Grab a jersey or donate — Doctor's orders
By Nelson Daily Staff
Dr. Jim Noiles has seen a lot of patients in his time as a physician.
However, this may be his simplest diagnosis as he helps in the fight to find a cure for MS (Multiple sclerosis).
The local doctor Jim Noiles has a unique fundraising strategy for this weekend’s West Kootenay Glacier MS Challenge.
Donors can either register for the MS Bike tour or ride the challenge, a two-day, 222-kilometer event around Kootenay Glacier, or they can simply sponsor his ride.
As the top fundraiser for two years in a row, Dr. Noiles knows about raising money for the West Kootenay Chapter of the MS Society. He is close to passing the $10,000 mark, and was presented with the custom jersey and shorts top donors receive as a thank-you from the MS Society.
Dr. Noiles encourages other participants “to ask everybody; to not be afraid to ask family, friends, colleagues.”
As he says, it is an easy cause for him to fundraise for, since he has had patients who live with MS.
Many participants have someone close to them who live with MS and rely on the services provided by the West Kootenay Chapter. This area has a higher than average rate of people living with MS.
Canada has one of the highest rates of multiple sclerosis in the world, according to an international survey. (CBC News, April 12, 2010)
So when Dr. Jim Noiles asks people to participate in the ride, he sincerely wants more people out there riding. Last year, the West Kootenay Glacier Challenge had 59 participants.
This year registration has already topped the 80 participant mark.
But when they aren’t able to ride, helping out one of the riders works well. Each participant needs to raise a minimum of $325 to ride in the challenge. Last year’s tour raised over $70,000 to fund innovative programs and services and support research dedicated to finding a cure for multiple sclerosis.
This year’s West Kootenay Glacier Challenge happens August 17 through 18th. The last day to register, is August 12.
To register, go to www.msbiketours.ca, click on “Find A Location And Register” and select “West Kootenay Glacier Challenge”.
The West Kootenay Glacier Challenge is a pledge based fundraising event, hosted by the West Kootenay Chapter of the MS Society.
The MS Society of Canada receives less than three percent of its revenue from the government, and relies on volunteers and private donors for the rest of its funding. Donors can pledge atwww.msbiketours.ca .
For more information about the tour, contact [email protected].
