More money raised for MS as cure nears
Carl and Denise Wieman of Owatonna are back at it again raising money and riding in the MS River Road Run, which started Saturday morning in Lakeville. Over their 23 years of participation, the Wiemans have raised around $107,000 for multiple sclerosis. Staff photo by Rick Bussler
As Carl and Denise Wieman enter their 23rd year of raising money for multiple sclerosis, the hope and reality of curing the deadly disease has never been closer.
“We are close to a cure, which is significant,” said Michey Singer, director of emerging events with the National MS Society. In fact, she pointed out how the society changed its mission statement three years ago to add “cure” in it.
There have been more inroads made over the past five years with curing MS than any other neurological disease, according to Singer. She added she expects a cure within a few years.
Singer greeted the Wiemans and other participants in the 39th annual MS River Road Run that kicked off in Lakeville Saturday morning. The run featuring motorcycles wrapped through scenic back roads of southeast Minnesota and western Wisconsin Saturday and Sunday.
The Wiemans have raised $5,694 this year, bringing their 23-year total to more than $107,000. They are still hoping to raise this year’s total with more donations coming in over the next few weeks.
“We never dreamt that we could raise that much money when we started,” Carl Wieman said.
At this year’s banquet, the Wiemans were honored as the longest active participants in the run.
Carl and Denise became passionate about MS after Denise’s niece, Lori Serbus, was battling the disease and died in 2004. “We ride for one reason—to help those with MS,” said Carl. “We ride because we can, and for those who cannot.”
Singer said they are already looking forward to the 40th annual run next August. “We see this as a huge growth potential,” she said. “All the money goes to one place to fund research, programs and support,” she added.
She is blown away by the work the Wiemans and others have done in Minnesota over the past 39 years.
“It’s incredible what people will do to support friends and family with MS,” Singer said.
More than 1 million people are affected by MS, which is a chronic disease that affects the brain and spinal cord.
Anyone interested in donating to MS may do so by mailing a check to the Wiemans at 524 Glendale St., Owatonna, MN 55060. Contributions are tax-deductible. All donations are turned over for MS research.