For the past 15 years I have participated in charitable cycling events which support the efforts of the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society. When I started riding for MS I had no connection with the disease, I figured why not it was for a good cause. Well here it is 15 years later and I am still riding for MS to try to help find a cure for this horrible disease. Over the years I have met a lot of great people along the way and quite a few of them as it is turns out have MS.
The thing that I never thought would happen is that these people became my friends and now all these years later I have a reason to ride, it is for them.

Last year I was one of 25 participants in MS Global 2010 New England. Out of these 25 riders there were 11 riders that had MS, that’s almost half. That week in New England was very humbling to see them ride everyday up over the big mountains and to hear there stories.

Accelerated Cure Project (ACP) provides a critical service to MS research. This non- profit organization collects and banks blood samples and personal data for people with MS and makes them available for use by researchers looking into the cause of the disease. The availability of these blood samples and the accompaning donor information will facilitate more MS research by eliminating the time-consuming collection phase researchers used to do on their own, and allowing researchers in different disciplines to work together virtually by studying the same set of samples. ACP collects the results from each research study and analyzes it, learning more about the combination of factors that cause MS. Please visit www.Acceleratedcure.org for more information.

This year I will again be participating in an MS Global event. From August 14-21 2011, I will be cycling through the Canadian Rockies to raise funds for and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis. I am very excited about what we are going to accomplish and hope that you will be a part of it.

This year every rider is required to raise $3500. If you are able, any donation you can make would be greatly appreciated. Checks should be made out to “Accelerated Cure Project” and mailed to me in the self addressed envelope. Donating online is fast and secure. Please go to www.firstgiving.com/VitoVisconte. Please forward this link to anyone who might want to donate.

I would like to take a moment to thank everyone for their support and generosity, it has meant a lot to me, and this very important cause.