Longhaulpaul and Yamaha Fight Multiple Sclerosis Mile by Mile

In 2012, Paul Pelland began his long distance motorcycle riding to fight Multiple Sclerosis. Six years later, both he and his alliance with Yamaha Motorsports are still going strong. Now, he takes to the saddle again on a Yamaha Star Venture armed to the teeth for battle.

A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step but if you’re Paul Pelland and riding a motorcycle a million miles to fight multiple sclerosis, you should have something under your feet that’s better than sneaker soles. I don’t care how good your kicks are, a dedicated touring bike from a major manufacturer is much better in this situation unless you’re Forrest Gump. If you are Forrest Gump, you needn’t read any further. That said, I’m guessing you’re not a fictional character played by Tom Hanks, so read on.

This all started in 2012 when Paul Pelland made his own Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis public and began documenting his “Chasing the Cure” million-mile motorcycle journey to raise awareness and funds. Over the last five years, he’s documented more than 300,000 miles across 49 states, speaking at over 250 events while raising over $100,000 for Multiple Sclerosis research. He has delivered dozens of motorcycle presentations and seminars, became a columnist for ABILITY Magazine and set two world records. I think that’s what people mean when they want you to get up off your butt and do something to make a difference in the real world instead of just sharing Facebook memes in the digital one.

In support of Pelland’s effort to journey further, Yamaha has donated a brand-new 2018 Star Venture, fully equipped with the TC Option package for his Chasing the Cure journey. Yamaha’s Star Venture is a top-of-the-line transcontinental tourer combining powerful V-twin performance with cutting-edge comfort and technology. The TC Option package further enhances the rider experience with a range of options including GPS navigation, SiriusXM, additional speakers, and Yamaha’s exclusive Dual Zone audio control. Standard LED fog lights, additional onboard storage, and an alarmed security system round out the package.

When asked about the continued journey aboard his new bike, Pelland exclaimed, “For the amount of hours and miles I ride crossing the country, I’m pretty sure the Star Venture was built just for me!”

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For more information on Yamaha's Star Venture, visit their website.