Ethics, morality and compassion

I handed out a letter to neighbors and others to let them know about the bike tour.
I gave them info so they could support me if they wished.

One of them responded that they cheered my efforts but could not support the cause since some funds were appropriated to embryonic stem cell research. Being unaware and not real comfortable with this, I had to do some soul searching. I have since researched and found that you can donate with the stipulation that your funds do not go to such research and I have decided to make that request when I hand in all of my pledges from all of you. If you disagree, please let me know and I'll exclude your pledge from that stipulation.

I decided to let you all in on the note since it delves deeper into my motivations. Being so focused on the muscle end of this event, I hadn't spent much time with that and I think it's important for you to know.

I've removed names for privacy(I'm not sure they'd care) but the recipient is someone I respect highly who is also an activist for stopping embryonic stem cell research and encouraging adult stem cell research which may have greater success without the moral and ethical implications of destroying life.


Hi,

Thanks so much for your note.
I am pleased that you spent the time to read it and
even research the research methods. I must say I was
unaware of the embryonic research and I agree that
it's wrong to destroy human life to save human life.

I totally understand and appreciate your position and
hope that adult stem cell success will quickly
over-run ebryonic research. I hope that you will keep
fighting for that end.

Supporting something I don't believe in lumped in with
what I do believe in is a difficult thing, but I
believe the money I raise goes locally to help support
MS patients. I have seen their programs and seen what
they offer to patients.

It wasn't always so. In 1987, when I was diagnosed,
there was nothing for me. No support. No advice.
Just a bunch of "I don't know"s handed to me by my
team of doctors. I was a young college kid released
from the hospital with terribly uncooperative body and
a virtual good luck kiss. I desperately needed someone to
tell me there was life after diagnosis but I only got
silence.

I spent many years going through the motions of life
but not fully living because the "doom" was always in
the back of my mind. Symptoms would come and go over
the years and after the birth of my first child I saw
my Dr. with a "mild" exacerbation. He identified it
and said it was to be expected but was really "no big
deal".

I continued with doubt and confusion and few answers
until my latest exacerbation in March 2006. Then, I
got the info and the answers I was looking for. I
realized there could be life after diagnosis, mostly,
because I had lived it. Today there is information
that is accessible, there are support groups and
people that live out of the closet. Back then, there
was nothing for someone who wasn't sick enough.

I have been unbelievably lucky and I am unbelievably
grateful that, so far, I have MS in such a mild form.
But, I would have appreciated knowing all posibilities
back then. I would have appreciated meeting someone
with MS(instead of just hearing about some friend or
twice removed relative in Arizona). My first known
encounter with an MS patient was just a year and a
half ago! She's 60-ish, uses a cane and was diagnosed
just 7 yrs ago. Last year, I met a man with MS at the
Folk Project. He uses a wheelchair for mobility. He
is vastly different from me in his affliction, but I
feel like he's family. Finally, I have people like
me!

And that's truly why I am riding. I'm riding for
people I care about, because it could be me in that
chair... I ride to celebrate the fact that I can ride
and I can stand and I can play guitar and chase kids
and help run a music society and I can do anything I
choose to do. And now, I also do it because I have a
bunch of people who are following my blog and cheering
and living vicariously through what I'm doing and
little by little they are getting the strength to
conquer their own mountains... 'cause if I can conquer
mine....

Most of all, I'm doing it so some college kid who gets
handed a diagnosis of MS can take her wobbly life by
the reigns and live with hope and possibility.

Thank you for making me aware of the research. Thank
you especially for opening this conversation which has
helped me get my thoughts in order and find my
position. I hope your friends are getting the support
they need. If not, please point them to the Bergen
chapter, or to me and I'll happily get them there.

I admire your work and especially, your
teaching methods. You teach like I do, with love and
encouragement and support. I believe that those three
things can change the world.

Fondly,

Sandie Reilly