RIDING FOR MS

What do a love for motorcycling and a passion to raise funds for a worthy cause yield?
In the case of an Owatonna couple, more than $80,000 over two decades.
Carl and Denise Wieman have been riding their motorcycle for multiple sclerosis for the past 20 years. And this year will be no different. They will be hitting the back roads of Minnesota in August to raise more money for MS.
The 36th annual MS River Road Run will take place Aug. 21-22. It starts at Leo’s South in Lakeville and heads toward the central part of the state, including Jordan, Monticello, Dassel, Cokato, Spicer lakes area and St. Cloud. On Sunday, Aug. 22, the run will feature more scenic roads as the group travels back to the Twin Cities area.
The Wiemans designed this year’s route along with a friend. They traveled the route before finalizing it.
The Wiemans are in the process of fundraising for the run. As of early July, they had raised $1,890 for this year, bringing their total to $80,375 since they began in 2001. They have set a goal of $4,000 for this year.
Money raised from this fundraiser will be used for research to find a cure for MS, which is a chronic and often disabling disease of the central nervous system. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, but the unpredictable physical and emotional effects can be lifelong.
Carl and Denise have a personal stake in this ride. Denise’s niece, Lori Serbus, had MS for about 23 years before passing away in 2004 from complications caused by MS.
“We want to help others like Lori that have this devastating disease,” said Carl. “We ride for one reason: to help those with MS.”
The MS Ride did not happen in the typical format last year because of COVID-19. But that didn’t stop the Wiemans. They still rode the route on their own and raised $3,142.
“We believe in the quote of W. Hall Wendell, Jr., ‘Work hard, play hard and give generously,’” said the Wiemans. “We ride because we can, and for those that can not.”
New research shows that nearly 1 million people are living with MS in the U.S. The money raised goes to the National MS Society, Upper Midwest Chapter, a nonprofit, voluntary health organization dedicated to advancing the cure, prevention and treatment of MS.
Donations may be sent to Carl and Denise Wieman, 524 Glendale St., Owatonna, MN 55060. Checks should be made out to MS River Road Run. Contributions are tax-deductible. For more information, contact the Wiemans at deniseandcarl@yahoo.com.
MS RIVER ROAD RUN
• Benefits multiple sclerosis
• Donations can be sent to:
            Carl and Denise Wieman
            524 Glendale St.
            Owatonna, MN 55060
• For more information, go to www.msmotorcycleride.org