Pharmacists trade in their white coats for lycra for this year’s MS Brissie to Bay Bike Ride

It was both a family and team affair for leading Australian pharmacy brand Discount Drug Stores in last Sunday’s MS Brissie to the Bay Bike Ride, with Director John Clark taking his wife, daughter, and 42 other riders along with him to compete in the charity sporting event.

Highly regarded within the Queensland healthcare sector for co-founding the successful pharmacy franchise, John and his family are known for giving back wherever they can to their local community with the family of pharmacists again going all out to help raise awareness of multiple sclerosis.

Competing as its biggest team yet, Discount Drug Stores raised an impressive $5,000 for the annual bike ride that raises money to help search for a cure for the debilitating disease. Mr Clark’s wife Sharyn was even chosen as one of the ‘top fundraisers’ for the 25km ride and invited to lead the pack from the starting point.

“Being in the healthcare industry, we’ve seen how multiple sclerosis can take its toll and wanted to help in any way we could to give sufferers some form of relief,” said Mr Clark. “This is our third year taking part in the bike ride and we were incredibly proud to have so many new riders join our team. It really helped us to raise more money than ever before.”

Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the central nervous system that affects more young Australians than any other neurological condition with over 20,000 Australians currently suffering from the illness.

One of the biggest fundraising initiatives for the disease, the annual MS Brissie to Bay Bike ride saw thousands of riders band together to fight for a cure when it kicked off Sunday, June 23.

Whilst not looking to break any records, the Discount Drug Stores team well and truly gave the event a go with four riders competing in the event’s 25 kilometre course and 31 riders riding the 50 kilometre circuit while ten brave team members, dared to take on the 100 kilometre track.

 “I think it’s really important to get behind events like this that raise awareness and more importantly money for research,” said Mr Clark. “I hope the MS Brissie to Bay Bike Ride broke all its records this year and that our contribution makes a real difference to Brisbane residents suffering from MS.”

No stranger to united charity efforts, with John’s wife Sharyn and daughter Casey both heavily involved in increasing Discount Drug Stores’ community involvement, the national franchise also provides year round fundraising support for its two main charities Assistance Dog’s Australia and Free to be Kids.

For more information on Discount Drug Stores’ involvement in the MS Brissie to Bay Bike Ride please visit http://www.discountdrugstores.com.au/charity.

Media enquiries: Suzanne Ross at Graymedia on 07 3250 9406, 0488 441 589 or s.ross@graymedia.com.au.