Beach Bluff Cycling Club to Ride in Seventh MS Cape Cod Getaway With Support From Gourmet Garden

SWAMPSCOTT—Celebrating their seventh year participating in the Cape Cod Getaway—a two-day 150-mile bicycle ride to benefit the New England Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society—the Beach Bluff Cycling Club (BBCC) has once again teamed up with Gourmet Garden Restaurant of Swampscott to raise money and awareness in support of MS research, programs, advocacy and education. At the team’s annual fundraiser held last month at the restaurant, Gourmet Garden Co-owner Ricky Huang pledged $3,000 to this year’s team effort.

“Each year we’re amazed by the continued generosity of our sponsors. It’s gratifying to see our neighbors, friends and family attend the fundraiser and also sponsor individual riders, but reaching the level of success we’ve enjoyed over the years wouldn’t have been possible without the strong community support of Gourmet Garden. They are committed to our team, our ride, and our cause and have been from the very beginning,’ says Myles Brown, BBCC team captain. “Ricky and the whole crew at Gourmet Garden have provided so much to our team. It goes beyond their generous financial contribution. They’re truly much more than supporters, they’re partners.”

Originally comprised of a few neighbors wanting to support a friend afflicted with MS, the team has grown to more than 40 cyclists from a half dozen North Shore communities and has raised nearly $170,000 to benefit the National MS Society.  This year, 22 team members will participate in the ride and the group hopes to bring their overall contribution to the MS Society over the $200,000 mark.

“As someone living with MS I’m grateful for all the support we’ve received over the years from Gourmet Garden,” says team co-captain Kathleen O’Sullivan of Swampscott. “We ride for those who can’t and with support from our community partners we hope to crank toward a world free of MS.”

Beginning at UMass Boston and ending in Provincetown, this year’s ride will be held on June 23, and 24. The club has ridden the annual event as Team Gourmet Garden since 2006. 

BBCC riders participating this year include Myles Brown, Stu Feldman, Dave Gardiner, Chris Hawthorne, Kathy O’Sullivan, Brendan Reen, Kevin Reen, Scott Smith, Larry Welch and Steve Whipple of Swampscott; Brianna Dunk, Leanne Homan, Phil O’Sullivan, Maria Ramirez, Edgar Robertson of Marblehead; Jay Harkins, Lisa Tasker of Lynn; Will and Laura Morrison of Salem, Randy Goyette of Peabody, Lloyd Henry of Everett and Kate Crowley of Danvers.

According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, there are approximately 400,000 people living with multiple sclerosis with 200 more people diagnosed every week. For more information or to support Team Gourmet Garden visit: http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=17563&team_id=261131