East Hartford's Ride-Away Kicks It Up For MS

When Norman Pataky joined the staff at East Hartford’s Ride-Away, he brought a new culture of community involvement to the group of technicians who had already dedicated their lives to helping those with disabilities.

“I knew that if I showed my staff that being involved in the communities that we serve was important to me, it would become important to them, too,” said Pataky, who has been working in management for 22 years. “That’s how our entire staff got involved in Bike MS in 2013.”

And by ‘getting involved,’ Pataky means a lot more than just helping out and volunteering services – he and his team kicked it up – literally.

“In 2014, five members of our staff of 15 got on their bikes and participated in the Connecticut Chapter’s Bike MS Ride,” said the proud manager. “We’re involved with a lot of community events, but MS Society events are by far the best.”

In addition to forming a cycling team and fundraising for the National MS Society, Pataky and his team also donated their time and equipment providing ‘sag’ vehicles to shuttle tired cyclists and those with mechanical issues back to the finish line.

The team rode alongside more than 800 cyclists who raised a total of nearly $560,000 in 2014 for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Connecticut Chapter.

“The Ride-Away chain has 21 locations in the United States, and we assist about 3,000 people annually at each one,” explained Pataky, general manager for the East Hartford location. “I’d say that the largest percentage population we serve is the MS community, so I can speak on behalf of the entire staff when I say that we’re happy to help the National MS Society and our clients any way we can.”

More than 6,500 Connecticut residents are affected by multiple sclerosis, a potentially debilitating disease. The cause is unknown and there is currently no cure for MS. Symptoms can include numbness in the limbs, difficulties with vision and speech, stiffness, loss of mobility and, in some more severe cases, total paralysis. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot be predicted.

Ride-Away East Hartford’s administrative assistant Jen Herrera agrees that being ‘all-in’ for the cause is key.

“Our customers aren’t just clients – they’re family,” Herrera explained in between answering phone calls at her desk. “I speak to many individuals on a daily basis – I know as much about their lives as they know about mine. It’s that one-on-one contact that lets them know we’re here for them, not just for their cars.”

Ride-Away is one of America’s largest providers of wheelchair vans and adaptive equipment. The company is dedicated to helping people get on the road safely by finding the right solutions, whether it be hand controls, wheelchair and scooter lifts, ramps, raised doors, specialized gas, or brake and steering controls.

Herrera shared that each person in the office is passionate about the work they do – some even pitching in 12-hour days to make sure a job gets done.

“Everyone here makes sacrifices to ensure that the people we serve get what they need,” she continued. “I know that needing my car serviced can be stressful for me, so I can’t imagine how intimidating the process of getting a car retrofitted is for someone with a disability. That’s why I need to ensure that I’m an advocate for them.”

Five members of the East Hartford office’s staff have already signed up for the 2015 Bike MS Praxair Ride, presented by Louis Dreyfus Commodities, on Sunday, June 7, in Windsor, to raise funds to support Connecticut residents living with multiple sclerosis. The team’s captain, Lisa Gabrielle, hopes they can double that number by June 7.

Bike MS is a physical challenge for cyclists of every level, but it’s so much more than just a ride. The camaraderie, passion and memories that come from sharing the experience with family, friends and teammates last a lifetime.

The Ride-Away team will gather with other cyclists at Griffin Center Business Park and ride across the colonial countryside of Northern Connecticut, opting to cycle 10, 25, 50 or even 100 miles as well as a 2-mile kids’ ride.

“Cyclists can take in the serenity of Suffield’s farmland and test their speed against a Boeing 787 as they ride by the Bradley International Airport runway,” said event coordinator Alicia Barrows. “We’ve changed up the routes a little bit this year to keep things interesting for our riders.”

A second ride will take place on Sunday, June 14, in Westport, beginning at Sherwood Island State Park and journeying through the best of Fairfield County – from the beaches of Long Island Sound to the tree-lined roads of the countryside. Although there are two separate rides, there is only one destination in mind for these cyclists — a world free of MS.

Finish line festivities for both rides include a barbeque lunch, live entertainment, local vendors offering product samples, free massage therapy and more.

Community partners include WTNH News 8 and WRCH Lite 100.5, which has supported and promoted the ride for almost 30 years. Serendipity Magazine is the Bike MS main media sponsor.

Funds raised by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Connecticut Chapter, through events such as Bike MS, ensure ongoing scientific research to find better treatments and a cure, as well as help to provide vital programs and services offered by the chapter to those in the state living with multiple sclerosis.

“My father always told me that there’s a solution for everything, and here that statement rings true,” said Pataky. “We may not be able to cure MS at Ride-Away, but we certainly can show that we’ve got skin in the game and do our part to create a world free of MS.”

For more information on the 2015 Bike MS Praxair Ride, presented by Louis Dreyfus Commodities, or to donate to Team Ride-Away, visit www.ctfightsMS.org.