Category Archives: Miscellaneous

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Six Months Later

Everyone deals with loss in their own way. I prefer to write to help bring order and meaning to my thoughts.

June 19 will mark the six-month anniversary of the horrific event in Logy Bay that rattled our Atlantic pharmacy team to the core. Dave Collins was taken from us much too soon, and the open criminal investigation that resulted will not provide any sense of closure for the foreseeable future. The waves of emotional tumult have softened somewhat, but can still crash into you at the most inopportune times.

Six months on, there has been some healing. Six months on, there has been reflection. If there is reference to a silver lining, it’s that Dave was the furthest thing from a divisive or controversial figure; he was universally liked for his charm and his caring for others. For the same reasons he is so sorely missed, it is near impossible to think of him in a negative light.

His contributions to the pharmacy community are expansive, including being a longtime member and former Board member for the Pharmacy Association of Newfoundland and Labrador. The outpouring of support for Dave’s legacy has been remarkable. Notably, Memorial University in St. John’s, has established an student award, the ‘David J. Collins Memorial Award In Pharmacy’ to honour him each and every year. In April, a bowling fundraiser was held to help establish that award, with teams from NS and Corner Brook (~700km away) in attendance to celebrate his life. I had the pleasure of meeting some of them during my recent trip in March. This picture speaks for itself, provided by Lawtons Drugs own Steadman Bowers:

DaveCollinsFundraiser

Bringing people together is what Dave always did. That’s not conjecture or an exaggeration, I really do mean always. No matter the circumstances, Dave was the single most consistently optimistic person I have ever met. So much so, that we would routinely poke fun at him (always in a good-natured way). We would predict his reaction to catastrophic events, just to see how he could possibly see any sliver of light in the darkness. He never let us down. Usually with a 70’s rock-n-roll lyric in tow, his philosophical candor brightened the room every time.

Six months later, I work hard every day to use those lessons to inspire others. We don’t want to panic when faced with adversity, but lean on each other, and value each other’s strengths. Without fail, we’ll always be stronger in the end.

“Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will be as one.” – John Lennon

Dave – we know you’re still with us, wanting us to be better professionals, better teammates, and better people. Save us all a beer where you are; we look forward to sharing a pint when we see you again. We’ll need our sunglasses; you’ll be outshining the lights up above just as you did down below.

Six months later, the silver lining is that you’re changing us for the better…

BrightestLightPA

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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A Few Numbers

My LinkedIn feed chimed in the other day to notify that the 4th anniversary of PharmAspire is fast approaching. Four years. A full election cycle. A round of Olympic Games has come and gone. Pharmacy? I would say we’ve had plenty of evolution during that time, much of it chronicled on these pages. Thank you so much for reading and joining in the movement to practice on our terms…in our terms.

The topic today centres around my fascination with numbers. As long as I can remember, the logic and the consistency that numbers provide has ruled my behavior and my approach to problems. They are universal in meaning, and exist in all languages. In a digital age, information may be stored as never before. Numbers are broadcasted and converted to sound-waves, they are used to form images that we share with one another. They help explain this vast three-dimensional world we live in, and through theoretical physics, suggest dimensions beyond our own.

Nowadays, the numbers that pharmacists care most about are about the evidence. How treat-able is a disease? What monitoring parameters do we need for drug therapy? To which demographic slice does this guideline pertain?

A quick look at the Statscan homepage shows some interesting nuggets. Did you know that in 2014, the percentage of the population that were current smokers (18.1%), was virtually identical with the WHO classification for heavy drinkers (17.9%) and both were slightly higher than those previously diagnosed with high blood pressure (17.7%)?

The page also points out that over half (54%) of adults and almost 1 in 4 (23.7%) of youth were classified as overweight or obese. I find that amazing. How are we doing in the realm of mental health?

Perceived mental health by age group and sex
(Very good or excellent (%))
2011 2012 2013 2014
%
Very good or excellent
Both sexes 72.6 71.7 71.1 71.1
Males 73.5 72.7 71.9 72.1
Females 71.7 70.7 70.3 70.1

These numbers represent about 20 million people, meaning that 9-10 million do not report having very good or excellent mental health. The alarming thing is that these percentages are declining at 0.5% a year (~150000 people), with the largest fall coming from women aged 20-34:

20 to 34 years 75.3 73.8 74.0 72.3
Males 74.7 75.1 74.6 74.9
Females 76.0 72.4 73.5 69.7

Here are a few more  observations from Laura:

57- The average number of times Devin must remind Laura to please look at and edit his post so he can put it up (for the love of God)!

