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Vol. 9, No. 25, Tuesday, April 1, 2014
End to End to End MS Bike Tour makes brief pit stop in Mundare Michelle Pinon Editor
Firefighter and MS fundraiser Greg Van Tighem had a brief stop over in Mundare March 26. He was treated to a supper at the fire hall that was arranged by Fire Chief Glenda Dales. He, in turn, made a presentation outlying his experiences during his first solo tour last year.
Bucking a strong headwind, snow, and frigid temperatures; cyclist Greg Van Tighem rolled into Mundare on his KONA WA Fat Bike late Wednesday afternoon. “It was pretty rough out there today,” admitted the Jasper based cyclist and fire chief, who is travelling End to End To End MS (Multiple Sclerosis) by pedaling from Masset on the island of Haida Gwaii in BC to Winnipeg, Manitoba. “I hope to be in Winnipeg on April 7,” stated Van Tighem, who made a presentation at the Mundare Fire Department after being treated to a delicious steak and hamburger supper by local firefighters. “My goal is to raise $93,000 for the Multiple Sclerosis Society.” Last year was the first time Van Tighem went solo to cycle End to End on Hightway 93 from Wickenburg, Arizona to Jasper, Alberta. The journey through extreme weather conditions took 21 days, and he recounted the places he stayed and the people he met who helped him along the way and assisted in raising much of the $93,488 for the MS Society. Van Tighem had many strange, exciting and offbeat stories to tell throughout his power point presentation, and entertained questions from attendees during the hour long presentation. He had a few close calls with lightening and challenging road conditions, but never turned back or changed his plan. He even used up his holiday time to do the fundraiser, which is held in honour of a former firefighter and friend of his. Van Tighem said he met several people along the way who had loved ones with the debilitating disease. His goal, like many others, is to be able to provide funding for research so a cure
can be found. This year, he is using up his vacation time to do the fundraising tour, and said the idea for the route came to him after he was thinking about what other highway runs through Jasper, and picked Highway 16. “I wanted to change it up and make it more challenging.” That’s why he chose the route, time of year, and fat bike, which is designed for use in winter conditions. He has come up against several snowstorms, fog and rain since he began his run a few weeks ago. He averages 100 kms a day, and will not stop until he reaches the end of his journey, 3,000 kms and $93,000. While some people tell him he’s crazy, Van Tighem realizes life is precious and short, and says he has no regrets about his mission to end MS. He described the Mundare Fire Department as one of the most vibrant departments in the province, and was very happy to have made a brief, but eventful stop in the Small Town with a Big Heart. To follow the journey or pledge support visit endms93.com
PHOTOS BY MICHELLE PINON
Mundare Fire Chief Glenda Dales and Van Tighem.