They’ve gone loony, in a good way
By Cindy VotrubaLast year, Chelsea and Kaylin Caron of Marshall gave their mother Lori a special Christmas present, participating in the annual Star Tribune MS TRAM for the first time ever.
Lori Caron was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the mid-1980s.
For the last three years, her husband, Tom, and the rest of his team, the Southwest Loonies, have taken part in the MS TRAM (The Ride Across Minnesota).
Tom Caron said his aunt, uncle, grandmother, cousin and friends have or had MS.
The rest of the team consists of Mary Baldwin of Marshall, Phyllis and Lanny Johnson of Russell, Michael and Rachel Carpenter, formerly of Granite Falls, Sheri and Dave Severson of the Twin Cities and Greg Carins of Colorado on the annual ride.
Team members wear stuffed loons on their helmets.
"My wife's favorite bird is a loon," Tom Caron said. He said that he also wanted to incorporate their home region into the name.
"Other people say it's because we're looney, too," Chelsea Caron said.
On Tuesday night, the Loonies were in Chisholm. The team was featured in the Tuesday edition of the Hibbing Tribune newspaper.
"We're in the Iron Range this year," Tom Caron said.
Bikers started in Grand Rapids and will go through Chisholm, Biwabik, Two Harbors and the ride will end in Duluth.
Last year, the Star Tribune MS TRAM took riders through the Fergus Falls/Alexandria areas.
The first year the Loonies did the TRAM, the trek was through Winona and Lanesboro, Tom Caron said.
"That was a challenging ride for us, it was pretty hilly," Tom Caron said about the Winona route. "Last year (in Fergus) it was extremely hot and dry. Each year has its challenges."
Tom Caron said the MS TRAM is 250 to 275 miles with 1,000 riders.
"We go about 60 miles a day," Tom Caron said.
Tom Caron said you don't have to prepare much for riding the TRAM.
"You just try to get on the bike whenever you can," Tom Caron said.
The TRAM doesn't take a lot of endurance, Tom Caron, and anyone can do it.
"There are rest stops all along the way," Tom Caron said.
Chelsea Caron said her first TRAM isn't too bad so far.
"When you finish (for the day), it's a great feeling," Chelsea Caron said. "You have people cheering you on at every rest stop."
Besides her own team, Chelsea Caron said she's gotten encouragement and "good mornings" from other riders, people she doesn't know.
"They're so supportive," Chelsea Caron said. "You ride by them and they're ridiculously friendly."
Tom Caron said there is a program every evening for the TRAM riders, which includes contests for things such as best T-shirts or best poem.
Riders have to come up with a minimum pledge of $300, Tom Caron said. This year, the Loonies raised about $6,500.
Although she doesn't always like to do it, Chelsea Caron said she and her sister asked their friends for pledges.
"Their families were so supportive of us," Chelsea Caron said.
Tom Caron said people can donate to his team until Aug. 15.
"It's important to raise awareness in southwest Minnesota for education and research, and just let the general public know what we're fighting," Tom Caron said.
To donate to the Southwest Loonies team, visit the Web site www.mssociety.org.
