Eastern Ontario man bikes across Canada to raise funds for Multiple Sclerosis 

An Eastern Ontario man is biking across Canada, to help raise funds and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis.

Many Canadians know someone who is living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) but not everyone bikes across the country to raise funds, and that’s what an eastern Ontario man will be doing starting this weekend.

Marcel LaFontaine told CTV Morning Live Thursday his plan is to start from Victoria, B.C. Sunday morning around 9 a.m., which marks Mother’s Day.

“And also happens to be my wife’s birthday,” he said.

He will be riding between 115-120 kilometres minimum per day.

LaFontaine will be making his way to Saint John’s, NL by the first week of August.

He says that he’s been involved in the MS Ride for eight years. The MS Ride involves riding, “roughly,” 20 km, back and forth, over two days to raise funds.

When asked about the preparations for his cross-country rides, he says he’s been doing lots of cycling, whether indoors or outdoors.

“I’ve ridden roughly 4,000 km in the basement. So, it’s a lot, but you do what you have to do,” LaFontaine added.

And when it comes to the team who’s supporting his plan and cause, he says it’s a “team of one,” made of his wife. He says she is going to be the doctor, the nurse, the friend and the driver.

“My wife is along for the journey. So, she’s going to be driving our home on wheels for the next, roughly, three months,” he said.

How has MS affected your life?

LaFontaine says though he is not affected by the illness, family members and friends have been affected. He notes that he’s lost an aunt to the illness.

“Our eldest son’s mother-in-law lives with MS. One of my cousins lives with MS. So, it’s near and dear to my heart,” he added.

LaFontaine’s goal is to raise a $100,000. To donate, visit MS Bike’s website.

MS is a neurological disease of the central nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord. Canada has one of the highest rates of MS in the world, with an average of 12 patients being diagnosed every day. Most patients are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 49, according to MS Canada’s website.