Hagerstown man honored for volunteer efforts in fight against MS

He credits Leann for her support. She does the walks with him and volunteers at the bike rides.

“She’s been with me since the beginning and really supported me and helped push me,” Tomlin said.

Tomlin said his other motivation is his mother, who beat colon cancer and has been cancer-free for three years.  

Tomlin was honored for his MS volunteer efforts on Nov. 13 during the Maryland Chapter’s annual Research Symposium and Volunteer Awards at Martin’s West in Baltimore.

“Over the last four years, in addition to recruiting others and increasing awareness in the community, Tomlin has participated in eight Walk MS events, and a handful of bike MS  rides, raising thousands for MS research,” a news release for the Maryland Chapter said.

“My first question was ‘Why me?’ I’ve met people who have had a much rougher time with MS who are also involved,” Tomlin said.

The last two years, Tomlin rode in 100 milers and this year, along with Wells Fargo teammates, rode 61 miles in bike MS: Bike to Bordeaux, which he helped to organize.

“MS affects everybody differently. I’ve had a pretty mild MS experience, I think,” Tomlin said.

He also credits a “very proactive” neurologist in Frederick, where he was living at the time of his diagnosis, for the disease modifying drug he is on.

More details can be found to the Facebook page Mike Bikes for MS, created by Tomlin to track his efforts over the past four years.