Good Evening Champions for MS!
It’s 7:00PM and Sylvia and I have just returned from Conneaut Ohio and lake Erie. I just finished unloading the mini van, the steaks are on the grill, and I am about to open a nice bottle of red wine….
Once again I am a little lost for words and a little overcome by emotion from the efforts of this truly amazing group of people…….
But before I settle in for the evening, please allow me to indulge myself once more……
How do you say thank you to such an incredible group of people….What we have achieved this year, is purely as a result of you…The Champions for MS team. This team was born out of your character…You proved that teams are color blind, and it’s the cause you are riding for that matters….Teams are built on values….This teams values, and trademarks are its heart, determination, courage, compassion, caring, and high standards…..
All of you showed me this weekend just what a Champion for MS is…..You….
Think about for a second, what we achieved this year. This weekend we had 136 registered riders, of which in the end we will have had between, 100-110 actually ride…We are still THE largest team, next to Alcoa, Fed Ex, and Pella.
And for that I thank you….
As a team we have raised in online contributions over $35K…In the end we will most likely deliver between $45K and $50K to MS this year….Think about this in just 5 years, this team will have delivered over $250K to MS…..
We will still be in the top 10 to top 15 teams this year…How cool is that…
And for that I thank all of you…
Thank you to all of our riders, sponsors, and volunteers for without all of you there would be no Champions for MS Team….Thank you to your friends, family members, spouses and significant others who supported you in your efforts for MS…Every rider needs their support, caring, compassion and understanding in this undertaking which requires so much of our most valuable commodity today…TIME…..
Thank you to each of you for believing and sharing in my vision for this team…For without your trust and commitment and caring, this team would not exist … This weekend you showed how much you believed, and in the end, know that we as a team are making a difference in the lives of those with MS….
Thank you to our friends at Canari who created the best possible jersey design, which clearly got our message across as a team….
Thank you to Ben Murphy who made our vision of a team web-site come to life in just 6 days working late nights with a sometimes neurotic team captain until the wee hours of the morning..In the end we have a world class web-site which other teams are using as an example of what a truly great team site looks like….
Thank you to Jim Mitchell, who I owe so much to…Jim, you have been an incredible sounding board for me with this team and event…Thank you for your support and guidance during this teams transitional time…
Thank you for your leadership, in helping with so many facets of this team, from training rides, to sharing my vision on the web-site, to caring enough about out team and those who ride the MS tour to reroute the Century course, offering a safer and more enjoyable option….
Thank you to Harold Goodman, who worked tirelessly to secure the trucking for MS in this years tour, as well as being a great friend who has a passion for helping those with MS, and so much more…
Thank you to Dan Fischer, John Smoker, and Jim Mitchell for giving up your nights and weekends to help our team to get ready to ride this event….
Thank you to Laurie Strachan, Eleni Geldis and Mitzi Merriman for pulling together this years team tent….
Gasp…
If am forgetting someone, please accept my humble apologies, but know that you have been part of something so much bigger than a bike tour…You made a difference in the lives of those with MS….
And for that with all of my heart thank you….
Thank you all for caring for your teammates, and being the safest team on the road….You are all Champions for MS!
Thank you to my wife Sylvia, for your loving support during this event…I am not only lucky but blessed…
Well my Champions for MS, it’s time for me to close this one out …The steaks are coming off the grill, I’m a little tired, but once again all of you have made my 32nd MS bike tour my most memorable….
In the coming weeks, I hope to share some of these memories with you…
I do have a favor to ask from all of you…Please share with me some of your memories from this years event….
Thank you all so much!!
Heart….Determination…Courage…We are Champions for MS!
-Jeff H.
Good Morning Champions for MS!