2- the number of cups of coffee needed by the editor to survive the day.

2- the number of cups of coffee needed by the editor so all other pharmacy staff and customers survive the day.

200mg- the number of morphine equivalents allowed to be prescribed in chronic non-cancer pain in NS right now.

50mg- the number of morphine equivalents that will be allowed to be prescribed in chronic non-cancer pain in NS in the next year or so.  Will funding for addiction services increase to account for this drastic decrease? We sure hope so.

It’s an important question given the stagnating economy and the illicit drug crises occurring in major Canadian centres like Vancouver and Toronto. It’s one thing to restrict access to contraband. It’s quite another to restrict prescribing of legitimate therapy without offering alternative counseling support or treatment options.

Before we paint by numbers, and generalize too much, we need to remember that each case is different. Poor mental health is pervasive and affects so many of us living with or without any co-morbidities. As front-line healthcare providers, pharmacists may be in position to intervene earlier with a frank discussion or a recommendation to a physician.

At the outset, I mentioned that numbers help explain the world around us. No one wants to feel like ‘just a number’, lost in the system with little cause for hope. Each one of those ‘numbers’ has a story to tell. Are we ready to listen?

 

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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Let’s Get Ethical

Seeing how a certain someone was inaugurated south of the border a few days ago, I see it fit to provide some commentary on a topic that is on all of our minds lately. Ethics. Mr. president’s first task was to find someone to play at his inauguration ceremony and he had a hell of a time lining up anyone recognizable.

Much has been said about our neighbour’s new president, and usually any conversation devolves into a debate about ethics or morality. Whether it’s mistreatment of minority groups, inappropriate comments about other countries, or wanton duplicity with the press and public, we’re left to wonder what to make of it all. Articles pop up every day suggesting that it’s only a matter of time before he’ll be shown the door. Here’s one now.  The Twitter-verse allows everyone to share their opinions, but it also difficult to have informed debate about anything, let alone politics, when back and forth occurs on a screen in the form of soundbite material.

The terms ethical and moral are often used interchangeably, and both refer to the age-old debate between the ideas of ‘good’ versus ‘evil’, ‘right’ versus ‘wrong’. Morals are more specific to an individual’s values, whereas ethics are more often than not based upon accepted societal norms and provided by a group to shape behavior. It is therefore possible for someone to have strong morals and do unethical things. On the other hand, there are folks that appear immoral that still follow the rules, especially if it results in personal gain.

Competition seems to bring out the worst in people. Sadly, this isn’t just during election season. In business (see above), in school (plagiarism), in sport (steroids), there are always those willing to bend the rules to gain an advantage over others. Even pharmacy is not immune. Questionable incentive programs surface from time to time, as do deceitful billing practices that are uncovered during audits. As pharmacists, sometimes for all the positives we bring to the table gets clouded by some of the unseemly negatives of a very few.

As a profession, we do so many things right…or morally…or ethically. While the practice culture is changing, pharmacy services have always been about building trust with our patients. Our credibility soars when patients see the benefit of what we do, and that extends to other practitioners in all sectors of healthcare.We are bound by the same institution with respect to protecting privacy, and doing no harm. These are of utmost importance, and if we aim to leave every interaction with a positive takeaway, no matter how small, that relationship will build. Asking someone how their daughter is coping with a recent diagnosis of diabetes, or being curious about a bypass recipient who has started a rehab program.The challenge is not to get bogged down by negative rhetoric we sometimes hear about the pharmacy world. Every sector has challenges to overcome.

We are said to be the most accessible healthcare provider. Our investment in the future is an investment of time spent bettering the health of the people that need it most. It’s a moral approach, it’s an ethical approach. The only drawback is that it can’t be done in a series of 140-character missives.

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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WWDD?

What would Dave Do?

I was working on a couple of other posts just now and needed to stop. This grief is nothing I’ve ever felt before and coming to terms with it has been difficult.

