Registration fees increase tomorrow!

Today is the last day for the Early Bird registration offer! Registration fees for the 2012 MS Bike Tour increase tomorrow! So don’t wait, register now at www.msbiketours.ca  

Happy Canada Day Long Weekend!

This Sunday, July 1, Canada will celebrate its 145^th birthday! This is an important day to celebrate being Canadian and to reflect on how lucky we are to live in such an amazing country. So get outside and enjoy the summer sunshine… and with your extra time off this weekend, why not take your bike out for a ride in order to prepare for your upcoming MS Bike Tour or start prepping for next year’s MS Walk with a hike!

 The MS Society would also like to remind you to take a moment and think about the thousands of Canadian families who are affected by multiple sclerosis. Thanks to all of our supporters for their continuous effort and contribution in the movement to end MS.

We hope you have an amazing Canada day and a fun-filled long weekend!

Fundraising Tip #9 – Digitally spread the word!

These days most of us spend a considerable amount of time networking on our various social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, etc.). So why not take advantage of these outlets and spread the word about your participation in MS Bike online! Here are some great ways to use your social media sites to broaden the scope of your fundraising endeavors:

·         Update your profile picture on your favorite social media sites with a picture of you riding at an MS Bike event

·         Post a link to your online fundraising page on your social media sites of choice

·         Use your social media sites as a way to broadcast what you have done to personally contribute to your fundraising goals. Have you been saving your change in a coin jar? Did you hold a successful bake sale at the office? Tweet and post, and let your friends, family and team members know and maybe they’ll do the same!

·         Start counting down the days until MS Bike on your Facebook page or Twitter feed. This is a great way of reminding friends and family to get their donations in.

·         Show your appreciation! Use your social media sites to acknowledge those who have made a donation and to thank them for their support. This is a great way to show your gratitude and to encourage others to donate.

Have another great tip to share? Leave us a wall post on Facebook page or a tweet on Twitter! You never know, your tip might even be included in our next blog post!

Reminder - Registration fees for the 2012 MS Bike Tour increase July 1!

We are less than two weeks away until the inaugural 2012 MS Bike Tour - Prince Edward County!

Please remember that registration fees will increase on July 1, so if you haven’t done so already, now is the time to sign up for a Tour. 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. For more information about the MS Bike Tour, click here. Hope to see you out there!

Don’t miss out on all the latest MS Bike Tour information including upcoming registration promotions. Subscribe to our Gearing Up eNewsletter to stay informed!

Fundraising Tip #8 – A Fun & Fast Way to Raise Funds: Play a Game!

Why not have some fun with your fundraising and play a game? You can raise some last minute funds while educating your donors by playing a quick and fun game of True or False: Facts about MS. Ask your potential donors if they would be willing to pledge you 25 cents (or $1, $2 – you can decide with them) for every answer they get wrong. Here are some sample questions to use:

True or False: Facts about MS

1. MS is usually diagnosed in infants and the elderly. [False: While it is most often diagnosed in young adults, aged 15 to 40, we know that it affects children, some as young as three years old]
2. Women are 3 times more likely to develop MS than men. [True]
3. MS can cause impaired speech. [True]
4. MS can cause double vision. [True]
5. MS can cause extreme fatigue. [True}
6. MS can cause paralysis. [True]
7. Every week, on average, 1 person is diagnosed with MS. [False – Every day approximately 3 Canadians are diagnosed with MS]
8. Canadians have one of the highest rates of MS in the world. [True]
9. MS is not contagious, however, it is inherited. [false – MS is not contagious nor inherited]
10. The symptoms of MS can change over time. [True - Most people (about 80-85%) are diagnosed with the relapsing-remitting form of MS. Over time, from 50 to 70 % of people originally diagnosed with relapsing remitting MS will convert to secondary progressive MS, and will slowly accumulate disability. The remaining number however may have a very mild course continuing with only occasional relapses, generally good recovery, and only minor neurological disturbances accumulating for long periods of time.]
11. We will one day find a cure and end MS. [True!]

 Thank you to all our MS Bike Tour fundraisers. Keep up the good work!

