Official Launch of The Orange Bike Project
Albany, NY – The National MS Society Upstate New York Chapter today is officially launching The Orange Bike Project to draw attention to a brand new event - Bike MS: Hudson River Ramble. We’ve placed five, bright orange bikes around the Greater Albany area and surrounding counties, and will be moving the bikes periodically, to drive people to register for Bike MS.
In total, The Orange Bike Project involves 15 orange bicycles in three major communities across Upstate New York, promoting our three Bike MS events: Finger Lakes Challenge (Greater Rochester area), Head for the Hills (Greater Buffalo area) and Hudson River Ramble (Capital District Region).
Why orange? It’s the MS color. Why broken bikes? Because multiple sclerosis stops people from moving and bikes without wheels represent lost mobility. We’re hoping this powerful, visually stimulating marketing campaign will catch the eye of the general public and motivate them to ride for the thousands of people with MS who cannot ride. In Albany County, there are more than 580 people living with MS, and more than 3,200 in the 17 county area surrounding (and including) Albany.
Each bike has a large placard directing people to information about Bike MS: Hudson River Ramble, which takes place on September 22, at Birch Hill in Schodack, N.Y.
After a couple of weeks, the bikes will be moved to different spots around Albany and neighboring counties. During this time, the National MS Society Upstate New York Chapter will be running interactive contests and games around The Orange Bike Project, including a “scavenger hunt” May 18 – 20, and a photo contest from June 22 – 24. Our Facebook and Twitter alerts (Facebook.com/FLCBikeMSupstateNY,
Twitter.com/BikeMSupstateNY) will provide contest updates.
Initially, the orange bikes will be at these locations:
466 Madison Ave., Albany, (outside Down Bicycle Works)
279 N Ballston Ave., Scotia (outside Adirondack Bicycles)
1205 Broadway, Albany (outside Plaine and Sons Bike Shop)
3455 Us Route 9, Valatie, NY (outside Steiner’s Sports)
5th location to be determined
About Bike MS Hudson River Ramble: The event takes place on September 22, at Birch Hill in Schodack, N.Y. Riders can choose from route lengths of 10, 30, 62 or 100 miles. The Society hopes to attract 140 riders, and raise $66,500 for MS research, and programs and services in 50 Upstate New York counties. You can register for Bike MS online at www.msupstateny.org. Bike MS events are among the NMSS Upstate New York Chapter’s biggest annual fundraisers.
Event Sponsors: Sponsors for Bike MS: Hudson River Ramble are Birch Hill Catering and EMD Serono.
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For more information, contact: Alyssa Shoup, Bike MS Campaign Manager, 1-800-FIGHT-MS (press 2), Stephanie Bradshaw, 1-800-FIGHT-MS (press 2), or Susan Ashline, Communications Manager, 1-800-FIGHT-MS (press 2), or email Susan.Ashline@NMSS.org.
Multiple Sclerosis, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system, interrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and the body. Almost 12,000 people in Upstate New York are living with MS. The National MS Society Upstate New York Chapter offers a wide array of programs and services throughout the year for people with MS and their families, and raises money to fund MS research. The chapter serves 50 counties of New York State. For more information, call 1-800-344-4867, or visit www.MSUpstateNY.org.