On June 1st 2010 23 strangers arrived on the beaches of Yorktown Virginia with a faint dream of California in their eyes. Some had met prior to this day, but for all intents and purposes, these were strangers with one common goal. They had no idea what was in store for them, hell some of them hardly knew how to ride their bikes. But somehow they expected to pedal themselves all the way to California. First impressions were made when they met, some of them looked forward to getting to know these people and some thought "there is no way I can make it through this trip without killing some of these people." They had no idea what to expect from the trip, their companions, and most of all themselves. Despite this looming uncertainty in each one of them, they rode off on June 1st amongst friends and family who had gathered, having no idea what to expect and being simply content with this fact.
Most of these people were kids. Most had no idea what they were doing with their lives. Some had careers, some were fathers, some husbands. They came from across America; Florida, Texas, California, all on faith that this is what they needed to be doing. Somehow they knew, that this motley crew of strangers was the group that they belonged with.
These people knew nothing about MS, at least in relation to what they would learn. The cause was new to them, it was a disease like any other, one which was undoubtedly worth fighting against, but one which was not yet a part of who they were. A disease most of them would never expect to become such a significant part of their lives, their existence.
Before they knew it they had made it through the first day; as they sat around the circle, still nervous and not to mention hungrier than they had ever been in their previous years on the earth, they had only made it sixty miles.
Then another day goes by, and another. Then they met their first MS patients, as a group, at the James Q. Miller Clinic in Charlottesville. They met Angela, an MS patient who told them that each and every one of them was an inspiration to her. And she, was an inspiration to them.
They rode over mountains they thought could not be ridden, they outran dogs they thought could not be outrun. And most impressive of all, they made it through Kentucky. They rode their bicycles to California growing closer to each other every mile along the way.
Then the team of strangers who had become a team of lifelong friends came to the end of the road; last stop, San Francisco. Before they knew it, they had made it. The country in a sweaty blur in their memories was behind them and each and every single one had accomplished what they set out to do.
This was my team, and this team changed my life. My team made it, we made it 4,000 miles from one coast to the other. We raised over $100,000 for MS, for the MS patients we met along the way and the MS patients who we will meet in the future, they are a part of us now. My team is part of me now, I love them and would do anything for any of them. To them I say thank you, for making this summer the most life changing time in my life. You are all truly amazing and inspirational people and I will never forget any of you. And to those who may be considering going on the trip in the future, I have only one thing to say; there may be a million reasons out there to say "I'll pass," there may be things you think are better or smarter to do, but sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith and thank yourself for it later.
We made it! We biked across the country, we raised $100,000 and we touched the lives of countless people along the way. I could not be more proud of myself and my team, and I could not be more thankful that I got the chance to do this. Thank you to all of my friends, family, and everyone reading for your support it means the world to me. Thank you to everyone to contributed to my fundraising, without you I simply would not have been able to go. And last but not least thank you to my team you all changed my life and I will never forget it. Bike the US for MS 2010 is officially complete.
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