John Holowaychuk (photo supplied)
In the brisk dawn of late June, John Holowaychuk will tug a Bears on Bikes jersey over his shoulders. 180 kilometers of asphalt stretches out ahead of him. For the fifth year in a row, John will clip up his helmet alongside 87 friends and colleagues who make up the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation's MS Bike Tour team. Together they will pedal from Leduc to Camrose and back to raise awareness for multiple sclerosis (MS).
John's father Darrell was diagnosed with MS in 2009. "It's one of those things that you don't expect to ever hear - especially about one of your parents," says John, who was sixteen at the time. "I had heard about MS, but I never really knew what it was, and until we learned more we were all just in a state of shock."
John with his father, Darrell (photo supplied).
Darrell had watched friends and colleagues struggle with MS over the past several decades. Little was known about the disease at that time, and treatments were limited. Watching these individuals live with - and pass away from - MS was a brutal experience for his father, John says. Hard as it was, though, it provided John's family with perspective.
"When we think about where MS was 20 to 30 years ago and where it is now in terms of knowledge and treatments, we all feel very lucky his diagnosis came at a time where so many advancements have been made." It was the immediate care John's dad received after the diagnosis - a product of extensive research - that helped John and his family cope with the diagnosis.
John was quick to join his Bachelor of Kinesiology classmates when they signed up for the MS Bike Tour in 2015. The team - led completely by Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation students - began with just 20 members. UAlberta Bears on Bikes has since grown into one of the largest teams to participate in the annual event, and has raised more than $150,000 for MS research.
"A lot of these people don't have a direct connection with the disease, yet they're eager to participate and contribute," John says. "It shows the bond this Faculty has and how we come together for this pretty grueling ride to support a common goal. It's touching to know so many people support the cause."
Ualberta Bears on Bikes (photo supplied).
John's father has good days and bad days. Thankfully, the bad days seem few and far between as treatment options for those living with MS improve. Watching the impact of MS research inspires John to keep pedaling.
"The MS Bike tour has definitely become one of my highlight events of the year," he says. "It's amazing to see so many people together for a common goal - to meet people and hear their personal stories with MS. I look forward to training and fundraising every year, and nothing beats the morning of the first day."
John is a Ticket and Events Associate with Golden Bears and Pandas Athletics. He and the rest of the UAlberta Bears on Bikes will ride from Leduc to Camrose and back on June 22 and 23, 2019. To date, the team has raised over $36,000 for this year's event, bringing the five-year total to just over $150,000.UAlberta Bears on Bikes will ride from Leduc to Camrose and back on June 22 and 23, 2019. To date, the team has raised over $36,000 for this year's event, bringing the five-year total to just over $150,000.
Visit the team page to learn more and support the riders.team page to learn more and support the riders.
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