Mayor’s Column

MAYOR’S COLUMN

The 38th Annual Bike MS City to Shore Ride will be held on Sept. 29 and 30. Voorhees is again proud to be a participant in the event, which begins at the Woodcrest Speedline Station in Cherry Hill then travels 2 miles through our community on its way to Ocean City.

Named by Bicycling Magazine as the “Best Cycling Getaway in N.J.,” the ride promises to be the best cycling experience on the East Coast and takes riders through scenic South Jersey to the shore. Bike MS City to Shore is more than a ride, it is an experience grounded in camaraderie and marked by passion, inspiration, determination and pure enjoyment. The two-day event, with route options for all cycling abilities from 25-180 miles, will take you through the flat terrain and back roads of South Jersey to the blueberry fields of Hammonton. At the end of the ride, 7,000 cyclists will roll into Ocean City to cheering volunteers, family and an atmosphere that could not be more electric. Following an overnight stay, cyclists return to Cherry Hill on Sunday for a festive finish line celebration.

Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic disease affecting the central nervous system which impacts the lives of more than 14,000 local people who live with the disease. The symptoms are unpredictable and vary from person to person. They can range from abnormal fatigue or numbness to severe vision problems or difficulty walking.

The National MS Society’s mission is to create a world free of Multiple Sclerosis. As the largest non­profit fundraiser of MS research in the world, the Society has invested more than $500 million and provides more services to those living with MS than any other organization in the world.

This bike event raised over $6 million in 2017, continuing the Society’s mission. Cyclists will travel though our Township to unite in the fight against MS. All funds raised are used to support medical research and provide services for local families living with MS.

Bike MS depends on the support of more than 1,200 volunteers for its success each year. If you choose not to ride, your help as a volunteer would be appreciated. All volunteers will receive a 2017 Bike MS T-shirt.

To learn more about the event or to register to participate or volunteer, visit www.mscycling.org or call 1 -800-445-BIKE.

Get ready for the ride of your life. Enjoy an unforgettable ride to an unbeatable destination for a world free of MS.

** The Voorhees Animal Orphanage will hold its 22nd Annual Woofstock on Sept. 29, rain date October 6, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Connolly Park. The event will feature festivities for animal lovers of all ages and their leashed pets. There will be vendors, food trucks, musical acts and special guests. For more information about Woofstock or the Animal Orphanage, visit www.vaonj.org/woofstock/.