The Johnson MS Bike tour came to Olds to conclude its first day of riding Saturday before setting off back to Airdrie the next day.
It's a fundraiser for the MS Society of Canada. MS (multiple sclerosis) is a disease that attacks the body's central nervous system, affecting the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. Symptoms can range from numbness in limbs to loss of vision or even paralysis in severe cases.
Nearly 600 cyclists were expected to participate, with a goal of fundraising $588,000. As of Wednesday, June 20, they had raised 90 per cent of that target.
The ride began on Highway 567 and from there took a lot of side roads, with checkpoints on Highway 791 and Twp Rd. 285.
After reaching their first two checkpoints and riding more than 55 kilometres, participants had a lunch break in Carstairs.
From there, the ride continued heading towards Didsbury on Twp Rd. 303, meeting their third checkpoint and then continuing onwards to reach their final destination of Olds College.
At the end of the ride, bikers enjoyed a night of food and entertainment at the Olds College campus.
Participants stayed in the vacant dorm rooms of the college. They left again June 24 at around 9 a.m.
Riders followed the same route they took to get to Olds to get back to Airdrie.
Donations can be made until the end of summer.
