MPS - mucopolysaccharidoses or (in Simon's case) M.P.S - Miles, People, Success
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Note: As noted in 'New Speakwell Employees', Simon has joined the Speakwell office staff this Fall, and is also available as a speaker to recount his remarkable story and the lessons he learned. |
Simon writes:
Give people a chance to do good and they will exceed your expectations. This lesson was reinforced for me again and again from the inception of the idea to the closing gala banquet of Bike 4 MPS. Motorists not only honked us along, but threw money for the cause; motels went out of their way to accommodate our needs with discounted or free board; food stores provided sustenance; dealerships made sure we had the necessary wheels to lead the way, to carry extra bicycles and an RV motor home to carry the weary, hungry and hurt. The Bike 4 MPS Team gave their love, energy, time and skills to guarantee that no obstacle would stand between us and our goal to raise awareness about MPS and funds to support research that will lead to a cure. We had the cooperation of everybody except the weatherman, but neither wind nor rain weakened our resolve and joy. I survived a potentially ride-ending fall early on, but this merely served as a source of humor for the rest of the journey.
So many people and organizations helped out that I can't list all their names in a brief article. However, it was exciting to both myself and the media to do an on-the-road live interview with Dallas Maverick's owner Mark Cuban who was a major sponsor of the event. It was also a thrill to share the road with friends and sporting celebrities such as Steve Nash (basketball), Roland Green (World mountain biking champion) and Simon Whitfield (Olympic Gold Medal winner in the Triathlon).
The closing gala at my old school, St. Michael's, was a sell-out and an evening of pure joy and celebration. I cried when I rode into Cadboro Bay at the end of the ride, I shed more tears at the Gala and I continue to shed tears when I think of the generosity of all those who I see everyday and those I wish I could see everyday. My biggest thanks go to my family who have never ceased to believe in my capabilities or me. They traveled the world with me looking for a cure and now we have found a cure, not for MPS but surely for the heart. Great friends and kind people are more powerful than any disease.
Thank you one and all.
PS. There was another lesson I learned out there on the road. If you have a good or brave idea, act on it. Because an idea without action is a useless thing. We 'showed up' to our idea for a bike journey to raise awareness about MPS, and I feel that I, and everyone involved, are better for it.
