PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — More than 700 cyclists took to the road Saturday along A1A toward Daytona for Bike MS: Cycle to the Shore. The ride aims to bring greater awareness, support and funding to individuals affected by multiple sclerosis.
Participants in the two-day event are cycling routes ranging between 36 and 100 miles along the coastline. More than 1 million people in the United States live with MS, a neurodegenerative condition that currently has no known cure.
Robin Nunley, executive director of the Florida National MS Society, noted the impact of the fundraising efforts. “We will raise almost a million dollars for the National MS Society through this event,” Nunley said.
Among the cyclists undertaking the trek was Selena Buongiorno, a rider living with multiple sclerosis who set out from Ponte Vedra for the 100-mile route. “Multiple sclerosis currently has no cure. So we’re trying to just raise money for research to ultimately find that cure,” Buongiorno said.
Buongiorno, who also raises awareness by discussing her experience on her podcast, described the hidden struggles associated with the condition. “A lot of times it’s an invisible illness, so we don’t always see the battle people are fighting,” Buongiorno said. “It’s just a lot of perseverance and trying to push through the pain because that’s my biggest symptom.”
She emphasized her determination to continue participating in Bike MS rides despite the physical toll of training. “It’s a hundred miles. I’m extremely stubborn, which makes the training even worse because I’ll lay on the floor, get myself together and then get back up again,” Buongiorno said.
Cyclists will cross the finish line tomorrow as the two-day event officially concludes.
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