Cyclists Bike to the Beach to Fight MS Oct. 20 - 21 October 20, 2007

Cyclists Bike to the Beach to Fight MS Oct. 20 - 21
Thousands of cyclists will ride from San Antonio to Corpus Christi in the 2007 Valero MS 150 to raise funds for MS

WHO & WHAT
This Fall, 3,500 cyclists are expected to join the movement in ending the devastating effects of multiple sclerosis (MS) by riding from San Antonio to Corpus Christi for the 18th Annual Valero MS 150, presented by H-E-B. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Lone Star Chapter hopes to raise more than $1.6 million during the Bike Tour for its research, programs and services for the 17,000 individuals in 141 Texas counties living with MS. The two-day, 150-mile Bike Tour takes place Oct. 20 – 21.

WHEN & WHERE
The Valero MS 150 Bike to the Beach starts at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 20 at the AT&T Center, home of the NBA World Champions the San Antonio Spurs. After an Overnight stay at the Coastal Bend College in Beeville, cyclists will begin the final leg of the Tour at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 21 and head to the Finish Line at the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi.

At both the Day One and Day Two Start Lines, riders who want to maintain a brisk cycling speed will depart at 7:30 a.m. Following this departure is the “recreational start” for cyclists who are more comfortable taking a leisurely pace.

WHY
The Valero MS 150 Bike to the Beach is one of three fund-raising rides that the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Lone Star Chapter hosts in Texas, including the North Texas SAM’S CLUB MS 150 in May and the BP MS 150 from Houston to Austin in April. All three are regarded by cyclists as the premier rides in Texas, with experienced management, well-coordinated routes, and special attention to riders’ safety and comfort.

About Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis interrupts the flow of information from the brain to the body and stops people from moving. Every hour in the United States, someone is newly diagnosed with MS, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. 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 more than twice as many women as men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 400,000 people in the U.S., and 2.5 million worldwide.
About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
MS stops people from moving. The National MS Society exists to make sure it doesn’t. We help each person address the challenges of living with MS and are dedicated to achieving a world free of MS. The Lone Star Chapter serves more than 17,000 Texans affected by multiple sclerosis. Charity Navigator honored the Lone Star Chapter with four stars – its highest award for outstanding financial and service excellence. The Lone Star Chapter has offices in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin and Corpus Christi. We are people who want to do something about MS now. Join the movement at nationalmssociety.org/txh.
Studies show that early and ongoing treatment with an FDA-approved therapy can reduce future disease activity and improve quality of life for many people with multiple sclerosis. Talk to your health care professional and contact the National MS Society at www.nationalmssociety.org or 1-800-344-4867 to learn about ways to help manage multiple sclerosis and about current research that may one day reveal a cure.

To register, volunteer or donate: log on to www.ms150.org.
TEXAS MS 150 Bike Tours – A LONE STAR CYCLING TRADITION

Official Website: http://www.ms150.org