Friends,

The MS Bike Ride – We made the best of the weather this past weekend and enjoyed the MS Bike ride with so many friends.  After riding it for 17 or 18 consecutive years, it feels like we all are family.  It makes me feel good to see so many good people coming together to ride and raise money for the National MS Society who works so hard for all of us living with MS.  Our people at the Wisconsin Chapter of the National MS Society really do work hard for us.  It was really nice to see people from our neighboring states of the National MS Society join us this weekend as well.

Saturday’s ride was really hot.  I was planning on riding the 100 mile route on Saturday but it was so hot, the National MS Society felt it was safer to not ride the 100 mile route and limit it to the 50 and 75 mile route.  I personally ended up riding 78 miles and was plenty dehydrated after that.  I was happy with 78 miles in that heat.

The volunteers were again AMAZING this year.  To all who volunteered at any capacity…THANK YOU!  This event wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for all our amazing volunteers.  It warms my heart when I see so many good people come out in the extreme heat to serve all of us riding.  You all are awesome!

Saturday evening’s program was really nice.  The National MS Society did a really nice job of recognizing some great achievements and people all the way from the youngest rider, rookie riders, riders with MS, oldest rider (Our great friend and volunteer at our gym – Pete who is 80) and all the riders in between.  I was in tears many times throughout the program because my heart was touched so deeply.

They did a really nice job of telling Wendy’s story of living with MS all these years and making such nice progress again recently.  I always love it when people can get out of their wheelchair and start walking again.  I can relate.  Wendy is amazing and inspiring many people…especially me.  Thanks for sharing your story Wendy!

We have some amazing people doing some outstanding fundraising for all of us living with MS.  Some of them were recognized proudly Saturday evening as well.  A huge thank you goes out to all who donated to the National MS Society supporting us riders again this year…THANK YOU!  Thank you also to everyone who rode on the ride and did fundraising for the event.  So far, our Peppy Pedaler’s team has raised $57,540.00 for this event this year.  That’s amazing!  Much thanks goes to all who donated and did fundraising.  Well done and THANK YOU!

Sunday’s ride was a little short.  There were storms rolling through when the decision needed to be made of whether we ride or to cancel it.  The decision was made to cancel the ride for the safety of all the riders, volunteers and people at the Natioanl MS Society.  I know this was a tough call.

Saturday’s ride in the extreme heat left me really dehydrated.  My body needed to rest and get rehydrated on Sunday.  I’m confident this was the case for many riders.  I’m a believer that everything happens for a reason.  Who knows how many hospital visits were avoided by cancelling the ride for Sunday.  I do feel badly for the people who couldn’t ride on Saturday and were planning to ride on Sunday though.  Let’s look forward to next year.

Volunteers are appreciated at our gym

Thank you to all the volunteers who are stepping up while we’re a little light on volunteers this summer.  I really appreciate it and I know all our friends with MS appreciate it as well.  Thanks also to all our friends with MS who are helping each other.  It’s a beautiful thing to see this happening.  I wish the rest of the world would be more like the people that come to our gym.  The world would certainly be a much better place.

Let’s get together!

We’ll be getting together again from 9:00am – noon on Wednesday and Friday mornings at the gym.  I hope you’ll join us!

Wisconsin Metal Parts – Westmound Building
W228N791 Westmound Drive
Waukesha, WI 53186

Prayer Group  We’ll be having our prayer group Wednesday @ 11:00am.

I just love the way we share, pray and laugh together while we witness prayers being answered weekly.  It’s truly amazing!

Thanks goes to God and to everyone that joins us.  Let’s get together to share, listen, talk, give thanks and pray however God leads us.

MS Just Keep Caring – Our Caregivers support group will be the first and third Friday of each month from 10:00 – 10:30am.  The next one will be Friday, August 19th  .  If you’re a caregiver of someone you love with MS, please join us and share your experience of caring for your loved one.  This has been very helpful for many.  Thanks to all who participate!

Friday Morning Bike Rides

Let’s continue to ride as long as it’s not raining.  If you’re considering riding the MS Bike ride next year, now is the time to start riding with us.

