Getting ready to blast off!

COAST TO COAST FOR WELLNESS
Cyclists travel cross country to promote health for those with chronic illnesses

(Boulder, Colorado) Bill Westermann, of Stowe Vermont, was asked by his friend, Dick Tapply, whose brother has MS if he would like to join him in a ride across the USA. He said yes and their journey will begin on May 4th in Washington and end on June 15th in Marblehead, Massachusetts.

Bill has four close friends affected by multiple sclerosis (MS), all of whom lead seemingly normal daily lives. One of these individuals was quite young when diagnosed, others were older and more established in their daily routines; all of these individuals are active in their family lives, community involvement, sports and many endeavors. His colleague Dick Tapply is also very closely related to individuals with multiple sclerosis as he has a brother with the disease and had a cousin who died of complications of MS. Both Bill and Dick are committed to increasing public awareness about multiple sclerosis and the healing powers of the bike.

“A few years ago we watched my cousin lose her life after a long battle with MS. Everyday I watch my brother struggle with a life compromised by MS. You know people as well who must wake up every morning with a disease.” said Tapply “This summer I intend to dedicate 6 weeks to riding my bike Coast to Coast to encourage people to manage their MS through improved fitness and to support finding a cure”

The duo chose the Tyler Hamilton Foundation, because of its dedication to promoting empowerment and personal health through cycling. Started by Gold Medal Cyclist Tyler Hamilton, the organization focuses its energies on getting people on bikes and helping them overcome the challenges of chronic illnesses such as MS. The Tyler Hamilton Foundation is about demonstrating that cycling can heal and cyclists can help. Cycling in itself is not a cure but spending time on a bike can improve physical and mental wellness. The League of American Bicyclists states that just three hours of bicycling per week can reduce a person's risk of heart disease and stroke by 50%. The National MS Society indicates that wellness is a dynamic state of physical, emotional, spiritual, and social well-being that can be achieved even in the presence of a chronic illness or disability. The National Parkinson's Foundation promotes exercise as a strategy to help maintain optimum wellness

“I have long believed in the power of the bike – because riding has always been more than just a livelihood for me. It has also been the vehicle by which I have built physical and mental strength” Tyler Hamilton said.

Tapply and Westermann have chosen to ride the Northern states in their journey and are reaching out to communities for support. They welcome local riders to join them, and hopefully find lodging along the way. On average, the cyclists will travel a minimum of 80 miles a day and sometimes over 100 miles. Their itinerary in Montana includes overnights in the Libby Dam, Whitefish, East Glacier, Shelby, Harve, Malta and Glasgow.

Individuals and/or communities that would like to help or participate are encouraged to contact Deirdre Moynihan, Executive Director, Tyler Hamilton Foundation at 303-443-8843 or dmmoynihan@comcast.net More information can be found on the THF website at http://www.tylerhamiltonfoundation.org/