Mount Evelyn
5 Tuesday, 10 February, 2015
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MS marathon man By JESSE GRAHAM
Vince and Karen Leccese will take on the 50km ride in the MS Melbourne Cycle in April, and are looking for sponsors and eager team-members. 134133 Picture: JESSE GRAHAM When it comes to his motivation for taking on the big ride, he said it was all about giving back to an organisation which had helped him to push his boundaries. Last year, he received a Going for Gold scholarship from MS Australia, which allowed him to visit Nepal and climb to the Mount Everest Base Camp. “That was out of this world,� he said.
“MS Australia have been fantastic to me, hence I volunteer to work in the MS shop in Monbulk every Wednesday.� Riders in the MS Melbourne Cycle can be sponsored or receive donations to add to their fund-raising pool, and Mr Leccese said he had hosted around three fund-raising barbecues so far this year to boost the team’s numbers. The ride also aims to raise awareness of the disease, which is lifelong, and is usually diagnosed in
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As of deadline, the Warby Trailers were the third-highest fund-raising team for the event, with $2251 raised so far. To sponsor Mr Leccese and the Warby Trailers or to join the group, visit register.msmelbournecycle. org.au/2015-MS-Melbourne-Cycle/ Warby+Trailers. For more information about the event, or to register a group, visit www. msmelbournecycle.org.au.
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people between 20 and 40 years old. Even though around 1000 new people are diagnosed with MS every year, Mr Leccese said many people didn’t understand the disease and how it worked. “People are mildly aware of it, but it probably needs more explanation,� he said. “But more and more, we’re finding that everyone knows someone who’s got it – it’s quite common.�
1120075-CA08-14
A MOUNT Evelyn man is gearing up to take on a gruelling 50-kilometre bike ride through the streets of Melbourne, flanked by family members to raise money for MS research. Vince Leccese, 51, will be riding the 50-kilometre leg of the MS Melbourne Cycle on 19 April alongside his wife, Karen, and about eight family members in their team, the Warby Trailers. Mr Leccese has been living with multiple sclerosis (MS) for three years after being diagnosed in January 2012, and said this year’s ride would be his third in the event. The MS Melbourne Cycle is a noncompetitive ride open for all ages and fitness levels, with 50km and 30km ride options, all heading over the West Gate Bridge, which will be traffic-free for the event. All funds raised from the event will go towards providing services, support, treatment and information for people living with MS. MS is the most common neurological disease that affects young adults, and randomly attacks the central nervous system. There is no known cause or cure, and effects and severity vary from person to person. For Mr Leccese, his MS results in problems with cognitive memory and overheating, which can affect his eyesight - medication deals with many of the other symptoms. He said that cycling and swimming were two exercises that didn’t aggravate his symptoms, and that he was looking forward to taking on the ride. “Cycling is a sport that I find is quite good for the MS – it keeps me cool with the wind,� he said. “My wife’s right into it, as well, so we both cycle along the Warburton Trail.� This year will be the first that Mr Leccese has taken on the full 50km ride, having completed the 30km and 25km stints in the last two events. With two of his sons and their girlfriends, his daughter, his daughter’s husband and others making up the Warby Trailers, Mr Leccese said the ride would be a “big family affair�.