Team Left Hand Reaches $5 Million Fundraising Milestone!
Posted: March 2, 2021
As we enter National MS Awareness Month, Team Left Hand is proud to announce reaching the $5 million fundraising milestone! Since 2008 we’ve kept our bikes clean, our kits tight, and eyes focused on our mission: to #crushMS. We won’t stop until MS stands for Mystery Solved. We want to offer our sincerest thanks to all our riders, sponsors, volunteers, friends, and families who have helped us along the way. We simply wouldn’t be here without you.
We know this year was a challenge. Pivoting from in-person rides that foster a closeness and camaraderie that flows so easily to virtual rides where we had to reinvent the wheel was no small feat. Yet in a year where the National MS Society needed Team Left Hand the most, we brought innovation and leadership to virtual rides and raised more than 500k. That’s incredible!
“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.”
As we enter our 14th year as a team, we now have over 600 riders and continue to grow. “Our 1st year we raised $18,000 with 25 riders here in Colorado,” said 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 over 100 people that fight MS every day.”
The NMSS turns 75 in 2021, and we’ll be taking our eight teams into eight rides for the first time! Tour to Tanglewood in the Carolinas brings a ride back to Team Left Hand Carolinas and we couldn’t be more excited about what this means for our riders and volunteers. Thank you for your patience and dedication as we waited years for this opportunity to arise.
From the rugged cliffs in Washington to the sandy beaches of Florida, we crank every pedal forward towards the finish line, breathing in all the moments together. Though we have our regional teams, our passion weaves together for common goals and purpose in a way beautiful stated by Team Texas. “At Team Left Hand Texas we ride to raise funds, create awareness, and support research and services for those living with MS. (And for the Great Beer and Great Friends!) We ride for all of our teammates, friends and family who are living with MS every day and fighting this horrible disease, so that they can strive to live their best lives! We ride to one day find a cure and we are proud to be a part of Bike MS and Team Left Hand!”
We’re taking our guiding principles into 2021 as we continue our vision as a team. “I’ve shared a dream over the years,” said Lennert. “Ten teams and 1,000 riders raising over $1,000,000 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!”
Consistency, Strength, Dedication, and Teamwork keep us getting on our bikes and finishing the ride we started. We continue to push forward. We continue our efforts. We continue the ride. WE ARE TEAM LEFT HAND!
To learn more about Team Left Hand or get involved please visit TeamLeftHand.com.