated on the beautiful Napanee River and continues south to pass the Bay of Quinte and Hay Bay, renowned for its Wall-eye fishing! The trail is asphalt and has picnic areas and washrooms along route.

Get out there and enjoy the nice weather while it lasts. Head to the Ontario Trails Council website to find the perfect route for you. Remember to wear a helmet, pack some water, stay safe and have fun!

Father's Day Gift Ideas

Still looking for gift ideas for your cycling enthusiast dad?  Why not get him something that will help him better prepare for his upcoming RONA MS Bike Tour. It is important when participating in the RONA MS Bike Tour to be prepared for all types of weather conditions! Here are a few father’s day gift ideas so that dad will be ready on the day of the ride, no matter what Mother Nature throws at him.

• Bike Tune Up. A great way to get your dad’s bike ready for his tour is to get a free inspection at one of the MS Bike Shops which are available to all RONA MS Bike Tour participants. Click here to find a shop near you.

• Sunscreen. If the weather on the RONA MS Bike Tours is as nice as we hope it’s going to be, then your dad is going to need sunscreen. A sport brand will do well because it won’t wash off with sweat. Don’t forget to guard those lips from the harmful sun rays; lip conditioner with SPF is also a great idea.

•  Water Bottle and Cage. One of the most important things to remember when taking part in outdoor activities is to stay hydrated, even in cool weather. With a bottle and cage your father will be able to access a refreshing drink anytime during the Tour.  Water re-fill stations will be located at rest stops along the route.

• Bike Computer. This is the perfect gift for the more serious touring father. A cycling-specific GPS sits on the handlebars, tracks distance, speed, time, calories burned, altitude, climb and decent. While the RONA MS Bike Tours are for cyclists of all ages and fitness levels, this is a great tool for training and to track your ride.

• Bicycle rain cape. A rain cape can help your dad become waterproof in seconds if it rains. It is ventilated for comfort and has reflective strips for safer night riding.

And of course, if your father hasn’t registered for the RONA MS Bike Tour yet, why not treat him by signing him up! Register before July 1 to take advantage of the early-bird rate.

Pub Night!

We are excited to let you know about another RONA MS Bike Tour Pub Night!  This time it will be held on June 14 (tonight!) in beautiful London Ontario at Milestones Grill and Bar.  The event starts at 6pm and there will be free appetizers!  Bring your friends and family and connect with other team captains and members.  There will also be MS staff there to answer any of your questions or queries.  Not only are the Pub Nights a blast, but you can learn more about the RONA MS Bike Tours and possibly pick up a trick or two that might help your team perform better this summer!

Here are directions to the Milestones Grill and Bar in London; http://www.milestonesrestaurants.com/location_map.php?id=33

If you haven’t already, click here to register for an upcoming RONA MS Bike Tour and get ready for a great ride! 

See you there!

14th Annual RBC/MS Gold Tournament a Success!

Friday’s Multiple Sclerosis Charity Golf tournament hosted by RBC Procurement was a huge success!  We would like to offer a sincere thank you to all the participating golfers and to Mother Nature for offering up sunny weather!

The tournament took place at two different courses in Markham - the Angus Glen Golf Club and Mandarin Golf and Country Club. 432 golfers raised over $400,000 for the MS Society.  Proceeds from the tournament will help fund vital research devoted to the study of multiple sclerosis in children.  Much of this research is led by Dr. Brenda Banwell, Director of the Paediatric MS Clinic at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. 

Thank you to all participating golfers, sponsors, and volunteers for your support. Photos from the event will be posted shortly, stay tuned!

Sign Up as a Team!

There are many reasons why people prefer to take part in a RONA MS Bike Tour as a member of a team.  Participating as part of a team keeps riders motivated and feeling supported during the Tour. And let’s not forget how much fun it is to ride alongside friends and family, or how enriching it can be to connect with colleagues outside of the work environment.

There is the satisfaction of collecting pledges with someone in particular in mind or just for the cause in general, team members always affirm that being part of a collective is one of the best fundraising motivators.  It’s easy to register as a team; you only need a total of 4 riders! 

Also as a team, you can work towards being one of Canada’s top 100 RONA MS Bike Tour fundraising teams for 2011!

If you haven’t registered as a team yet, and want to find out more, contact us and we’ll provide all the information you’ll need.

St. Louis Pub Night!

If you’re going to be in the Toronto area tomorrow night, then join us at St. Louis Bar and Grill for a night of fun with MS Society staff and other team captains and team members!  Even if you’re not in the area, come anyway for the free appetizers and the opportunity to connect with other participants of the RONA MS Bike Tours!!

It’ll be a night of shared experiences and a chance for you and your team to learn some great tips and tricks to help take you to the next level in 2011!  Bring along your family and friends and show them what the RONA MS Bike Tours are all about and how to get involved!

Click here for directions. Please RSVP if you plan to come – we hope to see you there!

Cyclepath Oakville Training Ride!

The best way to get in shape for the upcoming RONA MS Bike Tours is to actually dust off your bike and do a bike training ride! Practice makes perfect!  Join us for the Cyclepath Oakville training ride at 9am on Sunday June 5, as we get back into the swing of things with a 30-40K bike ride. 

A great idea is to bring a friend or family member along and prove to them that if they can do the 30-40k Cyclepath Oakville training ride, then participating in a RONA MS Bike Tour will be no problem! 

Click here for details and directions.

See you there!