Riders raised more than $100,000 for multiple sclerosis research and support before heading out on a lengthy two Fraser Valley MS Bike Ride from 91原创 on Saturday, June 10.

The ride began at the Thunderbird Show Park in North 91原创 and offered riders, who raised money as teams before the event, a choice of 100 or 60 kilometre routes through 91原创 and Abbotsford for day one, and 33 to 50 kilometre routes around Fort 91原创 and Glen Valley for day two, on Sunday.

鈥淎s the jersey says, I ride because I have MS,鈥� said Marilyn Lenzen, a rider and ambassador for the MS Society, just before she headed off on the ride.

MS is a autoimmune disease that impacts the central nervous system, and which can affect vision, memory, balance and mobility. Those with MS can have relatively minor symptoms or suffer relapses that can strike suddenly.

Lenzen was diagnosed in 2000, and after a bad relapse found it hard to get back on her bicycle.

Lenzen took part in the MS walks, and in 2015, took to her bike again for her first year riding in the fundraising event.

The first day was tough, she said.

鈥淔or me, it was like Mt. Everest to achieve that.鈥�

She鈥檇 started the event as a solo rider, but at the end of the first day, she was adopted by the longtime Easy Riders team, who took her under their wing for day two. Lenzen has been riding with them ever since.

They鈥檙e one of 18 teams participating in the ride this year, and as of the start of the event, they had collectively raised more than $115,000, just shy of their $125,000 goal for the year.

Also taking part this year was Jennifer Carr, who was using a recumbent hand bike.

After a relapse in 2018, she had significant trouble staying on a conventional bike, but 鈥渘ot riding isn鈥檛 an option,鈥� she said.

She saw a hand cycle and got her new three-wheeled ride soon after.

鈥淚t鈥檚 fabulous, and it鈥檚 fun,鈥� she said.

This June鈥檚 Fraser Valley MS Bike Ride marks her 50th MS fundraising bike ride.

鈥淪ome years we鈥檝e done five tours in one year,鈥� she said, heading all around B.C. to various events.

Giving the kickoff speech this year was Nick Brooks, who started riding for MS during the pandemic, when the ride was 鈥渧irtual,鈥� via an exercise bike or riding alone.

Last year was his first year with the group.

READ ALSO: VIDEO: MS Bike ride gets back on the road in 91原创

He spoke of how although more women than men are diagnosed with MS, men who are willing to speak up publicly about the disease are rare, making it seem like there are even fewer of them.

He hopes to encourage people to be more open about the disease.

The riders stop at various rest stops around the route on both days, including some local wineries.

鈥淢S is Canada鈥檚 disease,鈥� said Lenzen. 鈥淐anada has one of the highest rates of MS in the world.鈥�

She鈥檚 hopeful that because of research that is shedding light on the possible causes of MS and creating new treatments, in the future it will be more treatable, or even entirely preventable.

鈥淲hen I was diagnosed there was very few treatments,鈥� Lenzen said. 鈥淣ow there are 19.鈥