Student-athlete misses convocation for good cause

Today marks the beginning of convocation week. Graduating
students in the Faculty of Humanities and the Arts & Science Program
will receive their degrees in a ceremony to take place at Hamilton
Place at 2:30 p.m.

Steve Smith, the award-winning comedian and member of the Order of
Canada who created the Red Green character, will address graduating
students today. He will receive an honorary doctorate of letters for
his outstanding achievements in the arts.

One graduate will not be attending today's ceremony for a very good
reason.

Jordan Kozina is in B.C., where he is setting out this week on a bike
ride across Canada for a cause close to home.

Kozina, who played rugby for Team Canada and football for the
Marauders, has decided to spend his summer cycling across Canada to
raise funds and awareness for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
(MSSC).

Multiple Sclerosis, or MS, is a debilitating disease that attacks the
protective coating of the brain and spinal cord. It permanently
damages functions such as vision, mobility and memory. There is no
known cure for MS.

Kozina recognizes the importance of MS research because he lost a
family member to the disease in January. His aunt Mary was one of many
Canadians diagnosed with MS (240 for every 100,000 people), and her
passing motivated Kozina to spend his summer riding in support of the
MSSC.

“It's an important cause, and I really want it to be a success,” says
Kozina.

According to Jeff Dale, Chair of the MSSC Brantford Chapter, Kozina's
initiative is “nothing short of phenomenal.”

Though Kozina is uncertain about his post-graduate plans, he is set on
making his fundraiser a success this summer.

After launching his campaign in the McMaster University Student
Centre, Kozina flew to Tofino, BC, where he is making the final
preparations for his journey.

Kozina estimates that his cross-country bikeride will take three
months. The trek will cover 9,000 kilometres of Canadian terrain and
end in Cape Spear, Newfoundland.

Although he has set a fundraising goal of $100,000, Kozina hopes to
raise even more. With an impressive athletic resume and a dream-big
attitude, he is eager to start pedalling.