For: Immediate Release
Contact: Fay Teal, 610-566-4795
Laps to Conquer M.S. Donates to Greater Delaware Valley Chapter, NMSS
Media, PA, December 16 - Laps to Conquer M.S., Inc. (LCMS), makes a donation of $9,000 to the Greater Delaware Valley Chapter of the National MS Society.
"LCMS increases multiple sclerosis awareness through motorsports and collects donations everywhere it appears," says Fay Teal, MS patient and Executive Director of LCMS. "This $9,000 donation brings the total collected since 1989 to $136,000 to help conquer this disease."
Multiple Sclerosis is one of the most common diseases of the central nervous system affecting both young and old. MS affects more than 400,000 people in North America. The disease usually starts between the ages of 20 and 40 years with the average age of onset around 30. MS affects more women than men. While no one can predict when, or if, there will be a cure for MS there is much hope for the future. The ongoing advances in research (funded mostly by donations) including the areas of immunology and autoimmune diseases, are occurring at a faster rate than ever before and continue to add to our understanding of how MS works and progresses.
"Motorsports has always been a big part of my life. I was getting my competition license, when an MS diagnosis ended my dream," remembers Teal. "Now I use my motorsports passion to drive toward the checkered flag for MS."
LCMS, using a Mazda6 Sport Wagon from Baglier Mazda, competed in the 2005 One Lap of America-3,500 miles through 14 eastern United States, April 29 through May 7. Each day, a racetrack located along the day's route was used for timed laps. The LCMS team of Fay & David Teal, Ron Pizor and Danny Yanda, finished 55th overall of the 93 competitors and 9th in the 18 Mid Priced sedan/wagon class. It was Fay Teal's 19th OLOA and the 17th for LCMS.
The LCMS Dominion Title Baglier Sunoco Mazda6 then appeared as a Pace/Safety car for 16 amateur road racing and media events from Camden and Millville, NJ; to Summit Point Motorsports Complex, WV; BeaveRun Motorsports Complex, Wampum, PA; Watkins Glen International, NY; and Nelson Ledges, OH.
David Teal competed with the Mazda6 in two South Jersey Region, Sports Car Club of America autocrosses at Atco Dragway, N.J., finishing 2nd in class (June) and 1st in class (July). The LCMS Mazda6 also attended the National Conference of the NMSS in Atlanta, GA.
Fay Teal and David Teal, her husband, started Laps to Conquer MS, Inc., in 1989; to increase multiple sclerosis awareness through motorsports. Since 1989, LCMS has driven over 185,000 miles in the pursuit of the checkered flag for MS. The drive has taken LCMS through 46 of the continental United States during 17 OLOA's.
While the primary focus is MS awareness, LCMS has raised $136,000 for the NMSS (www.nationalmssociety.org). "I'm pleased to have collected this much," remarks Fay Teal, "but until the checkered flag waves for MS, LCMS will drive on toward the cure."
Dominion Title Services, Inc. (www.dominiontitleservices.com), of Vineland, N.J, is a 10-year primary sponsor. Dominion Title Services, Inc. provides title insurance for real estate transactions. Other corporate sponsors include Mazda U.S.A. with Baglier Mazda of Butler, Pa. - first-year sponsors providing a Mazda6 Sport Wagon V6-and Sunoco Marcus Hook Refinery (www.sunocoinc.com) of Marcus Hook, Pa. Additional support comes from SunGard Availability Services, and the Friends of LCMS.
Through corporate sponsorship all OLOA and display costs are met, which allows that all donations made to Laps to Conquer M.S will directly benefit people living with MS. Contributions to the drive to end multiple sclerosis may be mailed to: Laps to Conquer MS, Inc., P O Box 94, Lenni, PA 19052-0094.
For more information, check www.lapstoconquerms.org, call 610-566-4795, or email lcms@lapstoconquerms.org.