Dorchester, Ont. man close to raising $1M to support people with multiple sclerosis
A man from Dorchester has been making it his life's work to raise money for people struggling with multiple sclerosis, a disease he lost his sister to in 2018.
She is the inspiration behind Barry Travnicek’s continued hard work to fundraise for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada.
“I said to myself, 'I’m not a doctor, I’m not a scientist but I can raise some money,'” he told CTV News London on Friday.
After 33 years Travnicek could soon reach a milestone of raising a total of $1-million to help people with MS.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease that attacks the central nervous system, impacting the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms can range from numbness, memory problems, pain, fatigue and paralysis, according to the MS Society.
“This started in 1991. My brother-in-law gave me a call and said, ‘Your sister has MS.’ I said, ‘What is it and how do we fix it?’ I found out so much more in the first couple of years, that at the time not a lot of treatments were available,” he said.
That’s when Barry began his journey, cycling for the MS bike event where he initially raised $75,000. He has continued participating in the fundraiser every year since then.
Every Friday Travnicek holds a 50/50 draw at the Eastside Bar & Grill in London to raise money for the MS society of Canada, which relies on funding for programs to assist patients in addition to helping researchers find a cause and cure.
“He is part of the family here now at the Eastside Bar & Grill,” said owner George Karigan.
For several years the MS Society has been working with Travnicek to generate fundraising efforts at the bar.
“The community has been huge. They are very generous people and I think as much as Barry’s cause is with MS, it became our cause too so we’ve been more than happy to do that for him, it’s been a privilege,” he said.
“He is such an inspiration,” said Melissa McLeod, manager of community volunteer experience team, MS Society of Canada. “Just to see his dedication to the cause to come out here every Friday night he does not miss a week. It’s inspiring to us and the entire MS community.”
But the fight isn’t over, as Barry hopes to reach his goal of raising a total of 1-million by the end of the year.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.