On Monday, Dec 19, I received a call to inform me that Dave Collins, esteemed member of the Pharmacy Association of NL and my work teammate for the better part of nine years, lost his life under tragic circumstances the night before.

As this is being written, it’s been 26 hours since the phone call ended. Nearly every thought has been about his family, his interests, his ever-positive attitude, and his unbending support for all of us.

Those who knew him best are all trapped somewhere in the 5-stages of grief. Me? The Denial flipped to anger early yesterday afternoon as news outlets reported additional details. Today, I believe it’s falling in the Bargaining / Depression bucket. Thankfully, our team is quite close, so having folks to talk to and remember positive memories has really helped. The last stage is acceptance, which seems will never happen. It will of course, but not for a long while. Life goes on, but time moves incredibly slow when emptiness consumes you.

If there is any silver lining to find, I know his memory will make me better. Dave had a way of looking at any situation, no matter how bleak or stressful, and taking the worries away. Quoting lines from Dylan and Neil Young, he didn’t frazzle or get even mildly annoyed. He treated everyone with the utmost respect and expected the same. He came from a large family and wanted every interaction to be meaningful and personal. He gave his all into every endeavour. As an example, he had recently started beekeeping, which is just so Dave:

These pics will always make me smile.

So in dealing with his loss, I’m now thinking WWDD? He wouldn’t want us to wallow in self-pity. He certainly wouldn’t want us stop doing what we enjoy, or be fearful of what could be around the corner. He would want us to celebrate his life, thrive in our work and home-lives, and carry on.

Rest In Peace my friend. We will meet again someday on the other side, share a cold brew and listen to some Lennon. Save me a seat, I’ll be there when it’s my turn.

http://www.cauls.ca/mobile/obituaries-details.cfm?o_id=4043859&fh_id=14293&forcelayout=mobile#obituaries

 

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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Procrastination Factory

I’ll be honest. I’ve been putting off writing this all day.

I may sometimes question my abilities: how well I deal with HR situations, or whether my injection technique is as refined as it should be. There is no doubt of my innate ability to waste time. The majestic piles of nothing produced can be quite stunning. Particularly on weekends, when my attempts to relax often begin with mental checklists of household chores, lawn projects, and family outings we really should start attacking before the weather cools. By Saturday morning many items have been removed from the list and deferred to the “next weekend” pile. By Sunday afternoon, the list is empty with all intentions that priority items will somehow happen through the following week.

Labour modeling and analyses to complete? What better time to rip and rename my CD library into iTunes. The completed staff evaluation that still needs to be formally written? Well, level 816 of Candy Crush sure isn’t going to solve itself. The possibilities are endless, and my creative vices take charge to ensure the productive task gets arrested and thrown into a windowless room. After another 3 hours of browsing celebrity impressions on YouTube, a guilty conscience finally forces me into meaningful action.

At this moment, I realize that a preface would have been useful to explain that I do consider myself a hard-working and productive person most of the time. In fact, some of my best work has happened at crunch-time when there’s no room to dawdle. My oldest will have 2 weeks to deliver a book report, and there she is scrambling the morning of, scribbling on cue cards while she waits for the low rumble of the bus. Ah, that takes me back.

The worst part is, many of the tasks aren’t particularly challenging, or physically draining. Once I’m started, it’s usually perfectly fine. Things get done, a line gets scratched off the list, and a satisfying feeling overcomes me. Things like going to the gym are a bit different, as it’s a fight as soon as the idea pops into the head. That’s usually when the lawn gets mowed, or…

 

Okay, wait. Just hold on a minute

It’s 7:35am … I think Devin’s been trying to write this post for like 3 weeks now.   Hi, this is Diane, his lovely, non-procrastinating wife.  I am on the opposite end of the procrastinating spectrum.  So it can be a challenge trying to us to work on projects together.  I have a to-do list every single day.  If there’s a deadline, I’m usually the keener that has it done like 3 days beforehand (ok, maybe even 5 days).  I’ve  learned that if I do procrastinate, it usually stresses me out more. We currently have a membership due to be renewed in November. I know I should wait until November to renew it, but why did they send us the renewal notice already?!  Now it’s going to be on my mind ( and on my to-do list)  for 2 months….

