Paul Pelland
Paul Pelland, currently residing in Londonderry, New Hampshire,[1] is a long distance motorcyclist who has set many world records despite living with multiple sclerosis.[2]
He finished his first Iron Butt Rally – an 11 day 11,000 mile motorcycle endurance event known as "The World's Toughest Motorcycle Competition" – on a Ural motorcycle in 2001. He suffered many mechanical issues along the way and had to install new pushrods made from hardware store materials.[3]
In 2003,[2] before getting his diagnosis, Pelland was a top ten finisher of the Iron Butt Rally.[4] As Pelland continued through the latter portion of his rally, he found that he could not remember the name of a friend whom had fallen off his bike. He also found his hands numb and his mind scattered.[2] He learned shortly after this experience that these were symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
On September 29, 2012, Pelland, sponsored by National Powersports, set a world record by riding 1,000 miles in under 24 hours on 100 different motorcycles. This event being his first fundraiser for the National MS Society.[5]
He will continue to ride until he meets his one million mile goal which he calls "Longhaulpaul's Endless Road Tour",[6] all to raise funds for The National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
In May, 2014, Pelland rode a Piaggio scooter c. 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from Boston to Chicago in 16.5 hours, wearing a blue tuxedo over an Aerostich motorcycle riding suit. At this point he had logged 55,000 miles of his one-million-mile goal for MS awareness and fundraising.[7]
As of 2014, Pelland had ridden an estimated 550,000 miles.[3]
References
- ↑ "Motorcyclist with MS Begins One Million Mile Journey for MS Awareness". Yahoo! news. Aug 7, 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
- 1 2 3 "One Man with MS One Million Miles Long Haul Paul". ABILITY magazine. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
- 1 2 "Long Haul Paul's True Life Story", Law Abiding Bikers (Podcast) (Ryan Urlacher), April 7, 2014, Episode 39
- ↑ 2003 rally results, Iron Butt Rally, retrieved 2015-11-11
- ↑ "Road Recalculated". There are so many places to go, so many things to see, where shall I start? 100 SADDLES-Sore 1000 September 29th, 2012 I set a world record by riding 1000 miles in under 24 hours, on 100 different motorcycles. The event was my first fundraiser for the National MS Society. Paul Pellands Endless Road Tour. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
- ↑ "Longhaulpaul's Endless Road Tour Fundraising Page". Longhaulpaul Set His First World Record and Continues The Endless Road Tour to Raise Awareness and Funds For MS Through His Motorcycle Adventures!. National MS Society. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
- ↑ NH Man with MS Completes Extreme Scooter Ride, National MS Society Greater New England chapter, May 3, 2014
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