Triathlon Raises Funds For University’s MS Research

By Nate Hinkel

 Scott Rampy, left, Jo Rampy and daughter Alexandra Rampy enjoy a celebratory moment recently at the first Trifest triathlon in Bentonville.

Sept. 21, 2012 | Multiple sclerosis didn’t slow Scott and Jo Rampy down. It got them busy raising money for MS research at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).

Despite being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 10 years before, Jo Rampy in 2011 had a personal goal of finishing a triathlon. That has since evolved into Trifest, a public triathlon event that took place Aug. 31-Sept. 2 in Bentonville, where they live.

About 420 participants from 20 states turned out to swim, bike and run the different routes and courses, raising an estimated $30,000 to go to research at UAMS conducted by Paul Drew, Ph.D and professor in the Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences; Patty Wight, Ph.D and  professor in Department of Physiology and Biophysics; and Lee Archer, M.D., professor in the Department of Neurology.

“Priority one is research dollars,” Scott Rampy, co-founder and president of the Rampy MS Research Foundation, said. “Priority two is awareness. Three is to have more of a local impact. I think we hit all three of those. All the bills aren’t paid yet, but it appears we’ve reached our goal of $30,000 for the research doctors. We definitely increased awareness. We had so many people up here competing who have MS, and so much coverage up here of MS. We also have partnered with a chiropractor here to bring a hyperbaric chamber here that will benefit local MS patients. We think we hit on all three of our goals.”

Archer and Drew traveled to Northwest Arkansas in February to speak to a luncheon meeting of supporters of the foundation’s triathlon plans. Archer couldn’t attend Trifest because of a schedule conflict, but Drew and Wight volunteered.

“I had several people tell me it was one thing to support an event where the money is going to a good cause, but when you’re standing there and the research doctors are handing out awards, that helps to make it more grassroots and something people want to be attached to,” Scott Rampy said.

Drew said several people also came up to him to ask him questions about the disease, so the triathlon had an educational component as well as being fun. A representative of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society also was there handing out informational materials.

The event was the culmination of at least three years of thinking and working. It was about three years ago that the Rampys first started talking about establishing a foundation to fund MS research. Jo Rampy’s personal goal of completing a triathlon was a separate idea. However, on Labor Day weekend in 2011, the two organically began to come together.

Scott Rampy, who already had participated in triathlons himself, wanted to swim, bike and run along with her. They expected to work quietly as a pair through each course. That did happen, but the quiet did not. Instead, 250 people showed up as sponsors with tents, race numbers and plans to cheer Jo Rampy on. Two television stations and two radio stations also showed up to provide media coverage.

Thinking they might have stumbled on to something, the Rampys started planning for a triathlon that would help the nascent foundation to raise money for MS research. Their daughter, Alexandra, helped collect about $1,000 in seed money and launched some social media outreach efforts. Sponsors and volunteers also started signing up.

With the success of the first triathlon behind them, the Rampys plan to continue working on building their foundation and along with volunteers plan to organize again for another Trifest next year. They also have the goal of duplicating that success with other triathlons in other cities. While sustaining the Bentonville event, Scott Rampy said he would like to add one Trifest each year in a city or region with a research hospital working on MS research. The money from each triathlon then will go to the research program nearest to it.

“It was a great event and hopefully, it will just continue to grow,” Drew said. “We’re going to try to get more people involved. We’re going to try to get the word out for future years, and we’re looking forward to that.”

He said he and Wight plan on using any money they receive from the foundation to work on new therapies for MS. His will focus on how to control the disease in its early stages, and Wight’s will look at ways to repair damage from the disease. Archer wants to examine one of the possible immune mechanisms that may cause MS.

Trifest also is providing something other than funds.

“The benefits are not just the money,” Archer said. “It kind of helps spur us on emotionally when you have people saying, ‘Do everything you can. We’re going to raise money to help you.’ When you have that kind of personal support and attention, it kind of inspires you to work harder.”

For more photos from Trifest, click here.