May 25, 2013
The “Kingaroy Cruisers” campaign to raise funds for MS Australia is speeding up, with the launch of a special raffle and cash from other events starting to roll in.
The Cruisers are in training for the Brissie to the Bay pushbike ride which will be held in Brisbane on June 23.
There are now 28 registered riders in the team and together they’ve raised an amazing $9500 so far… but they’re hopeful of earning even more with their upcoming raffle.
The Brissie to the Bay consists of four different courses: 10km, 25km, 50km and 100km rides, all starting and finishing at Musgrave Park in South Brisbane.
Team spokeswoman Josie Potter, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) about 13 years ago, will be taking part in the 50km ride.
Accompanying her will be her friend Cathy Goodhew, from Struddys Sports, as well as other local riders.
Josie said it had been a tremendous team effort so far this year and people had been generous in helping.
“Some Wondai ladies, Laurellee Stringer and Kath Kennedy, put on a fundraiser dinner for us. They raised $458 just on that one night,” she said.
Josie’s hopeful the raffle of a handmade single bed quilt will also boost the coffers.
The quilt has been made by local women Lorraine Woltmann and Lois Vreeken, with assistance from The Quilters Rest.
It will be raffled from next week to coincide with World MS Day (May 29).
People who would like to buy a $1 ticket should watch out for a stall in Kingaroy Shoppingworld and at Nanango Markets. Tickets can also be purchased at Struddys Sports in Alford Street, Kingaroy.
Readers who’d like to support the Kingaroy Cruisers, can also donate via their page on the Brissie to the Bay website
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Laurell Jones, from Wooroolin, is helping out with the fundraising efforts.
She’s not ready to ride this year but is working hard to make sure she can take part in next year’s ride.
Laurell was diagnosed with MS in 2007.
Her daughter Courtney rode the 50km event last year and is coming down from Mackay to take part in the 100km ride.
“I’m definitely doing it next year. If my daughter can do it, her mum is definitely going to do it!” Laurelle said.
Laurell said as well as the fundraising, the Brissie to the Bay event was important to help raise awareness about MS.
She said that she sometimes had “exacerbations” (flare-ups) while out in public.
“I have had people just walk straight by me or other people think that I have had a stroke,” she said.
Laurell said she has met about 10 other people in the Kingaroy area who have MS, and she finds it is a help to talk to them and share experiences.
“With some of the symptoms you think you’re going crazy,” she said.
“You want to say something and it comes out all wrong. I get very frustrated,” she said.
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Trina Bucknall, from Kingaroy, was diagnosed with MS in 2007.
This is the first year that she will be doing the Brissie to the Bay event.
She has opted for the 10km ride and is being careful not to push herself too much.
“I had a pretty bad attack at the end of 2011 and I’m just getting things back together now,” she said.
“If you push yourself too hard you can get all sorts of things going on.”
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[UPDATED with correction June 26, 2013]
