Paul Pelland

Longhaulpaul Chasing the Cure

Paul Pelland (also known as longhaulpaul) is a long distance motorcyclist who has set many world records while living with multiple sclerosis.^[1] Pelland lives in Londonderry, New Hampshire.^[2]

He finished his first Iron Butt Rally – an 11-day 11,000-mile motorcycle endurance event known as "The World's Toughest Motorcycle Competition" – on a Ural motorcycle in 2001. He suffered many mechanical issues along the way and had to make new pushrods out of drill bits he found at a hardware store.^[3]

In 2003,^[1] before getting his diagnosis, Pelland was a top ten finisher of the Iron Butt Rally.^[4] As Pelland continued through the latter portion of this rally, he found that he could not remember the name of a fellow rider at an accident scene. He also found his hands numb and suffered from memory and cognitive issues.^[1] He learned shortly after this experience that these were symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Pelland retired from competition after the 2003 Iron Butt Rally and gave up riding for nearly a decade.

In 2012, Pelland made his diagnosis public and began documenting a million mile journey Chasing the Cure for Multiple Sclerosis. He travels the country as an inspirational speaker sharing his story and encouraging others to continue following their passions regardless of what obstacles are in their life's path.

Paul Pelland

On September 29, 2012, Pelland, sponsored by National Powersports, set a world record by riding 1,000 miles in under 24 hours on 100 different motorcycles. This event being his first fundraiser for the National MS Society.^[5]

Pelland said he will continue to ride until he meets his one million mile goal which he calls "Longhaulpaul's Endless Road Tour",^[6] all to raise funds for The National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

In May 2014, Pelland rode a Piaggio scooter c. 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from Boston to Chicago in 16.5 hours, wearing a blue tuxedo over an Aerostich motorcycle riding suit. At this point he had logged 55,000 miles of his one-million-mile goal for MS awareness and fundraising.^[7]

As of October 2016, Pelland has ridden 200,000 miles for MS while speaking at over 200 events across the United States while raising almost $100,000 for the National MS Society,^[8]

On November 6, 2016 Pelland said he set his second unverified world record by being the first motorcyclist to document riding 28 hours in the same day. By traveling west across four time zones on the day Daylight Savings Time ends, Pelland rode 2000 miles and 28 hours all on the same calendar day. Pelland said he raised $6000 for MS with this ride.^[9][10]

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