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Growing up in Niles (a Chicago suburb), my brother Gary and I used to ride our bikes to the Niles Pool every day of the summer. And now, years later, I love riding my bike. At age thirty, Gary was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and died March 29, 2002 at the age of forty-four. He fought a courageous battle. He was my main inspiration to become a doctor.
In his memory, I am riding for the fifth consecutive year in the Chesapeake Challenge MS Bike Ride which will take place June 13 and 14 on the Maryland Eastern Shore.
The challenges of riding a bicycle for 150 miles in two days pale in comparison to the challenges one faces living with multiple sclerosis. I’ve seen firsthand what this disease can do to people in the prime of their lives. I ride in memory of Gary. I ride because I believe we can and will find a cure. And with your help, I ride to create a world free of MS.
Gail Callaway, MD |
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This year, Dr. Gail Callaway of Smithsburg Family Medical Center will ride for the fifth time in the Chesapeake Challenge MS Bike Ride. She’s glad to have a fun way to connect her love of cycling to MS research.
Since starting this ride five years ago in honor of her brother, Gary Brown, Dr. Callaway has raised more than $50,000 for multiple sclerosis research. Each year Dr. Callaway sets a new fundraising goal. Her goal is achieved through private donations, a raffle with items supplied by local businesses, and a “Girls Night Out” which provides women a luxurious evening of pampering for a donation.
Along the way, she’s made wonderful friends on her team of twenty-eight riders, “Team Lamberts,” and loves the camaraderie that the team brings to these challenging bike rides. Last summer, Dr. Callaway married one of her fellow riders, Lee, who has been riding with her in the Chesapeake Challenge for the past three years.
She rides to remember her brother, her inspiration and support in becoming a doctor; to provide hope to those still battling MS; and because she believes we can find a cure. You can support MS research by participating in the MS Bike Ride or by making a donation. For more information, please visit Dr. Callaway’s Web site at www.ridegailride.org.
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