So after 15 years of marriage, we’ve learned to compromise. When we need to get somewhere for a certain time, I have learned that Devin will always get us there right…on…time  (even though I would probably like to be there 5 minutes before). Just like Devin has learned that some small things on my to-do list are actually items for  the honey-do list. I know that after a bit of prodding, he’ll do it, just so  I can stop stressing  about it. And sometimes, like this post, I hear him say:”oh crap I really have to finish XYZ” and I hear it for a couple of times, and I mentally add to to my do-to list to remind him. Other times I’ll just go ahead and do it. I usually don’t interfere with his posts, but I couldn’t resist this one. So here it  is… Post complete! 7:55am – Oh, and laundry is in  the wash, clean dishes put away, young one off to school, older one ready to get on the bus 🙂

 

So honey, the moral of the story is that if I put something off long enough, or accidentally leave my PharmAspire edit page open unattended, it will be magically done when I get back? Got it 😉

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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Hip For a Night

How often do you feel part of something too big to explain in words alone? It’s a sensation; a point in time where everyone casts an eye, bends an ear, and opens a mind to an emotional spectacle only experienced a handful of times a generation.

The Tragically Hip bid farewell to the masses in their home town of Kingston, Ontario and an estimated 11.7M viewers across Canada via an uncut CBC live feed on August 20. I certainly won’t find the right words, but I’ll gladly take a lunge at it.

Lead singer Gord Downie was recently diagnosed with glioblastoma, a terminal brain cancer that grows aggressively and offers minimal chance at long-term survival. He decided to do the opposite of what you might expect; instead of becoming reclusive, accepting what remaining quality-of-life measures were available, and letting us mourn in advance of the inevitable, he organized a final tour to share himself with the fans one last time.

 

“Courage…It couldn’t come at a worse time.” – Gord Downie, Courage

However ravaged his body appeared after a craniotomy and six weeks of chemo and radiation, the energy from all pockets of the country seemed to fuel his voice after every introductory riff. Each of the three encore sets reached a fever pitch, and without interruption, we could hang on every solo, every iconic lyric, each instance of a certain signature, tumbling cadence to cap the vocal line.

That night I wasn’t a pharmacist. I was a Canadian…and a damned proud one at that.

The next morning, Laura and I were chatting about the significance of the concert. This exchange captured what many of the articles and pundits had been reporting:

Me: Any way I can tie in the Hip concert into a pharmacy blog post?

Laura: Oh God, I cried through the whole concert last night. Their bravery and COURAGE was unbelievable.

Me: I know. Read an article about Gord burning out onstage for everyone. Pretty amazing stuff.

Laura: They played for three hours.

Me: After the first few songs, I felt he was straining hard, but he kept going.

Laura: Yeah, and a lot of classics later on he sounded amazing. Imagine spending that much time and energy with four other guys for thirty years. They know exactly what they’re all going to do. Remarkable really.

Me: Can’t imagine. They deserve the adulation. If you’re going to hero-worship anything, this feels right.

Laura: Canadian pride and caring less about what others think is a surefire way to a happier life. Tonight the ENTIRE COUNTRY stopped to watch a concert. Would that happen anywhere else in the world? 

The CAPS are unedited, and proper emphasis is where it belonged 🙂

 

“No one’s interested in something you didn’t do.” – Gord Downie, Wheat Kings

I could take a fatalistic approach in saying that many cases of malpractice litigation definitely hinge on things that weren’t done, but I digress…

In all seriousness, wiser words have not been spoken as a mantra to living all phases of life. As pharmacists, how many minor ailments have we failed to offer? How many open-ended questions have we failed to ask? How many turf wars do we concede to other health professions? How many courses have we failed to take? How many trips have we failed to plan? How many opportunities have we failed to grasp? None of these examples are malicious or vindictive, just oftentimes we remain passive because of the emotional investment and unknown consequences.

Laura really drove the point home for me:

“So let’s remember what Gord and the Hip did on Aug 20. They gave everything they had left to their fans in one last hurrah. Every Canadian, healthcare professional or not, can stand to give a little more to others, care a little less what people think and get on with living their best life.”

 

“No dress-rehearsal…this is our life.” – Gord Downie, Ahead By  a Century

Everyone’s watching. Work, play, practice..LIVE on your own terms. 

