{"id":34429,"date":"2013-05-24T23:28:44","date_gmt":"2013-05-24T13:28:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=34429"},"modified":"2020-12-18T13:21:46","modified_gmt":"2020-12-18T03:21:46","slug":"fundraising-is-cruising-along","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2013\/05\/24\/fundraising-is-cruising-along\/","title":{"rendered":"Fundraising Is Cruising Along"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Local MS Support group members Laurell Jones, Trina Bucknall and Josie Potter with sponsor Cathy Goodhew, from Struddys Sports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

May 25, 2013<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The Cruisers are in training for the Brissie to the Bay<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0pushbike ride which will be held in Brisbane on June 23.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Team spokeswoman Josie Potter, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) about 13 years ago, will be taking part in the 50km ride.<\/p>\n

Accompanying her will be her friend Cathy Goodhew, from Struddys Sports, as well as other local riders.<\/p>\n

Josie said it had been a tremendous team effort so far this year and people had been generous in helping.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

Josie’s hopeful the raffle of a handmade single bed quilt will also boost the coffers.<\/p>\n

The quilt has been made by local women Lorraine Woltmann and Lois Vreeken, with assistance from The Quilters Rest.<\/p>\n

It will be raffled from next week to coincide with World MS Day (May 29).<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Readers who\u2019d like to support the Kingaroy Cruisers, can also donate via their page on the\u00a0Brissie to the Bay website<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/p>\n

Laurell Jones, from Wooroolin, is helping out with the fundraising efforts.<\/strong><\/p>\n

She’s not ready to ride this year but is working hard to make sure she can take part in next year’s ride.<\/p>\n

Laurell was diagnosed with MS in 2007.<\/p>\n

Her daughter Courtney rode the 50km event last year and is coming down from Mackay to take part in the 100km ride.<\/p>\n

“I’m definitely doing it next year. If my daughter can do it, her mum is definitely going to do it!” Laurelle said.<\/p>\n

Laurell said as well as the fundraising, the Brissie to the Bay event was important to help raise awareness about MS.<\/p>\n

She said that she sometimes had “exacerbations” (flare-ups) while out in public.<\/p>\n

“I have had people just walk straight by me or other people think that I have had a stroke,” she said.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

“With some of the symptoms you think you’re going crazy,” she said.<\/p>\n

“You want to say something and it comes out all wrong. I get very frustrated,” she said.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/p>\n

Trina Bucknall, from Kingaroy, was diagnosed with MS in 2007.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is the first year that she will be doing the Brissie to the Bay event.<\/p>\n

She has opted for the 10km ride and is being careful not to push herself too much.<\/p>\n

“I had a pretty bad attack at the end of 2011 and I’m just getting things back together now,” she said.<\/p>\n

“If you push yourself too hard you can get all sorts of things going on.”<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/p>\n

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