Record ride to raise money, MS awareness

By BEVERLEY WARE South Shore Bureau | 4:42 AM


LUNENBURG — When the heat depletes Alan Creaser’s energy today, he’ll bow his head, think of his friend and pedal even harder.

Mr. Creaser is one of 45 people cycling the 50 kilometres between Windsor and Wolfville and back this weekend to raise money for multiple sclerosis research and people with the disease. It’s the biggest team ever assembled for the ride in Atlantic Canada, and it has set a national record with $101,800 raised.

One of Mr. Creaser’s best friends Larry Creaser has MS. The 50-year-old married father of two young boys was diagnosed three years ago. He has primary progressive MS, which afflicts just 10 per cent of sufferers. "It’s horrible," Alan said.

"When I’m struggling, when I’m suffering going up a little hill, I think of Larry and how our little struggle up the hill is really nothing compared to what he endures every day."

Larry and Janet Creaser kept the diagnosis to themselves for a couple of years, telling close family and friends last Thanksgiving.

"All of us, friends and family of Larry’s, were devastated and wanted to do something," Alan said. They read about the RONA bike tour on the Multiple Sclerosis Society’s website and decided to do it. They call themselves the CC Riders — Creaser’s Crew Riders.

Alan and Larry have been friends since they were teenagers. They are also distant cousins. "We hung out, we played hockey together, we sailed together. We became good friends. He is very active, a dedicated father and husband."

He’s also a successful commercial fisherman and sailor and, indeed, the two won the J29 class at the Charlottetown Race Week recently.

"Larry is still committed to doing whatever he can do as long as he can," Alan said.

Karen Kinley has been friends with Larry for 30 years. She said his diagnosis was a shock to everybody. "We all thought he just had a bad back."

Larry’s mobility is already affected. He walks with a cane and is tired by day’s end.

"Janet is a really strong person but this has taken a real toll on them," Ms. Kinley said.

But a tremendous spirit has arisen out of the effort to help Larry. "We’re all so excited," she said. The CC Riders includes friends from Lunenburg, Chester, Halifax, Dartmouth, Toronto and Calgary.

Ms. Kinley hadn’t ridden a bike since she was a kid and said it’s been a lot of hard work preparing. "You know how bicycle seats are, but it’s not as painful as running."

Dena Simon, president of the Atlantic division of the MS Society of Canada, said between 1,600 and 2,200 Nova Scotians are afflicted with the neurological disorder. It is usually diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 40, though children as young as three have been diagnosed with it.

"It is a devastating diagnosis," Ms. Simon said.

"It is a very unpredictable disease and you don’t know how it will affect you." Symptoms include loss of balance, impaired speech, blindness and paralysis. There is no cure, but there are treatments that minimize the severity and frequency of relapses.

"People are very, very challenged when they have this disease," Ms. Simon said, but there are a number of good medications, education efforts, self-help groups "and a lot of hope. We are very close to finding what we need to know."

The CC Riders already have a goal of enlisting 100 cyclists next year. "We’re looking for a cure, Larry, so just hang in," Alan said.

( bware@herald.ca)

http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/849953.html