Team Left Hand Brewing Reaches $5 Million Raised to Crush MS
Posted: March 1, 2021
LONGMONT, Colo. Mar. 1, 2021 – As we enter National MS Awareness Month, Team Left Hand, a group of employees and friends dedicated to solving the riddle that is Multiple Sclerosis, is proud to announce reaching the $5 million fundraising milestone. Since 2008, the brewery-supported team of more than 600 cyclists and volunteers has been participating in multiple Bike MS rides across the country. Funds raised benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (the Society) in efforts to fund research, advocate for change, and help people with Multiple Sclerosis and their families live their best lives.
Team Left Hand’s eight regional groups participated in virtual rides in 2020 as Bike MS had to pivot from in-person rides during this unprecedented COVID-19 environment. As the Society enters its 75th year in 2021, the team will be taking these eight regional groups into eight rides, adding Tour to Tanglewood in the Carolinas, which are all currently scaled back to one-day events with staggered start times adhering to increased safety policies.
Entering their 14th year, Team Left Hand continues to grow to accomplish their mission to crush MS. “Our first year we raised $18,000 with 25 riders here in Colorado,” says Chris Lennert, National Team Left Hand Captain & COO of Left Hand Brewing. “At that time, I knew one person that had MS. Fast forward to 2021 and we now have eight teams with hundreds of riders across the country, and I personally know more than 100 people that fight MS every day.”
In 2019, Left Hand Brewing announced taking its support of the Society to the next level through a national sponsorship of Bike MS. Left Hand joined the Society’s national premier sponsor Primal in its support of the organization.
“The generosity of Team Left Hand helps ensure the National MS Society can continue fueling lifechanging breakthroughs for the 1 million people in the U.S. living with Multiple Sclerosis,” said Marisa Hull, Vice President of Bike MS for the National MS Society. “Their leadership and compassion is changing the world for people affected by MS.”
Team Left Hand’s vision is to keep building upon these positive steps toward solving the riddle that is MS. “I’ve shared a dream over the years,” said Lennert. “Ten teams and 1,000 riders raising more than $1 million a year, ultimately allowing people to lead better lives. Our three guiding principles of being Mission-Focused, Fundraising-Focused, and Growing our Teams will continue to drive us to make this a reality!”
Left Hand Brewing also brews a beer in honor of Team Left Hand to benefit the National MS Society. Wheels Gose ‘Round is a raspberry and lemon peel crushable ale that is refreshingly tart and crisp, the perfect companion after a bike ride.
Sign up here to volunteer, donate, ride with, or sponsor Team Left Hand. Click here to find Wheels Gose ‘Round near you.
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About Team Left Hand Brewing
Team Left Hand Brewing is a group of employees and friends dedicated to solving the riddle that is Multiple Sclerosis. Since 2008, the National team of more than 600 riders & volunteers have raised more than $5 million for the National MS Society, and won’t stop fundraising and riding until MS stands for Mystery Solved. Team Left Hand is dedicated to fighting Multiple Sclerosis and wants to continue helping the National MS Society fund research, advocate for change, and help people with MS and their families live their best lives. To learn more about our teams fighting MS across the country and to get involved, please visit www.teamlefthand.com.
About Multiple Sclerosis – The National Multiple Sclerosis Society – Bike MS
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system that interrupts the flow of information between the brain and the body and stops people from moving. MS is thought to affect more than 2.3 million people worldwide. While the disease can affect anyone it looks different on everyone and is at least two to three times more common in women than men according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, a non-profit organization that exists so that people affected by MS can live their best lives. Through programs like Bike MS, the largest fundraising cycling series in the world raising more money than any other cycling event for any other cause, the NMSS is able to fund groundbreaking research and programs to support the millions living with MS and their families. For more information about the NMSS and Bike MS, please visit www.nationalmssociety.org and www.bikems.org.