July 28, 2008 Michael AugustineLisez en Francais
Once again, I am up in the wee hours of the morning (something of a habit for me these days). As I mentioned last time, I am in some discomfort. To put it bluntly, I am in considerable pain. While I am not one to vent to whomsoever is willing to listen, I will tell you that I am currently suffering from a relapse. Although it is a very slow progression, it has been a steady one. I am scheduled to go to one of the local MS Clinics (a network of inter-connected MS-dedicated clinics throughout Canada) to receive treatment, in hopes that it will alleviate the situation. Wish me luck!
In the meantime, I am also up because I am equal parts elated, having just hours ago returned from the Grand Bend to London RONA MS Bike Tour in Ontario. This is by far the biggest tour in Ontario, and, as my dear friend, Lori Anne, who is the brains behind it all, likes to say, it is the second largest tour in Canada - “ ...and next year it’ll be the biggest!”
It was a record breaking year all-around, with nearly 1,500 participants and an astonishing $890,000 raised. Saturday consisted of a mass of frenetic activity as all those people, and more, congregated to make their way from the starting point in Grand Bend. The day was very overcast, and by the time a quarter of the cyclist had come through the finish line at the University of Western Ontario it began to downpour with torrential fervour. Yours truly sat in the deluge, patiently waiting at the finish line for those brave and noble cyclists, who never let the flood from heaven dampen their spirits - or their resolve. Our reward was an afternoon of brilliant sunshine and warm, happy thoughts, as the totals were announced.
Those thoughts tempered any pain I may have been experiencing. It also helped that, for the first time in my experience with the tours, I was able to get a decent amount of sleep. Oh, and we ate like kings and queens the entire weekend. That also made a difference.
Well, I’m gonna be surfin’ the web for a few hours more. Please be well, and remember: nothing bad ever happens without an equal measure of good to balance it out. The universe is not arbitrary - things happen for a reason. I firmly believe that, and this weekend was proof of it. If you’re also having a hard time right now, just keep the faith and you’ll see that it’ll all work out.
Remember: we’re closer than ever to a cure.
It’s no longer a matter of if - but when!
Irreverently Yours,
Augy