#InGordWeTrust

 

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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Dirty Laundry

Oh, how I would love to offer something salacious to justify the outrageous title. If I had the forethought, I should be writing an episodic daytime drama that captures the emotion and mystique of community pharmacy.

Just think: the excitement of finding a favorite pen that a colleague had been hoarding, the heartbreak of losing a customer who had developed into a close friend, and the passive-aggressive dance to decide whose turn to grab the cash. In  15 years, I never seem to run out of stories to tell, although on second thought, most are the ‘you had to be there’ variety.

After a stressful week, I am left to ponder the sobering realities of my chosen profession. One question in particular comes to mind:

How do I keep my lab coat white?

A quick reference check from the most trusted website on all of the internets, Wikipedia, tells us that lab coats were introduced to the medical profession in the late 1800’s to denote cleanliness. I admit, it’s very easy to tell if the lab coat gets grungy, especially around the cuffs from resting on dusty, drug residue-covered counters, or having a collection of pen-stripes above the pockets when you forget to retract the tip.

The symbol has evolved to portray trust and knowledge. To wit:

18ed_grovers_lab_coat

Image courtesy of our friends at Thinkgeek.com:
http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/products/zoom/18ed_grovers_lab_coat.jpg

Though we are far from infallible, we are trained to make judgement calls and defend our decision-making processes. This may be intimidating for many members of the public; previous generations would never dare challenge their family physician and lived in fear of disappointing them. White-coat hypertension is a very real phenomenon for many patients wary of the unknown, who build up stress in advance of an appointment, akin to waiting outside the principal’s office or prepping for a job interview.

Lab coats can be a bit on the controversial side as well. Many in professional settings eschew wearing an extra, often hot and uncomfortable layer. There is also growing concern of cross-contamination with super-bugs like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). There’s also the practicality argument: lab coats used in laboratory settings protect the wearer from chemical spillage on their clothes or skin. Generations ago, when most medicines were compounded, this may have been a solid stance, but then again smoking in the dispensary was also acceptable too.

My personal take? Over the years I’ve softened on the need for a white coat. As students taking pharmacy degrees or technician certification discover in their first years of study, receiving a white coat welcomes you into a strong, trusted community. I’ve always worn one, and feel pride when I interact with patients, colleagues and other professionals. The analytical side of me identifies with the science and the constant drive for higher knowledge. That said, I don’t question another professional’s preference to avoid wearing one unless it’s part of a uniform outlined by an employer or educational institution. Pharmacists find themselves in so many collaborative settings nowadays, be it committee-work, nursing homes, regulatory, administrative roles, etc. that are founded on relationships and trust that go much deeper than a symbolic white coat. In public forums, there’s no mistake that a lab coat will certainly draw attention and identify the wearer as someone who more than likely comes from a scientific or healthcare-related background (just ask any pharmacist in a grocery-store setting running to the deli for a quick lunch break).

So my point is: anyone have a recommendation on a good bleach?

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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Team Dynamics – Greater Than The Sum of its Parts

It’s no great secret that if given the option, individuals would prefer to be in control of their current situation, their short-term goals and long-term dreams. You’ve no doubt heard that sitting and waiting for opportunity to come along doesn’t usually end up as expected. It may knock once and awhile, and being prepared to answer that door takes commitment and a tenacious attitude. So what if the opportunity presented means being an integral part of a strong team?

A very close friend of mine has been in various leadership roles for well over a decade. He recently sent a message to his teams opining that some of his strongest teams did not always comprise of his strongest individual performers. I hesitate to use the word chemistry due to buzzword cliches, but we’re in the world of pharmacy so the subject shouldn’t be completely foreign. A mixture of complementing skills are necessary. Some people are excellent at rote tasks; they are consistent with details and process. Others have excellent customer-service skills and some may be solid project managers. If someone was behind on the prescription assembly counter due to an extended customer interaction, then another would recognize and backfill to prevent a bottleneck (and therefore a future, more negative customer interaction). A pharmacist manager working on staff reviews jumps out of the office to perform a flu shot because her staff is out of the dispensary for an OTC counsel. It takes a certain level of awareness and good chemistry to adapt depending on the circumstances.