Have another great tip to share? Leave us a wall post on Facebook or a tweet on Twitter! You never know, your tip might even be included in our next blog post!

Don’t forget, this Saturday is the Toronto MEC Bike Fest!

The Toronto MEC Bike Fest will be held this Saturday, June 23. Event entrance is free! Workshops and clinics are $5 each with proceeds being donated to our community partner, Cycle Toronto (formerly the Toronto Cyclists Union). Group rides are free but space is limited so if you are planning to attend please visit http://bit.ly/LVTZO4 and register!

Don’t miss this community celebration of cycling and remember it’s a great opportunity to get geared up for the upcoming MS Bike Tour.

For more information please visit http://bit.ly/LVTZO4. Hope to see you there!

Purdy's Chocolate wins Canada Sings!

Courtesy of CanadaSingsTV

Congratulations to Purdy's Chocolate for their big win last night on the season finale of Canada Sings! Their win means that the MS Society of Canada will receive an amazing $25,000.

Thank you to Purdy’s Chocolate for your generous donation and for your support in the movement to end MS!

Purdy’s Chocolate will compete in support of the MS Society of Canada tonight on the season finale of Canada Sings!

Tune into Global TV tonight at 10pm et/pt to watch the Purdy’s Chocolate glee club team “Sweet Day” compete for a chance to win a $25,000 donation to the MS Society of Canada!

Good luck and thank you to Purdy’s Chocolate for supporting the movement to end MS.

http://www.globaltv.com/canadasings

Don’t miss the Toronto MEC Bike Fest is this Saturday, June 23!

Mark your calendars and join us for a celebration of all things bike-related! The Toronto MEC Bike Fest will be held this Saturday, June 23 in Toronto’s Distillery District. Entrance is free to all those wishing to attend.

Workshops and clinics are $5 each with proceeds being donated to our community partner, Cycle Toronto (formerly the Toronto Cyclists Union). Group rides are free, however registration is required as space is limited so register now!

Whether you are a novice or expert cyclist, there is something for everyone to enjoy. So come out and take advantage of this great opportunity to meet the MS Bike Tour team!

Date: Saturday, June 23, 2012
Location: Toronto’s Distillery District located on Parliament St. and Mill St.

Time: 11:00am to 5:30pm

For more information about the MEC Bike Fest, visit http://bit.ly/LVTZO4

MS Society of Canada salutes our Top Fundraisers!

Congratulations to our Ontario MS Bike Tour top fundraisers Scott Davis, Tims Sutherns, Barry Travnicek and David Wilton, and fellow Canadians from across the county Brad Dick, Gilles Dionne, Chris Fillmore, Verna Haiden, Kevin James Ken Kerr, Paul Paridaen, Pete Samson and Greg Van Tighem on their amazing fundraising efforts in support of the 2011 MS Bike Tour. Their teams raised $10,000+ and will be participating in the Tour of Champions this weekend in beautiful Cape Cod!

These “Champions” will join over 2000 riders from across North America on June 23 and 24 for a fun filled weekend, as they ride the picturesque route from Cape Cod to Provincetown. The Cape Cod Getaway is the largest

MS ride in New England, hosted by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society

in the US.

Good luck to our MS Bike Tour fundraising Champions!

Happy Father's Day!

Are you still looking for that perfect Father’s Day gift? Why not give dad something that will help him better prepare for his upcoming MS Bike Tour. Bike accessories are a great gift idea for any cycling enthusiast. Visit your local bike shop to find the perfect cycling tool for your dad. Click here  for a list of shops near you.

Or better yet, show your love and support for dad by making a pledge towards his MS Bike Tour fundraising efforts by visiting http://msbiketours.ca .

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

Happy Father’s Day and thanks for Gearing Up! msbiketours.ca

Enjoy FREE registration on Summer Solstice!

Summer is all about fun in the sun, and what better way to spend time outdoors than cycling in the MS Bike Tour! To celebrate the Summer Solstice, you can REGISTER for an upcoming Ontario MS Bike Tour for FREE between noon and 3pm on Wednesday June 20.

