Friends,   

The MS Bike ride is coming up fast.  August 3^rd and 4^th is going to be here before we know it.  If you have MS and are already signed up, you should have received your “I Ride with MS” jersey in the mail.  Aren’t they nice?

The “I Ride with MS” jersey program that the National MS Society provides is a really nice program for all of us with MS.  It gives us a chance to thank people for riding for us all weekend long and they know why we’re thanking them.  It also gives us a visual opportunity to connect with other people living with MS.  It’s also free registration for us and the jersey is free too.  Keep in mind we’re still expected to do $300.00 minimum fund-raising which is very easy when we share our story with others and let them know why we’re riding.  If you raise $1,000.00 or more, you also get a very fun and cool fund-raising jersey as well. 

If you’re not signed up yet or if you know of anyone that would like to ride with us, please have them sign up by clicking here.  You can also read my story about why I’m riding and make a donation to the National MS Society to support me on the ride from this link.  As of now, we have 109 people signed up on our team.  That’s amazing!  Let’s all try to recruit just one more person each. 😊  I’m trying to get Al to sign up, Al’s trying to get Ginger, etc, etc.  Let’s see who you can recruit.  We still have a few weeks to encourage more people to ride.

Here are some money saving discount codes available to you and any of your friends and family that would consider riding with us. 

TEAMUP– Offers team members 15% off registration 

NEWRIDER– Offers NEW team members 25% off registration 

BIKEMSSTAR– Offers those riding with MS free registration and a free “I Ride with MS” Jersey ($300.00 minimum fund raising still required)

All are welcome, the more the merrier as it supports a great cause.  We need the National MS Society to keep funding valuable and meaningful research for us and support programs for people living with MS.  The people at the National MS Society work very hard for us all year long.  We’re fortunate to have them working for all of us living with MS.  Please consider riding with us, volunteering or making a donation.

Speaking of volunteering, we still need more volunteers to help at the rest areas on Saturday and Sunday during the ride.  There’s a sign-up sheet in the gym.  This is a good way for you to be part of the fun if you’re not able to ride.

Wednesday mornings have been awesome this summer with Becky Thomas and all her PT Assistant students from Bryant Stratton College haven’t they? 

I believe they’ll be here a few more Wednesdays so please come and have them work with you.  You’ll learn from them and they’ll learn from you.  We all benefit and make progress.  Thank you, Becky and students!

Have you seen the new equipment that Becky Thomas made the connections for? 

They are passive motion machines that get your hands, arms, legs, etc. moving passively.  It’s amazing how many people with spasticity experienced their spasticity behaving better after being on these machines.  Keep in mind “consistency is key” so keep coming back and getting on them.

Eric Schrank from Kinetec USA donated these two Kinevia Duo Rehab Trainer bikes.  Check them out, they’re awesome!  Thank you Eric!  If you need any rehab equipment, check out the equipment Eric offers.  Here’s their website:  www.kinetecinternational.com  Amazing people and equipment!

Let’s ride again Friday morning @ 7:00am.  We meet at Nettesheim Park on the SE corner of Hwy SS and Oak Street in Pewaukee.  If you would like to ride a tandem or a trike, please let me know ahead of time so we bring one for you.  I hope you’ll join us!  We will not ride if it’s raining.

We all need to “Just Keep Moving”!  It doesn’t matter where we start.  We can start with laughing which is great exercise in itself.  Other than that, we start with the body parts that will move and keep moving them as much as we can.  Let them rest and then move them again.

I know there are still many of us going through other life challenges in addition to our challenges with MS.  Let’s stick together, keep our chins up and keep sharing our journey.  Better days are ahead.  For those of you who haven’t been able to make it by us on Wednesdays and Fridays lately, please know you are missed and in my thoughts and prayers.  I hope you’re able to make it back soon!

I hope you’ll join us both Wednesday and Friday again this week.   Remember…consistency is key.  With MS, it takes a lot of consistent effort every day to make small improvements.  Yes, it’s frustrating so be patient and consistent and you’ll be amazed how your quality of life will continue to improve.  It’s been about 17 years of exercising just about every day for me and I’m still making improvements (encouragement, love, support, nutrition and proper rest help immensely too).  It takes time so please be patient.  It sure is better than MS getting worse.  I really don’t know what my life would be like if I didn’t do this (nor do I want to find out).  I’m so thankful you are all joining me on this journey of making progress with our MS and quality of life…THANK YOU!  We’ll continue to learn together…there’s so much power in the love and support we all share with each other.

In the past, I’ve been telling you to bring a friend.  Unfortunately, we’re going to need to start a waiting list for new people.  Please feel free to continue to share your experience and what we’re doing together.  Let me know of anyone who would like to join us.  I’ll communicate with these people through e-mail or phone and help them any way I can.  When we have room for them to join us, I’ll encourage them to do that.  If you’ve joined us in the past, please continue to join us.

We are here to help you and anyone with MS…no strings attached (well maybe an occasional story about the progress you’re making, smile, high five or a hug).  I remember how challenging life used to be when my MS was bad.  I get great joy sharing what I’ve learned and feel blessed with the progress I’ve made.  I hope you make progress in some way too!

Place:  W228N791 Westmound Dr.
Waukesha, WI

When:  Wednesday morning from 9:30am – 12:30pm (open gym concept, come for all or part of it)
Friday morning from 9:30 – 12:30pm  (open gym concept, come for all or part of it)

Any questions?  Give me a call.
Dan Erschen
Cell:  414-305-0418