We’ll be meeting Friday mornings at 7:00am at Nettesheim Park in Pewaukee.  It’s on the SE corner of Hwy SS and Oak Street.  The GPS address is:  N26W27495 Prospect Ave, Pewaukee, WI 53072.  Come a little early so you can get your bike out of your car and be ready to ride as close to 7:00 as possible.  We’ll ride until about 8:45.  Let’s ride and have some fun!

For those of you who wish you could join us but can’t; please know we have you in our hearts on these rides.  We’re riding with you and for you.  I hope you too can join us someday.  We really need to get this MS thing figured out.  Let’s keep working on it together.

 

COVID   There seems to be some COVID going around again lately.  We’ve all been dealing with this long enough and are very well educated on it by now.  Let’s make good choices and be safe.

Please stay home if you have any symptoms or know you’ve been exposed to someone with the virus.  Please don’t come until your symptoms go away.  Let’s also give each other some space when talking to one another and continue wiping the machines down before and after you use them with disinfectant.  Again…let’s be socially responsible and stay safe!

Our Facebook page is private.  That means you’ll need to join if you want access to all our fun and progress.  Lots of people are doing more and more and sharing of their journey on Facebook.  Feel free to join and share your experience and comments.  We’re now up to 238 members…awesome!   https://www.facebook.com/groups/2639832389489709

Thai Massage with Ricky Heldt  Ricky will be here Wednesday and Friday again this week doing Thai Massage.  Ricky says he is comfortable to work with you even if you’re not wearing a mask.  Ricky will continue to wear one to protect you.

Many continue making great progress with chronic pain relief, range of motion, walking better and a new sense of hope when Ricky works with them.  Please keep in mind that consistency is key.  Not only with Ricky…with exercise too.  We need consistency to realize the benefits long term.  We want you to have long term relief.

Ricky has a sign up sheet based on first come first serve.  You can pick the time slot that works for you.  I highly encourage you to take advantage of Ricky’s Thai Massages each day and sign up for your time slot as soon as you get there.

Reiki with Linda  Linda will be here on Fridays doing Reiki.  Many people say Linda’s Reiki work is “magical”.  We’re thankful for Linda offering her gifts and talents to us.  Feel free to let Linda know you’d like to do Reiki with her.  She also has a sign up sheet.

Inspirational Humor with Adam Wollert 

We’ll be having our inspirational humor zoom call with Adam again next Tuesday.  Adam is a gift to all of us.

Please join us if you can.

Tuesdays @ 1:30PM
Here’s the link to join us…I hope you do!
Join Zoom Meeting with this link
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9431389152?pwd=bWlYbFNaazVnM1M1cWxWMitlODdXUT09
Meeting ID: 943 138 9152
Passcode: 3qP2hu
Phone:   1-312-626-6799
Meeting ID: 943 138 9152

Let’s reach out

I encourage you to share a smile and encouragement with someone.  Perhaps you could call someone that you haven’t talked with for a while just to say hi and see how they’re doing.  We all could use a little extra love and encouragement.

MS is tough.  Let’s have faith, remain calm, be flexible, help each other and learn as much as we can about the challenges of each day as we make good choices.

Let’s keep moving and smiling

In God We Trust…we’re in good hands

Dan

http://msjustkeepmoving.org/

P.S. Here are a few fun pics from this weekend’s MS bike ride.  We had lots of fun!

All these people have MS and rode the ride. I hope even more people with MS ride together going forward.

We have an amazing group of people on our Peppy Pedaler’s Team

We had awesome cheerleaders sending us off!

Wendy and Nino came across the finish line strong and happy

Our team tent was very fun and spirited

Amazing friendships are built on these rides

Many people don’t realize how many loving people are doing so much for all of us living with MS.  The tent on Saturday night was filled with great people who rode for all of us and raised a bunch of money for the National MS Society so we can all continue to make progress.  Again, thanks to all who rode, donated, volunteered and organized this great event!

It’s always a blessing when a Father and Son can ride together on this ride.  Tony agrees

Wendy’s story is very inspirational.  Stories like Wendy’s need to be shared with more people with MS.  Wendy gives so many people hope…

It was an awesome event.  Thanks again to all who made this possible!