CORNWALL, Ontario — Keppel Bharath of Cornwall will be cycling from Ottawa to Cornwall for the sixth time in honour of five friends with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The two-day event starts on Aug. 18 in Ottawa, continuing along a scenic route to the Nav Centre.
“MS is a little-known disease that affects so many people in Canada and I have seen people reduced to limp bodies by it,” said Bharath in a media release. “Curing MS would mean that you can unleash the afflicted people to do other things to help themselves and others.”
According to Bharath, an engineer at Pratt & Whitney Canada, his team starts training annually when the snow melts. He is dedicated to raising awareness about MS, and helping to fund programs, services and research efforts.
MS Bike is one of the most popular cycling events in Eastern Ontario, with routes ranging from 80 to 225 km. This year’s fundraising goal for MS Bike is $525, 000. Organized by the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, the event attracts more than 600 cyclists of different skill levels.
Canada has one of the highest rates of MS in the world, with an average of 11 people diagnosed every day.
“I try to get all of my family to participate,” said Bharath in a media release. “I love the competitive spirit of pulling them with me and pushing them on, sometimes literally, when they start to wither.”
“MS Bike isn’t just a two-day event; it’s an enduring commitment to making a difference in the fight against MS,” said Kristin Harold, Regional Director for Eastern Ontario, in a press release. “We are so honoured to have people like Keppel participating in tribute to their loved ones, while also raising much needed funds to help us find a cure for this disease.”
To register or find out more about volunteering for MS Bike, go to www.msbike.ca.
