New friendships were made and old ones rekindled as hundreds of bicyclists set up camp Sunday in Smokey Bear Park before kicking off a 280-mile bike trip across northern Minnesota with one goal in mind – finding a cure for multiple sclerosis.
Featuring about 800 cyclists and 200 support volunteers, the Multiple Sclerosis Society’s The Ride Across Minnesota, or Tram, began in Borderland early Monday morning and continued for 81 miles through Littlefork and down to Orr to complete the first stretch of the five-day trek.
“I think 81 miles is one of the longest routes we’ve had in one day since this began,” said Mary Nelson of the Tram.
Nelson, who lives in Austin, Minn., has been involved with the Tram since its 1990 debut. Back then, the now 60-year-old cyclist said she was unsure about taking on the length of the trip.
“I’m active, but I didn’t know about riding that far,” she said. “But I was with a group of friends and I said, ‘If you’re in, I’m in.’”
Twenty years later, Nelson is still going strong.
“I’ve been blessed with good health, so I get out there and help people when I can,” she told The Journal Sunday while setting up camp.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system, according to nationalmssociety.org. The site said symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from one person to another.
Pam Emison, one of the Tram’s cyclists from White Bear Lake, Minn., looks like the average person on the outside, but on the inside, multiple brain and spinal cord lesions remind her of the disease she has lived with for 21 years.
“I’m very fortunate,” she said of her battle with MS. “I’m lucky I can still be active and am able to get around. Keep moving — that is my motto.”
Emison and her husband, Tom, are members of the team Pirates in Tight Pants, and they said they confidently spoke for not only their team, but everyone involved with the Tram on their primary mission.
“To end MS,” Tom Emison said. “It is as simple as that. We are going to end this disease, we are very close.”
“It should have been ended yesterday,” Pam chimed in.
Tom smiled as recalled the memory of meeting his wife eight years ago. He said he was already actively involved with the Tram and raising money to put a kibosh on the disease.
“I wanted to spend time with my son,” Tom said of the original motive to become involved in the Tram. “We wanted to find a good cause to raise money for. Little did I know, my future wife would have MS.”
It was clear the love the Emisons had for one another as well as their mission behind an extensive ride.
“This is a family event,” Tom said. “Look around, what a great thing to be apart of.”
And while riders like Nelson didn’t have immediate family members peddling alongside her this week, she said the entire group was her family.
“We’re all so close,” she said of the Tram cyclists and volunteers. “Even the people we’re just meeting tonight.”
Faye Whitbeck, president of the International Falls Chamber of Commerce, said she was told by Aaron Briner, Upper Midwest Tram manager, that this year’s ride raised $800,000 towards defeating MS.
“The Tram experience is one anyone involved doesn’t forget,” Whitbeck said. “It’s nothing less than amazing to witness the machinations of this endeavor...Riders are a distinct group in their sport but they come with all kinds of personalities. Most were the nicest and life-loving variety. We did all we could to welcome them and invite them back.”
“I can’t wait to come back,” Nelson said. “This area is beautiful. International Falls did an exceptional job accommodating this event.”
After leaving Borderland Monday, riders traveled 81.4 miles along Highway 65 to Orr the first day. The second day brought 61 miles, the third day 58 miles, the fourth day 68 miles, and last day 26 miles with the ride from Two Harbors to Duluth. The Tram concludes at the University of Minnesota – Duluth Friday.
