Meet MS Bike Participant Anita Trusler

 Anita Trusler’s passion for cycling and a desire to help her community led her to form a team and join the MS Bike. “Many of my team mates have a connection to MS,” says Anita. “The MS Bike seemed like a natural fit.” She joined the MS Bike – Grand Bend to London tour three years ago with her team, the Sarnia GoodLife Cycle-delics.

As a spin class instructor at GoodLife, Anita recruited friends, family and GoodLife members to be part of her team. The Cycle-delics started out with 21 cyclists and raised close to $17,000 in their first year.  Since then, the team has grown to include close to 60 members; raising over $69,000 to date for people touched by MS. “Both years, our team had the top rookie fundraiser of the Grand Bend to London tour - David Palmer in 2011 and  Jeff Burchill in 2012,” says Anita. “I’m very proud of our team.”

This February, Anita was named winner of the Share the Love contest in recognition for her outstanding work as a Team Captain. “It’s incredible to read so many wonderful nominations from my teammates,” says Anita. “Preparing for the MS Bike is a lot of work, but receiving this honour makes it all worthwhile.”

As Team Captain, Anita helps her team prepare for the MS Bike by hosting weekly spin classes.  She also hosts outdoor training rides and get-togethers at local pubs to ensure that her team is geared up and ready to go for event day. “Being a Team Captain is incredible. My team mates look to me to organize everything, and it’s great to have that responsibility,” she says.

With MS Bike right around the corner, Anita hopes that her team will continue to grow this year.  “Rumour has it that we might be close to a hundred team members this year,” says Anita.  “The motivation to end MS has grown even more.”