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Paul's Bike Ride to Conquer M.S

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My name is Paul Jankura and this summer I am challenging myself to bike from Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario to Cape Spear, Newfoundland to raise money for MS Canada and my dear friend, Josh Fleet. This challenge is the result of unfortunate events and realities that changed two lives forever. One, who nearly lost a limb, and the other, who will face a life of hardships brought on by an incurable disease. Nobody knows what the future has in store for us, but I want to use what I have learned through my challenges to lift my brother up during his. And I want your help to do this. Canada has the highest rate of MS diagnoses in the world. Every day three Canadians are diagnosed with MS, an unpredictable illness that affects vision, balance, memory and mobility. The cause of MS remains unclear and there is no cure. While it is most often diagnosed in young adults aged 20 to 49, younger children and older adults are also diagnosed with the disease. Josh was 27 when he received the unfortunate news that he has MS. Leading up to that point he had been experiencing pain, muscle exhaustion, blurred vision and other various symptoms. While an answer was relieving after going through test after test and a progression of symptoms, the answer also completely altered his life’s course. That was in March 2016. Over the last couple years Josh's condition has progressed causing mobility and other issues. He is fortunately experiencing a slowing of symptoms, and even some regression, since entering a clinical trial. This has kept Josh and his circle of family and friends positive – and Josh still rocking that smile everyone is familiar with. Anyone who knows him knows that Josh would be the first person to give you the shirt off his back; and I want to make sure he knows people would do the same for him. His positivity and perseverance were an inspiration for me as I overcame my own tribulation. I also became all too familiar with life’s fragility and why we should not take things for granted. On August 6th, 2017, I was involved in a workplace accident that temporarily severed my foot and left me fighting to keep my leg. If my blood vessels had not remained intact, the trauma surgeons might not have been able to reattach everything. Realizing my foot was still attached after the surgery was just the beginning of my journey. I persevered in part through constant inspiration from others overcoming their own difficulties. I looked to someone like Josh who couldn’t just do physio and cure his condition yet remained positive, looking towards the future. He had to dig deeper within himself to overcome his new challenges. This encouraged me to stay positive and focus on rehabilitation. Pushing through daily sessions of physiotherapy, I knew I was to face many large obstacles ahead but that only motivated me to take all my energy and focus it on the positive; focus it on something much bigger than myself. During this time, I realized that I could do more to help others. To be their inspiration, to lift their spirit or to just use my new-found passion for good. A large part of my rehabilitation was cycling, which quickly became a great passion of mine. Hopping on a bike, concentrating and riding helps to deal with not only the physical but also mental symptoms left behind from my accident. I have decided to use this outcome to make a positive movement and take my cycling passion to the next level.  I am here to challenge Multiple Sclerosis.   My “ride for vibes” will begin August 24th from Kitchener-Waterloo. I will bike out to the east coast making my way through Syndey, Nova Scotia where Josh was born, and will finish my journey in Cape Spear, Newfoundland - the furthest east I can travel by bike. My goal is to raise $100,000 for MS Canada and Josh. It is expected that Josh will have to make large purchases to accommodate his condition throughout his life. This fundraiser will help alleviate some of the worry about where the money to make these purchases will come from. So let's make Josh and everyone else affected by this disease feel home wherever they may be. Show the support, spread the love. It’s who we are as Canadians. CHEERS and thank you for the compassion. I challenge Multiple Sclerosis for Josh Fleet...You can too! The Funds donated will be put into a 'In Trust" Account for Josh with a percentage of proceeds being donated to M.S Society Canada.
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Donations 

  • Gordon Billard
    • $50 
    • 5 yrs
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Organizer

Paul E. Jankura
Organizer
Kitchener, ON

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