Octogenarian cycling for his son and MS
In 2005, Larry and Eleanor Peyton were vacationing in Florida when their son Jeff came down for a visit.
It wasn’t a normal family gettogether. Jeff, who was 42 at the time, had news for his parents: he had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
When they came home from vacation, Larry saw an ad for an MS bike ride and decided he would take part.
“I had been riding for 60 years and I decided to enter the ride and raise funds for MS research,” he said recently.
This year will mark the 13th time he’s participated in an MS Bike Tour, and over those years he’s raised close to $45,000 to help fund MS research.
According to the MS Society of Canada website, MS is classified as an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system — the brain and spinal cord — that is unpredictable and can cause symptoms such as extreme fatigue, lack of co-ordination, weakness, tingling, impaired sensation, vision problems, bladder problems, cognitive impairment and mood changes. Canada has the highest rate of MS in the world, with and estimated one in 340 Canadians living with the disease.
“Jeff is doing well, he was golfing with me at Whisky Run recently. You wouldn’t know he had MS. His daily medications keep him going,” Larry said.
Larry, 83, said the ride is important in raising funds to research the disease to help his son and all Canadians who suffer from it. For this year’s ride, he’s already raised $2,500.
“I started at $1,000, and then it was $2,000 and know I am at $2,500. Last year, I raised more than $4,000 and I hope I can do that again.”
The goal of the PwC MS Bike – Niagara Ride is to raise $325,000. It’s at nearly $130,000 right now.
People can support Larry online at msbike.ca and search for his name to make a donation, or call him at 905-834-6205.
The local ride is Sunday, Aug. 20, starting at Crystal Ridge Arena in Fort Erie, with 40- and 75-kilometre routes.
“It’s an easy Sunday morning ride,” said Larry, who will ride the 40-kilometre route. He said there are usually more than 300 cyclists who take part each year.