22 Miles,
Countless Lives
Multiple sclerosis (MS) struck when I was a 27-year-old Air
Cavalry Troop Commander, flying the Apache helicopter. My Army career ended far
too soon.
I joined in 1989, was a chiseled warrior for 10 years, then
medically retired in the 11th. Dark days were ahead. Now, I am a voice in the
MS fight and a dedicated advocate of suicide awareness & prevention. Both
communities face that darkness constantly; I want to be there and show that I
will Never Stop… Never Quit…, for them.
November 11 is my 14th 100-mile ride this year. I call the
event Garage Dayz.
In 2003, I first rode the NMSS’s annual Bike MS. The disease
transforms so many parts of my life as it continues to worsen. My inability to
hold handlebars forced me to a recumbent trike in 2013. By ’23, I was no longer
safe on the roads. Garage Dayz grew out of my need to maintain that Bike MS
connection. I rode 100 miles on a stationary trainer in 2024. The next
September, I did it again, then October. My annual bike ride turned into a
monthly celebration of resilience. I had momentum.
Until this September.
I broke my foot with an MS-related fall. The displaced
fracture of my fifth metatarsal was catastrophic. After healthcare runarounds and
a scheduled appointment weeks out, I ran back to my family at the Portland VA
Healthcare Center. They made me an immediate priority for X-rays and a
consultation. We decided that the level of surgery and healing time required
was too much of a strain on my SPMS. We would not repair the bone on my
weakened side, which was already in a brace.
I was down, not out. I am Army Strong!
I turned to my trike since it didn’t put pressure on my
wounded foot. Besides, I needed to ride. September was Suicide Prevention
Month. The numbers are staggering: suicide rates among veterans and people
living with MS are roughly 2x higher than the general population. I fall into
both categories, plus I’m the child of a veteran who committed suicide. Broken
foot or not, I needed to make a stand.My dedication turned into 636 total miles. I didn’t get my
100, but I brought my trike and trainer out to Bike MS and rode a metric
century with my family. For October, I broke every rule. One Garage Dayz
century turned into four. The final 100-mile push crept past 110, bringing my
October total to 1000 miles.
My goal is to create
a social media buzz. I post videos regularly, including the energy throughout
Garage Dayz. I spotlight 22-mile intervals to reinforce the message: 22
Miles, Countless Lives. Other antics add levity to the pain I
experience; they give personality to the desperate nature of our fight. I want
to showcase my struggles as much as I can, hoping to reach others in need.
100% of the royalties we receive from this awareness swag goes to the fights against multiple sclerosis and suicide
Awareness is key.
The fight is not over and it won’t be over until a cure is found.
It will never stop…nor will we
It will never quit…nor will we
Never Stop... Never Quit...®
NeverStopNeverQuit.com
