Michael Stellabotte has been biking to support multiple sclerosis victims for over a decade. This year marks his 6th consecutive year riding for multiple sclerosis and a 4th year as a Safety Ambassador Cyclist. He is also serving again as a PJM Fit Cycling Team Co-Captain.

Multiple sclerosis is a complex disease of the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves) characterized by relapses (neurologic symptoms which appear rapidly but often improve over weeks or months), remissions and often progression of disability over time. MS is currently not a curable disease.

Stellabotte is proud of his long-term involvement supporting MS, dating back to 1999. At that time he sang in a barbershop quartet as a guest performer for a fund-raising event. Stellabotte also served in various volunteer roles in past walk for MS events. In doing this, he got to see the event support even more directly, from the staff/volunteer perspective. Some of the volunteers working with Stellabotte in these events are fighting MS themselves. Stellabotte recently participated in a walk for MS event in Coca Cola Park in Allentown, Pa. He felt this event was particularly special as it provided him with a chance to meet one his recipients.

According to Michael Stellabotte:
Why We Fight MS
“Having MS means that you may not be able to do many things that most people take for granted. MS symptoms are varied and devastating, for everyone. The only certainty is that it will affect another person each hour of every day,” he said.
Why He Rides
“I’m riding in Bike MS once again because I want to help the people who’ve been diagnosed, and because I want to do everything I can to prevent more people from learning what it means to live with this disease. Today, there is no cure for multiple sclerosis, and with diagnosis occurring most frequently between the ages of 20 and 50, many people face a lifetime filled with unpredictability,” he replied, who lives with his family in Broomall.
Why You Should Sponsor Stellabotte
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society uses funds collected from Bike MS to not only support research for a cure tomorrow, but also to provide programs addressing the needs of people living with MS today. Because they can fight this disease by simply riding a bike, because people have chosen to help thousands of other people through a contribution to Bike MS, research is now getting closer to the hour when MS can stand for “Mystery Solved!”
Mike Stellabotte’s Web page link:

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/MikeS-CityToShore

(Disclaimer: Edna M. Davis is also an advertiser of Delaware County Magazine.)