A local father and son team will take a bike ride from Cypress Gardens to Sea World in one weekend as they participate in the 2008 Bike MS Bright House Networks Bike Ride on April 26 and 27 to raise money and awareness for multiple sclerosis (MS).
Valrico resident Chris Keeney and his 11-year-old son Noah have been training every weekend with 30 to 50 mile bike rides for the past year to prepare for this 100-plus mile ride fundraiser for the disease which attacks the nervous system.
“This is my second time taking part in the MS ride, but it will be the first time with my son,” says Chris, a hair stylist at The Pamper Stop in Brandon. “Noah and I have been riding on the weekends with the Tampa Bay Freewheelers to help us train for the ride.”
The National MS Society sponsors events like Bike MS to help raise funds for research and programs for people suffering from the disease. Chris and Noah will be raising money and donating it all to MS to help the organization find a cure.
Although Chris has no one in his family suffering from the disease, he still feels he should help out any way he can.
“Now that people know I’m doing this ride, I’m hearing a lot of stories from friends who know people who have MS,” says Chris, who raised more than $2,000 for the 2007 MS Bike. “I want to do something for people who have been diagnosed and I want to do everything I can to prevent more people from learning what it means to live with this disease.”
Noah, a Burns Middle School sixth grade student, is taking his fundraising responsibility seriously by challenging his dad on who can raise the most donations.
“I have a lot of teachers sponsoring me because they like the idea of a kid helping out other kids,” says Noah, who enjoys biking because he knows there are kids who can’t.
“MS means that you may not always be able to walk or ride a bike. I really want to do something to help fight this disease,” Noah adds.
The Keeney’s have a goal to raise $5,000 for the MS Society.
To become one of their sponsors, call 727-0581 or visit the MS Website at www.bikems.org and follow the links to sponsor a rider and then input Christopher or Noah Keeney.
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