Today Jeff, Debbie and I participated in the Keller Texas MS bike ride. Debbie and I signed on for 20 miles and Jeff signed up for the 40 mile route. Imagine our chagrin when about 3 miles before the finish line, Jeff passes us up. However, due to some confusion about the ride start, Debbie and I left about 5 minutes after Jeff. Additionally, according to my bike computer our ride was closer to 25 miles. When Jeff and I were discussing our rides, he admitted that his was probably closer to about 33 miles. I know that Jeff is a much stronger rider than I. When we have ridden in the past, he always leaves me in his dust and circles back. I do not mind though. After the ride, I went by Danny's to pick up an item he had borrowed (another long story). It was nice seeing both Danny and Joanna and of course Catcher. After the ride, riders gathered in the Keller High School Cafeteria. As we entered, a toothy grinned young man handed us a request to vote for him in a contest. His name is Jodi Ryan. He is a finalist in the MS Leaders of Hope Awards. He was chosen for his idea to help people with MS in the mobility category. His idea is about how to get information about Assistance Dogs and how they can help with mobility to people with MS. He has had an Assistance Dog, named Sky for five years. She can do over 100 tasks that allows him to conserve his energy, so he can do more things he wants to do, instead of the things that has to be done. He requested all that received this informational sheet to go to: this site and vote for him. He and I had a small conversation. I was being silly and he was enjoying it. He impressed me as being a very sweet and mannered young man. So, if you are so inclined, please go to the site linked within and vote for Jodi Lee Ryan.
As a post script to this entry. When I first tested the url provided in Jodi's paper, I discovered that he had included a wrong suffix. I found the correct address via google. So Jodi probably needs your vote more than ever.
Congratulations on the bike ride - wish I could do 25 miles, or even 10. Sounds like the ride was a good way to keep busy until granddaughson appears.
Posted by: Cynthia at October 3, 2004 08:25 AMI wonder sometimes if I have MS. I went to the site and not only did I vote on the Mobility category, I voted on all of the categories. By the time I reached the Mobility category I completely forgot everything you had written in your blog. Fortunately, I love dogs and I really liked that particular story so I voted on it. What LUCK!!
Posted by: Theresa at October 3, 2004 10:14 PM