National Multiple Sclerosis Society to Host Ride April 20-21
WHO & WHAT
The 29th Annual BP MS 150 Bike Ride, the largest event of its kind and the largest fundraising ride for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, will take place on April 20 – 21, 2013. Approximately 13,000 cyclists are expected to take part in the two-day, 180-mile journey from Houston to Austin. The BP MS 150 aims to raise $18 million this year to fund cutting-edge research and support programs and services benefiting thousands of Texans impacted by multiple sclerosis and served by the National MS Society.
Registration is available at www.bpms150.net. The 2013 registration fee is $100, and a minimum pledge of $400 is required for participation. Individuals, families and groups are also encouraged to volunteer for the more than 3,000 positions in Houston, Austin and along the route. Log on to www.bpms150.net to volunteer or to donate online.
WHEN
Saturday and Sunday, April 20 – 21, 2013
WHERE
The ride will begin in Houston on Saturday, April 20 and finish in downtown Austin in front of the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum near the State Capitol on Sunday, April 21, following an overnight celebration at the Fayette County Fairgrounds in La Grange. Cyclists have the option to start at one of three starting points on Saturday:
Tully Stadium Rhodes Stadium Waller Stadium
1050 Dairy Ashford St. Katy High School Waller High School
Houston, TX 77079 1733 Katy Fort Bend Rd. 20735 Stokes Rd.
Katy, TX 77493 Waller, TX 77484
On day two, riders can opt for one of two routes out of La Grange as they make their way to Austin.
WHY
Multiple sclerosis, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system, interrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with at least two to three times more women than men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 2.1 million people worldwide.
About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
MS stops people from moving. The National MS Society exists to make sure it doesn’t. The Society addresses the challenges of each person affected by MS by funding cutting-edge research, driving change through advocacy, facilitating professional education, collaborating with MS organizations around the world, and providing programs and services designed to help people with MS and their families move forward with their lives. In 2011 alone, through its national office and 50-state network of chapters, the Society devoted $164 million to programs and services that assisted more than one million people. To move us closer to a world free of MS, the Society also invested $40 million to support more than 325 new and ongoing research projects around the world. The Society is dedicated to achieving a world free of MS. Join the movement at nationalMSsociety.org.
Early and ongoing treatment with an FDA-approved therapy can make a difference for people with multiple sclerosis. Learn about your options by talking to your health care professional and contacting the National MS Society at nationalMSsociety.org or 1-800- 344-4867.
About BP
BP has invested more in the United States over the last five years than any other oil and gas company. With more than $55 billion in capital spending between 2008 and 2012, BP invests more in the U.S. than in any other country. The company is the second largest producer of oil and gas in the U.S., a major oil refiner and a leader in alternative energy sources. BP provides enough energy each year to light the entire country. With more than 21,000 U.S. employees, BP supports nearly a quarter of a million domestic jobs through its business activities. For more information, visit www.bp.com.