The strongest teams seem to grow into that adaptive mentality and it never happens overnight. Routines are developed (e.g. mixing methadone batches on Wednesday afternoons), and trends are identified (e.g. many people pick up prescription orders on Thursdays over the supper hour). Folks begin to understand non-verbal cues or body language from their colleagues that betray a rising sense of anxiety, such as a deep-breath after a series of interruptions, or a rash of careless mistakes to suggest rushing.

I should point out that complementing skills doesn’t just mean balancing relative weaknesses, it’s also about enhancing inherent strengths within the team. That’s why the saying goes, “the result is greater than the sum of its parts.” So why does a team of strong performers not always share a strong level of success? This phenomenon happens in sports all the time; a dream team is bought or drafted and grossly underwhelms, looking disconnected and listless in the process.

There are a few different theories as to why this occurs. One is a measure of ego; a strong performer is used to having a degree of autonomy in their job, and has a specific way to complete tasks. The trust that another may be able to meet the same standard can take time to develop. In a competitive environment, the strong performer has an incentive to use these tasks to display their own skills and may feel a threat to their autonomy if another meets or exceeds the same standards.

In a similar vein, strong performers often have take charge attitudes. For team production, some of those folks need to be comfortable supervising, and others will need to follow. If there is no deference from anyone, it begins to feel like ‘too many cooks in the kitchen’. Everyone has their own plan but it may conflict with another. The whole point of being proactive is to plan ahead and avoid potential conflict, that’s why big-picture thinking is so important at the outset of any project.

As a manager myself, I certainly derive my work satisfaction from watching others being proactive and working together. They identify problems before they present, and take steps to always be ahead of any change on the wind. Those qualities can serve as fuel because there always has to be a new challenge, or a variety of tasks to master. I need to stay proactive to keep the team growing and motivated. The leaders I respect and look to for guidance all seem to do the same. We make each other better, and we find ways to reach heights we could never have imagined on our own.

Is your team ready to answer the door?

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.

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Bike Tour Wrap-Up – 2015 Edition

Now that the summer bike season is coming to a close, and with Thanksgiving in the rear-view, it seems like a decent time to reflect on a cause that is dear to me: the Multiple Sclerosis Bike Tour.

I don’t think charity holds the same meaning for everyone. Whether you look forward to buying those two-sleeves worth of vanilla and chocolate girl-scout cookies at work or handing over a dozen beer bottles to kids going door-to-door for their hockey teams, the ability to give of yourself is valuable to the community at large.

Personally? Up until my first tour, I certainly made it a point to donate towards any causes my friends supported, but didn’t necessarily educate myself or form more than a passing connection with them. Money is important to all non-profit organizations and events like the bike tour rely on the time and efforts of countless volunteers. Each one has a story of how they have been touched by the disease. Many have devoted a significant part of their lives to support loved ones and have experienced first-hand the services provided by the society.

This was my 5th year on the tour, and each summer I gain a deeper appreciation of the great works we accomplish. Our team grew from 7 to 18 members, and our fund-raising topped the $20,000 mark. It’s certainly something to be proud of, but between the nagging for donations and the Facebook updates, it’s the event itself to which I look forward many months in advance. Besides a grueling 47-kilometre bike ride through back-road communities, rolling cornfields, orchards and vineyards, it’s also a huge social event where for one weekend of the year, hundreds of riders, MS Society staff and volunteers converge for a common cause.

One of our team traditions is after the banquet Saturday night, we gather and go around the circle to formally introduce ourselves to the rest of the group. We talk about how we are affected by the disease, how we came to be on the team and why we ride. It’s a humbling experience to say the least; tales where heartbreak and hope are part of every plot and are the most familiar of bedfellows. The bond formed during these sessions is tough to duplicate anywhere else.

So to me, charity is giving of yourself, without condition; no quid-pro-quo or reward is expected or desired (granted, cookies are nice). All collective efforts and subsequent proceeds are committed to the cause. Check that, the reward here is becoming part of a close-knit community that leaves nobody behind on the trail or in life. I am honored to help grow and strengthen this community for as long as I am able.

It’s early to be planning for 2016. That said, if you have a bike buried in the shed somewhere, take it for a spin before it gets too cold and rediscover the simplicity of pedaling two wheels along a shoreline or through the woods. I’ll be hitting the trails next spring and would be delighted to have you with me.

http://mssoc.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=bike_aboutbike_ATL

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.