LAB-39-Long Haul Paul's True Life Story | Paul Pelland Interview

OFFICIAL LAW ABIDING BIKER WEBSITE: http://www.lawabidingbiker.com

PODCAST-In this episode we dive into the true life story of a very remarkable Law Abiding Biker. Paul Pelland, also known as "Long Haul Paul", has a truly amazing story and he shares everything with me in this interview. You won't want to miss this biker podcast episode of true inspiration and dedication. I learned that Paul Pelland is an absolute machine and force to be reckoned with in spite of the fact that in 2005 he was diagnosed with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS). He didn't let that stop him from being a biker and he made it his life's mission to ride his motorcycle a million miles in his fight to bring awareness to MS. It is called "Paul Pelland's Endless Road Tour". In addition, he is driving efforts to raise money for MS research and to find a cure! The inaugural 2013 MS5000 ride was a great successful fundraiser. 45 riders collectively rode 200,000 miles while raising $23,000 for Multiple Sclerosis. Anyone can enter the MS5000 event and you ride the miles you can to support the National MS Society.

The reason for this Law Abiding Biker Podcast Episode is because of a loyal listener's email. He made me aware of Paul Pelland and his mission. I want to thank Quentin Lewis of Leicester, MA for the following email:

"You probably don't know me (except for some dumb comments on FB as one of your podcast listeners), but I wanted to introduce you to Paul Pelland, known as "Long Haul Paul", because he was an Iron Butt rally guy in a prior life.....I say prior life because that was before he was diagnosed with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS). Anyways.....he has made it his mission to ride for MS, and he is working on what he calls his "Million Miles for a Cure". Paul has organized the MS5000, and it is a ride that any of us can make where we will ride 5000 miles in 50 days. (Or for those of us unable to make that distance, a combination of miles and money.....because after all, this is actually a fun way for us riders to raise money for the cause and have a good excuse to ride!) You can learn more about him here: http://www.longhaulpaul.com. I am not connected with Paul, but I did see his talk at last years Americade, and found him to be a real rider who is trying to use his abilities to raise money for a good cause. Anyways, I suggest you contact him for an interview.....he is a great guy, and I am sure he would love to get people involved with his MS5000 ride."

INTERVIEW

• About Paul Pelland
  • Where do you live?
    • Raised in Attleboro, Massachusetts, now lives in Londonderry, New Hampshire
  • Where did you grow up?
  • Background in engineering, electronics and mechanics.
• Paul Pelland is an avid motorcycle enthusiast
  • Riding motorcycles for 26 years, has owned 30+ bikes
  • Long distance rally competitor
    • What does that mean? Explained
  • Ridden somewhere near 300,000 miles
  • Top ten finish in the famous Iron butt Rally
• Stopped competing in endurance rallies in 2003
  • Continues to commute and ride every day possible regardless of the weather or season
• Diagnosed in August 2005 with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS)
  • Spasticity, numbness, muscle weakness, fatigue and bladder issues
  • Symptoms are greatly increased in the hot weather, or anytime his body temperature increases
  • Has been on disease modifying medication since diagnosed and it appears to be working by reducing new brain lesions and slowing the disease progression
  • Presentation "Having MS is Like Riding a URAL in the Iron Butt Rally" explained
  • 400,000 people in the USA who have Multiple Sclerosis
• Paul Pelland's MissionPaul's first attempt at setting a world record was successful. He rode 1000 miles in under 24 hours on 100 different motorcycles
  • Called "Paul Pelland's Endless Road Tour"
    • A man with MS....a motorcycle......a million miles
    • Paul Pelland's motorcycle and gadgets explained
  • To ride the Endless Road Tour, an odyssey of motorcycle adventures including endurance rallies, extreme rides, and attempts at setting a few motorcycle endurance records. To raise awareness about Multiple Sclerosis while reaching out to others along the way who also have been dealt tough challenges in life; helping them recalculate their life's road. The Endless Road Tour will chronicle the ride, the road, the life, a recorded journey of thousands and thousands of miles, at times pushing man and machine to the limits, driven by a passion, bringing the message of "finding your own road" to others with Multiple Sclerosis and other chronic illnesses. Riding every day possible, with MS, for MS, travelling and speaking along the way as an MS patient advocate, telling and sharing his story as it continues to evolves in real time. To document one million motorcycle miles riding with Multiple Sclerosis, for Multiple Sclerosis.
• Iron Butt Association (IBA)
  • International organization dedicated to safe long-distance motorcycle riding
  • 60,000+ members
  • IBA holds and certifies long distance motorcycle rides and rallies
  • IBA hosts the "Worlds Toughest Motorcycle Competition", an 11 day, 11,000 mile biannual event called The Iron Butt Rally
  • http://www.ironbutt.com/
• Paul Pelland has many sponsors to help with his missionMoney to date raised by efforts
  • Law Abiding Biker Podcast & Media wants to sponsor Paul Pelland by getting his word and mission out on our podcast and website
• MS5000 Motorcycle Challenge Explained
  • Annual Event
    • 50 day challenge. How many miles can you ride?
    • The inaugural 2013 MS5000 was a great successful fundraiser
    • 45 riders collectively rode 200,000 miles while raising $23,000 for Multiple Sclerosis
  • Registration fee is $30
    • Set up a personal fundraising page on the National MS Society website
      • http://main.nationalmssociety.org/
        • All registered riders need to set up a personal fundraising page from the 2014 MS5000 page.
        • A detailed guide is available on the Riders Only page.
        • Registered riders outside the United States may collect donations for a MS charity in their own country.
        • Every dollar raised equals 10 points.
        • In order to be considered a finisher, 1000 of the required 5000 points must be from donations.($100).