GOING THE DISTANCE FOR MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

“I am Dr. Richard Bosshardt. In 2008, an old friend invited me to join his team, Grupetto-USA, for the Multiple Sclerosis Society’s annual Citrus Tour. It sounded like fun. I would get to do a century (100-mile) bike ride, which was on my bucket list, reconnect with an old friend and make new ones, and incidentally, help raise money for a worthy cause. Now fast-forward four years.

“Those priorities changed. I discovered numerous people around me who have multiple sclerosis or a loved one with this disease. I learned firsthand of the devastating nature of multiple sclerosis. What started as a lark has become an annual effort to raise money and awareness to fight the disease. Would you please join me in making a donation to support multiple sclerosis research and help those with MS? Just visit http://main. nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Bike/FLCBikeEvents?px=4393400&pg=perso nal&fr_id=19463

“As of now, multiple sclerosis is incurable, but together we can make a difference, and our efforts may one day help bring about a world free of this terrible disease. The Citrus Tour 2013 is being held April 20th and 21st.” ■

Fighting cancer

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 50,000 Americans die from this disease each year. The CDC recommends that anyone ages 50 and older undergo regular screening for colorectal cancer. Screening tests can detect precancerous polyps before they become cancerous.

And consider this powerful statement from the CDC: “If everyone who is 50 years or older were screened regularly, as many as sixty percent of deaths from this cancer could be avoided.”

Symptoms of colorectal cancer include blood in or on the stool, stomach pain, aches or cramps, and unexplained weight loss. Please contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of these symptoms. ■