 "Photo: N/A")
Over the past six years, OSU professor Carisa Ramming has biked more than 800 miles across the Oklahoma countryside.
But when compared to the long battle her mother fought against multiple sclerosis, she said she thought a simple bike ride didn’t seem too demanding.
Ramming was 10 when her mother was diagnosed.
“I wasn’t really aware of what MS was before she was diagnosed,” Ramming said, an architectural engineering professor.
“She had a lot of trouble getting around. She was very limited in what she could do. It really forced me to grow up faster than I would have liked.”
Multiple Sclerosis is a disease that attacks the central nervous system and advanced cases can lead to paralysis and even death. There is no cure for the disease.
Ramming began riding in charity benefit bike rides for Multiple Sclerosis six years ago.
The MS Annual Bike Ride is a two-day trek across the state of Oklahoma that covers nearly 150 miles.
The event has been going on for 24 years.
More than 600 cyclists participated in the most recent event on Sept. 26-27, which ran along Historic Route 66.
Ramming said she feels a particular obligation to participate.
“When I first started riding in this event, I felt it was something I needed to do for the families affected by MS,” she said. “And my mom was always there to support and motivate me.”
Last year, Multiple Sclerosis claimed her mother’s life after a 20-year battle with the disease.
For the first time since she started competing, Ramming rode this year knowing her mother wouldn’t be waiting for her at the finish line.
“It was hard for me to ride this year because I miss her so much, but it just makes it that much more important,” she said. “I rode for her memory.”
Ramming finished the event this year and plans to continue to compete until a cure is a reality.
“The fight with this disease is far from over,” she said. “Which gives me even more of a reason to ride.”
Be the first to comment on this article!