Be sure to spread the word to your family, friends and coworkers so they too can be a part of the largest cycling series in North America.

Register at msbiketours.ca or by calling 1-800-268-7582.

Note: This promotion is not applicable for the Ottawa to Cornwall Tour.

London Training Ride!

Join us this Saturday June 16 for the MS Bike Tour London Training Ride! The 30 km ride begins at 9am and starts/finishes at the MS Society Canada’s Southwestern office at 1100 Dearness Drive, Unit 20. Participants will be stopping halfway at a check point along the route, giving them an idea of how long they will be riding before reaching a check point during the Tour.

To RSVP or if you have any questions, please contact Amanda Travnicek at Amanda.Travnicek@mssociety.ca

Hope to see you there!

"Mama April" ensures an outstanding team experience

Since taking on the role of team captain of Lambton Financial Credit Union in 2006, April Williams has made the Grand Bend to London Tour an outstanding experience for her team.

April arranges for delivery of team members' luggage to their rooms, along with room keys and meal tickets, so that weary team members can skip check-in at the finish line.

The team is then invited to a "host room", complete with snacks and beverages, where they can relax together before dinner. And for the ultimate finish line perk, April arranges for the team to have its own massage therapist in their TeamMS Village tent.

April is even willing to give up her own cycling experience for the benefit of the group. Last year, faced with a shortage of team volunteers, she forfeited her own ride to coordinate things for her team.

Averaging more than 20 members each year, the team has raised more than $44,000 in the past six years. Lambton Financial Credit Union is a strong supporter of the team, providing team jerseys and even paying everyone's registration fee.

The team is as committed to April as she is to them. April was the winner of the MS Society's "Share the Love" promotion in February, which asked riders to share what makes their team captain great. April "really truly cares about people, and wants to make sure everyone has the very best time and we're all very well cared for," according to nominator Mike Murphy.

"Because I do the ride myself, I know what a difference the little things can make," April says. "I'll do whatever I can to take care of the team and make everybody's weekend a little bit more special."

Sponsor Profile – Impact Canopies Canada

We would like to take a minute to acknowledge an MS Bike Tour sponsor, Impact Canopies Canada, for helping to ensure that the 2012 MS Bike Tour is a success!

Since 1999, Impact Canopies Canada has manufactured and distributed all qualities and styles of Instant Canopies and Instant Canopy Accessories.  In 2006, Impact Images Inc., based in California, was formed to manufacture and distribute Instant Canopies and Instant Canopy Accessories in the USA and other global markets.

Now, the company makes up the only true North American Instant Canopy Brand. With Canadian offices in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Halifax and the US office in Lake Elsinore, California, Impact Instant Canopies are available throughout North America.

Check out their website or Facebook page for more information.

London Pub Night Tonight!

Tonight’s MS Bike Tour Pub Night is being held at Buffalo Wild Wings, located at 425 Southdale Road West in London at 6pm!

RSVP to Sabrina at sabrina.highgate@mssociety.ca to attend! Hope to see you there!

MS Summer Camp!

From August 11 to 18, 2012, children and teens with MS will gather at beautiful Big Rideau Lake for a week of outdoor adventure, fun and building new friendships as part of the 6^th annual MS Summer Camp. The camp provides participants with a break from the stress associated with MS in a supportive environment where they can share similar experiences and just enjoy being kids!

The camp is FREE to attend.  All costs associated with the camp (including travel) are covered thanks to a fifth year of generous funding from the RBC Foundation and Foundation Bergeron-Jetté.

For more information and to download a camp application, visit mssociety.ca/camp

OR contact us kidsandteenscamp@mssociety.ca or 1-800-268-7582 ext. 3135.

“[The best thing about camp was] seeing friends from last year and

meeting new friends this year, and having a network of MS family”

– A camper

Fundraising Tip #7 – Write a Letter!

A great way to increase your fundraising is to send sincere and informative handwritten letters to your friends and family about why you are participating in MS Bike and what their support would mean to you. In an age of mounting email inboxes, taking the time to create a handwritten note means a lot!