We did it!

After 7 hours of peddling on Sunday, we rolled into Madison, completing the 125 mile ride; as of this second, we've raised just under $2000 to end multiple sclerosis. I'm thrilled. [NOTE: we ultimately exceeded our goal of raising $2,000!!!! Thank you givers!]

Someday, Abbey and I will do the ride again -- this time with more people -- we've already recruited others to ride with us!

Money raised on the ride and through other fundraising efforts are pooled and distributed to fund research to find a cure -- millions of dollars in grants have been distributed to Wisconsin researchers and others around the world.

We learned on this year's ride that the National Multiple Sclerosis Society has funded $550 million in research since 1947. Sounds like a lot of money, but that's nothing -- today I noticed WI's largest hospital had revenues of $600 million in 2000 alone. If we are spending $200 billion in Iraq each year, that's about $548 million per day.

Speaking of international relations and ms (bike rides against ms). While driving our bikes through the Wisconsin countryside, I observed:

* Too many to count moms, dads and their kids standing beside the road, on the curb, in the driveway, on the porch sharing smiles and words of encouragement;
* 3 large signs urging that the troops be brought home (including a really large one on the east bank of the Rock River);
* 2 Impromto beverage/water stands, unassociated with the NMSS support teams, setup up be generous amazing WI farmers;
* 2 French flags flying on rural WI porches.

The french flags made me smile and I felt a little saddened as I thought about the number of USA flags Abbey and I saw flying in all of Berlin, Prague and Vienna during May -- none! And then there would be another smiling face encouraging us.

While I felt like I fell down a flight of stairs yesterday, today I felt great. Continuing to drink large quanities of water made all the difference.