Bikers coming together for the ninth annual ‘MS Ride for a Cure’ fundraising event

PALMER— It’s time again for the annual MS Ride for a Cure fundraising event.

Local bikers will rev up their engines and ride together to raise money for efforts treating and finding a cure for Multiple Sclerosis.

“We are fundraising for this event to give to the MS Society for Research to hopefully find a cure for this terrible debilitating disease that afflicts so many, and as of yet there is no known cure, but hope is on the horizon,” MS Ride for a Cure founder, Glen Butts said in an event description.

This event starts Sunday at 9:30 a.m. within the Alaska State Fairgrounds. There will be a meet and greet with coffee and doughnuts at the green gate, near the train stop. Motorcyclists of all shapes and sizes from across the Mat-Su are encouraged to ride over and ride together. The public is invited to come mingle with the bikers, eat local food and even win some prizes. Anyone who meets or exceeds the suggested $25 donation will receive a T-shirt provided by Christine Bailes Neurology.

After the meet and greet, all the bikers will line up and take off at 10 a.m. toward the Eureka Lodge for a barbeque, door prizes and live music. Everyone without a bike can catch up with the riders at the lodge.

This is a beautiful ride, lots of true Alaska scenery, rivers, forest, glaciers and great people,”

MS is an unpredictable and often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. There is no known cure.

100 percent of this event’s proceeds will be allocated to the MS Society, contributing to research efforts that will help create new treatment options for MS patients and the pursuit for a cure.

Eddie Maxwell from Q997 has been involved with this event since Butts began nine years ago.

“It’s wonderful to see somebody like Glen who’s so involved with the community,” Maxwell said. “Has a heart bigger than the state of Alaska.”

Maxwell said that turnout for this event has had its ups and downs and he’d like to see it continue to build and grow over the years. He said that each year, it’s a proud moment to see all the bikers come together and hear their engines roar for the cause.

“These folks are helping out such an important cause. They can’t continue treatment or research without funds,” Maxwell said. “We just want people to have fun while helping local Alaskans in need.”

This event is free of charge but there is a $25 suggested donation to enter. Maxwell said that every donation, big or small helps the cause.