Pro-tip: Never joke about getting injured
For the final 10 km of last year’s MS Gong Ride, I didn't think I was going to make it. I was soaked through and cold from the constant rain. Muscles I'd previously been unaware of were in open rebellion. I could barely pedal.
Plenty of people raced by me on their bikes, but it was a tough ride for me. I'd landed in the long bike ride from Sydney to Wollongong with only a fortnight to warm up, after stabbing myself with an ice skate.
The final five kilometres heading into Wollongong I was literally holding back tears... of exhaustion? just being on the edge of what I was capable of? I'm not sure, but going through the finish line and being welcomed in by people living with MS pushed me over and I actually broke down.
It buoyed my spirits so much knowing that friends and colleagues were behind the ride and efforts to fundraise for people with MS.
Coming into the ride this year, I kidded to friends that I needed some sort of injury to encourage fundraising for people with MS. Pro tip: never joke about injuries.
Literally a year to the day after that ice skate made its way into my leg, I took my son skateboarding, and, well one thing led to another. The receptionist at my physio has taken to calling me Mr Bump.
For the third year running, I was hit with an injury weeks out from the ride, but for the second year running I’ve rehabilitated and I’m ready to ride.
Only thing is, I haven't hit my target - and that’s a big deal, because riding through the finish line last year after an excruciating ride through torrential rain and all those steep hills on the way to the Gong, it was people with MS who stood at the finish line.
The money you give makes a difference to their lives: https://www.msgongride.org.au/participant/Matt-Levinson
Whether it's providing physiotherapy for people with mobility issues or helping someone who has been recently diagnosed as they start their personal journey with this cruel disease... your support will ensure no one has to fight MS alone.
It would mean a huge amount to me personally if you could chip in your own money to back this ride and to offer critical financial support for people with MS.
Head of Corporate Affairs and Culture Policy, Committee for Sydney
6 年Katy Thom, Mick Gibb, Jamie Morse?- thanks so much colleagues from different eras, just cracked $2.1K!?
Head of Corporate Affairs and Culture Policy, Committee for Sydney
6 年Thanks so much @Lee Tran Lam?- very much appreciated! Just pushed through $2K barrier, so close to the target now. Promise to steer clear of any and all skate related sports at least until after this ride.?
Head of Corporate Affairs and Culture Policy, Committee for Sydney
6 年Adam?&? Deborah Beegling?- you're fantastic guys, hugely appreciated.?
Head of Corporate Affairs and Culture Policy, Committee for Sydney
6 年This support really does mean a huge amount to me personally.? To see friends and colleagues chip in their own money to back this ride and to offer critical financial support for people with MS is pretty incredible:? Kimberley Crofts, Maria MacNamara,?Craig Badings, Tom Carolan, Chris Wu, Tess Lloyd, Jonathon Larkin, Bill Lloyd, Cory Watson, Richard Watson, Stephanie Olliver, Cara Wood,?Nathan Burman, Ceri Donoghue, Gav Simmons, Ally Jackson, Jessica Kirby, Ali Morrow, Bradley Tynan Hopper, Aaron P., Alexandra (Ali) Cassim, Steph Lees, David Griffiths, Anna Burns, Angela Scaffidi, Karen Burr, Caroline Zingg, Claire Lawrence, Luca Ionescu, Thommy T., Teresa Leung, Darren Behar, Susannah Wade? Thanks so much guys, your support really buoys the spirits!?