Cyclonauts to stage races to raise money for Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis

Posted by ncprajzne August 13, 2008 17:30PM

By BILL WELLS

The Cyclonauts are a can-do kind of group.

In a few weeks, the popular cycling club based in Springfield is going to show it can do a lot of good toward charity.

The Cyclonauts will host the Cyclocross Race to Cure Multiple Sclerosis Series, which will start in late August and run into November.

Proceeds from the series will go toward the Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis.

Mark Stotz, a member of the Cyclonauts who has a family member with MS, approached the club last year about hosting a fund-raiser. The club agreed, and a cyclocross race held at Easthampton's Nonotuck Park attracted 200 riders and raised $2,000.

"Mark is a member, and a family member of his recently came down with MS," said Jeff Papineau, a board member for the Cyclonauts. "He came to us about putting on an event, and we basically jumped at it.

"This will be our second year doing this, and we anticipate making this an annual event running indefinitely."

This year's series will be held: Aug. 24 at Springfield's Blunt Park; Nov. 23 at Nonotuck Park; and Nov. 30 at Pathfinder Regional High School at Three Rivers. All of the races begin at 9 a.m.

A cyclocross bike is similar to a road bike, but with bigger tires and better brakes. Stotz said at a cyclocross race, bikers have to "get off your bike and run over barriers. It would almost be like a steeplechase, but biking.

"It was a fringe sport, and it sort of still is, but it's taken off the last few years. It's a huge thing in New England now."

For more information, go to www.acceleratedcure.org

Bill Wells can be reached at wellsb6@charter.net