What is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)? Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare neurological disease that affects nerve cells (neurons) in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. Voluntary muscles produce movements like chewing, walking, breathing and talking. The disease is progressive, meaning the symptoms get worse over time. Currently, there is no cure for ALS and no effective treatment to halt, or reverse, the progression of the disease.
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokewww.ninds.nih.gov › ALS_FactSheet-E_508C)
The planning for the Oxford to Boxford – ALS Ride for Hope 2.0 has been underway for almost 9 months now. A debt of gratitude goes out to Steve Lopez for once again pushing the envelope to create awareness and raise funds ALS – a promise that he gave to his dear wife Mary as she was dying of ALS. After much back and forth between, Steve, Doug, Dave and I, we decided to do a shorter ride this year – 150 miles over 3 days but keep the theme from 2023 of Oxford to Boxford. Since Doug has some childhood friends with summer homes in Oxford, Maine, the plan began to take shape. Extra kudos to Steve once again as he scouted out the route riding the proposed Day One in the pouring rain and 37-degree weather! Steve is truly a machine!
Getting Dave Foster on board felt like a very important part of this ride as he was the brainchild of the original Oxford to Boxford. For people who don’t know the story, Dave was Doug’s roommate and devoted fraternity brother from Alpha Delta Phi at Miami University in Oxford, OH. When Dave heard of Doug’s diagnosis, he knew he wanted to do something to honor his journey so came up with the zany but amazing idea of riding 1000 miles from the Miami U campus in Oxford, Ohio to Doug’s hometown in Boxford, MA. What started out as a two-person ride, Dave and Dolly, soon morphed into a phenomenal show of support of 15 days where Doug’s friends and family, fraternity brothers past and present, and a few strangers thrown in for good measure, all came together and raised over $132,000 for ALS research and patient care. To learn more about that ride, you will have to visit our blog posts from 2023!
Steve, Dolly, Doug, Charlie and a few friends planned a small ALS Ride for Hope in 2024 but Steve wanted something bigger in 2025. So here we are…
Sometimes you never know what will happen unless you take a risk – jump in out of your comfort zone… create magical moments. We hope that this will be true for everyone who is participating in this event. Along with the many hours of planning, we have recruited some new riders who I believe would readily agree that they are stepping out of their comfort zone. We currently have 15 confirmed 3-day riders; 4 one day riders; and one TBD. We have 5 support vehicles which will include 6 LG’s – Logistic guys/gals with one fraternity brother already on the DL with a torn Achille’s tendon. We will miss you Mark but know you will be with us in spirit! Our goals for this ride are: 1) Raise Awareness of ALS; 2) Raise Funds to support much needed research and patient care: 3) Have FUN; and 4) create a supportive community committed to supporting ALS patients and families.
Training rides have been happening but have been challenging with a very rainy spring and lots of wind!!! Many of us have been finding steep climbs to get ready for day 1.
Fundraising is coming along as well with over $8,000 committed. We still have a way to go to reach our goal of $30K. Thank you to everyone who has donated to far!
We still lots of little details to be worked out but we are well on our way to a fabulous event!
Please check back to hear about our progress.