CoachAmyPT Patients Inspire: A Ride to Help Patients with Multiple Sclerosis
“Many of the people Bike MS is helping are people just like me.” - Stacy Wagner.
One of the benefits of practicing physical therapy is the one-on-one encounter with diverse and amazing people. My patients often lift my spirits with inspiring stories and I enjoy sharing these with others to lift their spirits as well.
“The atmosphere at the Bike MS event every year is amazing. It’s not a race, it’s a ride to have fun and raise money for a great cause. ”
Stacy, a CoachAmyPT and avid cyclist, has led a team and raised money for Bike MS for 8 years. This event, hosted by the MS Society, raises funds for research, education, and support for people living with Multiple Sclerosis.
Stacy has made new friends and acquaintances that have MS and seen how drastically it affects them.
This year many athletic events are cancelled or being held virtually and this is the case for Bike MS as well. Stacy has a positive outlook about the virtual event because it makes it easier for people of all cycling experience to participate. For example, a typical Bike MS event in K.C. provides options of 40, 70, or 100 miles.
Stacy recognizes, “if someone has never ridden 40 miles before, it can seem daunting and out of reach. This year you can bike 10 miles and call it a day, which means so many more people have the opportunity to participate!”
Multiple Sclerosis is a disease in which the immune system eats away at the protective covering of nerves. It causes many symptoms that make participation in daily life much more challenging. Women are two to three times more likely to develop MS than men, and most are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50 years of age. Persons with MS can experience muscle paralysis, tremors, weakness, stiffness, clumsiness, and spasms.
Sharing life with other people is a gift, and it leads to discovering purpose behind the things we do. Congratulations to Stacy on completing this year’s ride; she road 24 miles and raised over $1,600! Thank you to all of my patients who continue to inspire me with actions, goals, and dreams every day.