Letter to the Editor: Kevin O’Brien Rides Again

Hello Everyone,

Tomorrow I will be riding my bike with good friends in the two day, 175 mile, MS Bike Ride.  It will be my fourth year cranking pedals with over two thousand riders in pursuit of the common goals of finding a cure and helping people living with MS.

Mother Nature has been kind to us the last three years delivering bright and sunny, late summer weather.  This weekend is different; the weatherman is predicting cooler temperatures and sporadic rain and showers.  The forecast struck me as an accurate analogy to a person living with MS.  Some days are sunny, some are rainy, and you are never quite sure how it’s going to turn out until the moment arrives.

Here is some sunshine, the money we raise and the awareness we spark this weekend will lead to helping our family members and friends who have MS.  As an example, my rock star wife Nancy who was diagnosed with the disease four years ago is doing very well and starting her first day of work today.  She is back to teaching at our school on Orcas Island.  I attribute her good health to her attitude, lifestyle, and the injection she gives herself each day of the medication Copaxone.

Last year you generously helped me raise over $9000, thank you!  Our team, the Swedish Smyelin Babes raised over $85,000 and was the top fundraising team in the “Friends and Family” category.  I am asking for your help again this year because finding a cure and helping people live with MS is directly influenced by the money raised through the bike ride.

To help me go online to https://www.nationalmssociety.org/raceMap.aspx

Click Sponsor a Rider

Type Kevin O’Brien in the name fields and choose Washington as my home state

Click Find a Participant

Scroll down and click my name, O’Brien Kevin

Click Donate to Participant

Thanks again and may the sun shine on you in any weather!

Take care,

Kevin