Guest Voice: A 150-mile Bike MS ride comes full circle
I used to ride MS 150 for fun. Now my kids are doing it in my honor.
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There is a beautiful, humbling irony in the rhythm of my life.
When I was in my 20s, Bike MS — a cycling series to raise money for multiple sclerosis (MS) research and support that includes a two-day, 150-mile ride known as the MS 150 — was little more than an excuse for a party on wheels. My buddies and I signed up fueled by the invincible ego of youth, carb-loaded on pizza, and driven by the hope of meeting girls at the post-ride festivities.
From left, Mike Mattiuz, Brian Acquard, and Brian Howard celebrate finishing Bike MS in their younger years. (Courtesy of Brian Howard)
Back then, we treated those 150 miles like a casual weekend sprint. The finish line was just a place to grab a cold beer and brag about our times while our legs throbbed with a temporary, satisfying exhaustion. We were healthy, fast, and blissfully ignorant of the heavy burden the letters “MS” carried for so many families. We were riding through a landscape we didn’t yet realize would one day become my daily reality when I was later diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS at the age of 42.
Decades later, that irony hits with the metaphorical force of a steep, unforgiving uphill climb. The finish line hasn’t changed, but the man standing behind it has.
A new perspective
Now, I am no longer the one in the saddle; I am the one waiting at the finish line. My son and daughter decided to wrangle a group of their 20-something-year-old friends and take on the MS 150 themselves.
Standing in the crowd, surrounded by the clinking of cowbells, the roar of cheering families, and the hum of tires rolling over the pavement, nothing could have prepared me for the surge of emotion I felt. The moment my children and their friends decided to ride the MS 150 in my honor, the world shifted.
Watching them take on the brutal, two-day challenge, I didn’t just see cyclists. I saw a line of young men and women who had voluntarily taken up my fight as their own. I saw my son and daughter, along with all their friends, with road grit on their faces, sweat soaking their jerseys, and sheer determination in their eyes. They weren’t just riding for a fun weekend of festivities; they were riding for me.
Living with MS can often feel like an isolating, unpredictable journey, but in that moment, the weight of it was lifted entirely off my shoulders.
Passing the torch
As they crossed that line together, faces flushed with exhaustion, heat, and triumph, I felt a pride so profound it was almost physical. Seeing them carry that torch — which involved months of planning, reaching out to supporters, and ultimately raising over $20,000 to fund a cure for the very condition I live with — is the greatest legacy I could ever leave.
Brian Howard, front middle, now participates differently in the MS 150, waiting at the finish line to cheer on his kids and community. (Courtesy of Brian Howard)
The sweaty, breathless hugs we shared right after they unclipped from their pedals mean more to me than words can express. As the fatigue in their legs gave way to pure joy, that embrace was a powerful reminder that while MS may challenge my physical body, love, unity, and family will always carry me through. My career may have provided for their upbringing, but their devotion, selflessness, and determination are what truly sustain my spirit.
Life has a funny way of preparing you for a battle you didn’t know you were going to fight. Decades ago, I rode those miles for fun, completely oblivious to the road ahead. Today, watching the next generation ride those same miles with purpose and passion brings everything into focus. This full-circle moment reminds me of the overwhelming gratitude I have for my loving and caring support system — my family, their friends, and the community who continually step up to join me in my fight against MS.
Together, we keep moving forward.
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