Left Hand Assembles Team for Ride to Fight Multiple Sclerosis

LONGMONT, COTeam Left Hand is dedicated to fighting Multiple Sclerosis. This June 28-29th, the community team will ride the Colorado-Wyoming Chapter, National MS Society’s Newmont Bike MS, presented by Point B, a 150 mile journey from Westminster to Fort Collins & back. The rigorous ride is a labor of love, but cannot compare to the continuous advocacy & fundraising from the team of dedicated volunteers.

In their 7th year of riding, Team Left Hand Colorado consists of 156 riders including 14 employees, who volunteer their time and effort to help the National MS Society fund research, advocate for change, and help people living with MS. “Bike MS isn’t just a two day event, it’s an enduring commitment to making a difference in the fight against MS,” states Chris Lennert, Team Captain. The team’s inspiration lies in the friends & family afflicted by Multiple Sclerosis, motivating each member to work towards their personal goal of raising at least $1000 a year. The funds collected help the Chapter serve more than 100,000 people affected by MS in Colorado and Wyoming and invest in promising research. Team Left Hand currently rides for 80 people, whose names are honored on the team’s jersey. As the list of names grows longer, TLH’s resolve to solve the MS mystery grows stronger.

To date, the team has raised $700K+ with a goal of raising $250K in 2014. Moreover, the team has expanded, founding Team Left Hand NC/SC in 2013 and the inaugural Team Left Hand Florida this year. By TLH Colorado’s 10th ride, they hope to be one of six teams, raising half a million dollars a year. Left Hand leadership continually encourages awareness and participation from the community, emphasizing that Multiple Sclerosis touches all of us. “Everyone has a connection to MS, they just might not know it – a friend, a co-worker, a relative. MS is not something you can easily spot on the surface.” shares Chris Lennert, “Help us help our friends, family and co-workers that fight this terrible disease by getting on your bike, raising funds, having fun and enjoying some pints along the way!” To sponsor a rider or to learn more about Team Left Hand, visit lefthandbrewing.com.

About Left Hand Brewing Company

Celebrating twenty years of brewing a well-balanced portfolio of craft beers, Left Hand Brewing Company is located at 1265 Boston Avenue in Longmont, Colorado. Left Hand is one of the most honored and recognized breweries in the state, with over 21 Great American Beer Festival medals, 9 World Beer Cup awards, and 6 European Beer Star awards. Famous for their Nitro series, Left Hand Brewery was the first and brewery to release a bottled Nitrogen beer. Left Hand’s collection of perennial and seasonal beers are available in 27 states & DC. Left Hand Brewing Co. – “Sometimes you’re not in the mood for what everyone else is having.”ÔÇ¿ÔÇ¿ÔÇ¿About the Colorado-Wyoming Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society

The Colorado-Wyoming Chapter of the National MS Society was founded in 1959 and provides comprehensive programs and advocacy to assist and empower the more than 100,000 individuals residing in Colorado and Wyoming who are affected by MS annually. The Colorado-Wyoming Chapter is also a driving force of research for the prevention, treatment and cure of MS and contributes funds to support 380 National MS Society research projects worldwide — eight of which are located in Colorado. The Chapter has offices in Denver, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, Grand Junction, Cheyenne and Casper serving the Colorado and Wyoming communities.

About Multiple Sclerosis

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 2.3 million people worldwide.

Multiple Sclerosis Facts

  • MS is a chronic disease of the central nervous system.
  • More than 2.3 million people are affected by MS worldwide.
  • On average, people are diagnosed between the ages of 20-50.
  • The symptoms of MS are unpredictable and can include numbness, visual impairment, fatigue, balance and gait issues and loss of mobility.
  • The NMSS CO / WY chapter serves 100,000 people affected by MS.
  • The Society is the largest private MS research funder in the nation, providing support for 380 research projects worldwide. There are currently 10 FDA-approved disease-modifying therapies to slow the progression of MS.

Read more at http://www.nationalmssociety.org/.