Race Gala Raises $24,000 For MS

January 16, 2012

The Ultimate Bermuda Experience – the adventure race “Amazing Race” host Phil Keoghan is participating in — announced it raised $24,280 at a spectacular fundraising gala held on Sunday [Jan. 15] at The Queen’s Exhibition Hall in The Keep at Dockyard.

The funds raised are to benefit the MS Society of Bermuda and were collected through donations and ticket sales for the black tie evening.

The money raised will support the mission of the MS Society of Bermuda in working with persons with multiple sclerosis [MS] and their families to better understand and cope with the many varied symptoms of the disease.

In addition, the organisation strives to increase public awareness and understanding of MS and to assist MS sufferers with medical needs.

Photo (left to right): Phil Keoghan, host of “The Amazing Race”; Carolyn Armstrong of the MS Society of Bermuda; Lt. Colonel Burch; Dudley Thomas of Elbow Beach Cycles; Dolores G. Thomas of Elbow Beach Cycles; Quency Phillips of The Que Agency

“We have thoroughly enjoyed being a sponsor of the Ultimate Bermuda Experience, which is how this gala came about” said Dudley Thomas, director, The Ultimate Bermuda Experience Delivery Consortium and director-at-large & VP Business Development of Elbow Beach Cycles, platinum sponsor of the Ultimate Bermuda Experience.

“Being a part of the fundraising efforts to support the MS Society of Bermuda is extremely rewarding. Not only have we been able to raise awareness about the condition and how it affects Bermudians but also we hope that the funds raised will help those people with MS by providing better access to the medical care they need.”

MS is a chronic, sometimes disabling, disease that strikes the central nervous system, which consists of the brain and spinal cord. People with MS can experience anything from cognitive difficulties, visual disturbances and memory loss to fatigue, muscle stiffness and weakness, pain in the arms and legs, and depression.

While there is no cure and the condition is extremely difficult to diagnose, there are treatments available to manage the symptoms of MS and slow down its progression.

The MS Society of Bermuda works with its members to help pay for the staggering costs of medications that can range anywhere from $1,300 to $5,000 a month.

“We are humbled by the outpouring of support for the MS Society of Bermuda through the Ultimate Bermuda Experience. On behalf of the Society, I would like to thank Phil Keoghan for coming to Bermuda and using his celebrity status to help us raise awareness about MS,” said president of MS Society of Bermuda, Carolyn Armstrong.

The Ultimate Bermuda Experience is an adventure race being held on Tuesday [Jan. 17] in which five lucky couples have won a trip to Bermuda to compete in challenges designed to showcase Bermuda and its unique culture.

The race will begin at Camden in the Botanical Gardens and will finish in Royal Naval Dockyard.

Local residents are encouraged to cheer on the contestants at various spots along the race: 7am at Camden for the start, 8am at Albuoy’s Point Park for a challenge and 11am in Dockyard for the finish.

Look for contestants in bright blue tshirts riding scooters and hybrid electric bikes.

“I trust Bermuda residents will let contestants feel the love as they travel across the island,” said Mr Thomas.

Other sponsors of the Ultimate Bermuda Experience include Bermuda Ministry of National Security, the Bermuda Department of Tourism, The Que Agency, The Reefs Hotel & Club, Elbow Beach Bermuda Resort & Spa, NOW Energy Bar, G.E.T. Limited, Freisenbruch Meyer, Gosling’s, Barritt’s and Hope4Life.

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  1. crank up says:

    What a splendid night it was and even more splendid that such an amount was raised for such an important cause! I hope more will be donated throughout the week.