BEHIND THE SCENES Coco Takes on M.S.

Coco, who is the Controller here at JMC, is a pretty awesome chick. In addition to having the best candy jar on JMC premises, Coco also has a fierce passion for doing good. A few months ago, Coco told us that she would be participating in the Bike MS Coastal Challenge in Ventura, CA and asked us to lend her our support.

In classic JMC fashion, we jumped in to help. Our Creative Director, Tom, designed a flashy “Team JMC” bike outfit for Coco. We all donated, and Josie and Ali matched every dollar donated, reaching Coco’s goal of raising over $1600 for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. But let’s be real: our contributions were nothing compared to the contribution Coco made, riding 160 miles to help fight this terrible disease.  We sat down with Coco and asked her about her experience and why fighting M.S. means so much to her.

Why did you decide to participate?

I started biking about 3 months ago and was looking for some long distance biking event.  While searching, I found the MS Coastal Challenge—a two day bike riding event.  Many biking events are tied to charity, but this one is seriously involved in fighting MS. It seemed like a great way to do what I love while helping people who suffer from this debilitating disease.

It seems like the perfect time in my life to start doing this kind of charity work.  I appreciate where I am now, at my work—at JMC, everybody cares.  I am very fortunate to be here.   I want to give back and share what I have.  And we have a lot of LOVE at JMC. 

What kept you going when the challenge started to become difficult?

I started training every weekend and by doing a couple of other bike ride events.  I did San Diego Gran Fondo—72 miles—in September, and the OC Gran Fondo—101 miles—a week before the MS Coastal Challenge.  Every time I started climbing a hill, I thought abut my friends who supported me.  I could not let them down!!  I had each of their names on a button on my jersey to keep me going.

What do you want people to know about MS, and raising money for something they believe in?

MS is unpredictable disease. You never know when it will hit you. It is a heartbreaking disease for both the patient and their loved ones. They lose their ability to move. I chose this ride because MS doesn’t get a lot of attention. I want to help charities that have a hard time raising funds. 

To learn more about the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, click here.