MTSU Alpha Tau Omega members participate in ‘Tour De Taus Bike-A-Thon’ to raise awareness for multiple sclerosis

Photo and story by Jeffrey Jenkins / Contributing Writer

The MTSU Alpha Tau Omega fraternity chapter held its first “Tour De Taus Bike-A-Thon” Wednesday to raise awareness for multiple sclerosis. Members also sold tickets for their third annual Crawfish Boil, another fundraiser for multiple sclerosis patients, research and survivors that will take place this Saturday.

MTSU Alpha Tau Omega President Angel Hernandez and Co-Philanthropy Chair Ramsey Ferguson set up two stationary exercise bicycles outside of the James E. Walker Library and Media and Entertainment Building and rode the bicycles for two hours.

“It feels good to leave a precedence for something for others to just look back at and admire,” Hernandez said.

The fraternity’s philanthropic efforts over the next few days are focused on supporting new research for multiple sclerosis, an unpredictable disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information between the brain and body. Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, potentially causing paralysis or loss of vision.

This is a concern that also hits home for the entire Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.

Alpha Tau Omega Vice President Sam Stewart’s mother was diagnosed with the disease in 2008 and is still battling it today. Stewart’s mother is the reason why, this year, the fraternity decided to focus all of their philanthropy efforts on the National MS Society, which is the organization the fraternity partnered with for the Crawfish Boil event.

“For me, being a part of our Bike-A-Thon is really just about contributing to something bigger than yourself,” Ferguson said. “It’s really cool that we’re able to come out here and show support for Sam Stewart’s mother, who is battling this disease.”

Tour De Taus will continue on Thursday and Friday from 8-10 a.m. in the area between the Walker Library and the Media and Entertainment Building.

To contact News Editor Andrew Wigdor, email newseditor@mtsusidelines.com.

For more news, follow us at www.mtsusidelines.com, on Facebook at MTSU Sidelines and on Twitter at @Sidelines_News.