Sept. 7, 2000

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Missouri Swimming and Diving program has adopted the fight against multiple sclerosis as their charity through MU's Life Skills Program. This weekend, the Tiger swimmers will be involved in the MS150 Biking Event that will take place on Saturday and Sunday throughout the state of Missouri.

The 150-mile event will start on Saturday from two locations, Columbia and suburban St. Louis. The two groups will come together in Mexico, Mo. for a camp-out before returning to their bikes and hitting the trail again on Sunday.

Four members of the Missouri swimming and diving program will take part in the 150-mile journey. Head Coach Brian Hoffer, Assistant Coach Anne Kampfe, fifth-year senior Cristina Souza and Academic Coordinator Jane Russell will all take part in the two-day trek.

Both the MU men's and women's teams will be very active in the event. They will assist on Sunday in helping load luggage, serving breakfast and aiding the riders with food and water while on the trail.

Over 250 riders are expected to depart from Columbia on Saturday while another 1,800 participants are expected to ride from the St. Louis area.

Multiple Sclerosis was an easy charity for the swimming and diving program to choose, according to Hoffer. A former swimmer of Hoffer's while at Arizona State has been fighting the disease for a number of years. Hoffer has also had several swimmers over the past five years that have had parents or relatives that have been stricken by multiple sclerosis.

"Multiple Sclerosis is a disease that has really hit home with this program and it is a charity that our kids really wanted to get involved with," said Hoffer. "I feel that getting involved in this event is a great way to help make people aware of the disease."