In August of 2004, a group of lifelong friends spent six hours talking around a campfire at the Missouri Lakes in Colorado's high country. This conversation resulted in their decision to spend the next summer, following their collective graudation from college and childhood, trekking the Colorado Trail, a 471 mile endeavor. However, unlike the previous summers' excursions, they wanted this one to have a greater good, a cause.

We decided upon multiple sclerosis-the disease that affects so many of our family and friends throughout Colorado as well as the nation, and a malady whose cure is insight with the proper funding. Since then, we have assembled a chartiable campaign that is far more elaobrate than any of us could have imagined. The project that we initally envsioned was to gather donations through family and friends, hike the trail, and then give the donations to a reserarch team.

Since then, we have included the Rocky Mountain MS Center in our charge, as well as the Fuel Team-a marketing agency that speicalizes in non-profits like ours-to help spread the mission. Together we have all contributed to create an independent, fundrasing entity, as well as a website to accompany it. With both of these organizaitons, the potential for making our mission a more comprehensive, productive, and nationally recognized undertaking has become a reality.

We will begin our trek in Denver, Colorado, the first week of July 2005, and we will finish in Durango 471 miles and some five weeks later. Over the course of those weeks, we will cross eight mountain ranges, visit seven national forests, witness six wilderness areas, and traverse five major river systems. We will be adhering to the standards of Backpacking Light and are thus eligible to receive a grant from this foundation. We will have drop-points along the Trail, every four to five days, to replenish our food and supplies.

There will be a variety of ways for people to contribute. Our supporters could provide monetary contributions or donate supples at the drop-points, or join us on the trek for portions of the trail. For more information on the Trail and everything concerning our casue, please visit us often at www.CT4MS.com.

The CT4MS Team consists of George Bishop, Matthew Celesta, John-Paul Maxfield, Joe McConaty, Matt McConaty, Dan Murray and Chad Spurway.