WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – It may not be the "Tour de France" but Allegacy Federal Credit Union's own bike team has kicked into high training gear to participate in this year's Multiple Sclerosis Tour to Tanglewood. The Tour to Tanglewood is a two-day, 90-mile bicycling adventure geared toward cyclists of all abilities. Along the trail from Greensboro to Tanglewood Park there are rest stops every 8 – 12 miles fully stocked with refreshments and food to fuel riders on. With Julie Hopkins as captain, Team Allegacy has grown from four riders to 10 in just two years. "This year, we really want to take it to a new level – our goal is 30 riders on the bike team," said Hopkins. Team Allegacy also hopes to raise $20,000 for the MS Chapter sponsoring the ride and has even created a team Web site to help inform members of the team's progress while promoting the event. The local 19th Annual MS Tour to Tanglewood will be held the weekend of September 11. Multiple sclerosis affects nearly a third of a million people in the United States and it is estimated that a new case is diagnosed every hour. MS can cause blurred vision, loss of balance, poor coordination, slurred speech, tremors, numbness, extreme fatigue and even paralysis and blindness. A total of over $683,000 was raised last year to support MS research efforts as well as local families affected by the disease. The MS Bike Tour, marking its 25th anniversary, is the largest organized cycling event in America with 100 tours in 48 states.