PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — More than 1,800 cyclists gathered in Ponte Vedra Beach Saturday morning ready to ride their way to a cure for Multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis affects 2,100,000 people worldwide.
The Bike MS: PGA TOUR Cycle to the Shore 2015 event was held Oct. 10 and 11. Cyclists gathered at TPC Sawgrass and Marineland ready to set out on a ride to Daytona Beach.
Each rider raised at least $200 in donations to participate in the event that takes riders on a 36, 72, 95 or 166-mile trek down the East coast to Daytona Beach. Riders will stay the night in Daytona and then bike their way back to Ponte Vedra Beach for Sunday’s finish at TPC Sawgrass.
“I did 59 yesterday and 37 today,” Ellen Kallaher said.
Kallaher was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 23 years ago.
“It even got to the point to where it was difficult for me to walk to my mailbox,” Kallaher said.
The degenerative neurologic disease causes muscle weakness, numbness and visual impairment.
Kallaher said she has experienced it all, but medication has helped. She said that's not the case for many.
“There’s a lot of people, no matter what they do, They are not still walking. They are not still able to care for themselves -- so I do it for them and myself,” Kallaher said.
People came from all over, including as far as the Caribbean. Rob Uselman said it means the world to him, that so many want to help.
“I used to feel lonely. I don’t feel lonely when I come out here and see all these people fighting to do something about this, because MS really takes a lot from a lot of people," Uselman said.
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As for Kallaher, she vows to continue her ride.
“I’m going to do it every year until I die,” Kallaher said.
The first Bike MS event was held in 1980. The event raised $33,000 and had 200 cyclists participate.
In 2011, more than 110,000 cyclists participated in 100 rides throughout the U.S. raising more than $86 million to support MS research. Since the event’s inception in 1980, more than $1 billion has been raised in total.
Action News Jax anchor Tenikka Hughes was the master of ceremonies for the event.