Please Update Your Browser.

You’re using an older version of Internet Explorer. For the best experience, please update your browser.

OR View all events
  • Login
  • Register
  • Donate
Menu

Bike MS Champions - Stephanie Boyce

Stephanie Boyce (Union, Mo) was by husband Brendan’s side when he was diagnosed with MS in 1990.  23 years later, Stephanie is training for her fifth Bike MS event.  The following is a Q & A with Stephanie about her life, family, and how she stays positive about her husband’s diagnosis.

Boyce FamilyQ: When was your husband diagnosed with MS?

Stephanie: My husband was diagnosed with MS in 1990 at 33 years old, just before the birth of our second child.  He has had the disease now for 23 years.

Q: When he was diagnosed with MS, did you know what this disease was?

Stephanie: The significance of his being diagnosed just before our second child was born is a funny story.  Emily was due in June.  In May, Brendan started experiencing weakness in his legs while outside, numbness and tingling in his feet, optic neuritis, and loss of hearing.  We knew immediately what this meant.  Just 8 years earlier, his younger sister was diagnosed with MS at age 17.

His hearing loss proved to be a blessing.  Our daughter was born a colicky, inconsolable baby and he never heard a thing.  Nor did he hear any of my rants during her birth.  He drove himself to Barnes Hospital to be admitted the next day and 3 days after that, I, with our two girls in tow, was at his bedside.  He did regain his hearing, but long after the crying stopped.  The many hospital visits for his relapses became known to our girls as tune-ups for Dad. 

Q: What kind of positive things has being part of the MS community brought to your life?

Stephanie: I have learned to accept and ask for help.  Being able to accept help is as big of a gift as giving help is.  I have been so lucky and blessed to receive help and support from my friends and my family and that has inspired me to give back in every way that I can.  One of those ways is participating in Bike MS and raising money and awareness for the disease.  I think I get to see the best in all my family and friends as they support me and help me in one way or another.

Q: What does being a caregiver mean to you and how do you support your husband?

Stephanie: Being a caregiver is probably the most difficult thing I have ever done.  In my case, it means doing everything for my husband.  He can no longer get out of bed, fix meals, or bathe without assistance.  I support him by being here and holding down the fort, by caring for him in our home and arranging for caregivers to be there when I need to be gone, and by taking him out socially and for doctor visits.  I try to meet his needs, despite the difficulty. 

I attend MS events to keep him informed of the advances that are being made in regard to the disease and I continue to love him.  He is my hero and I admire his strength in coping with MS.  I may not always show it, but I always feel it.

Q: Why do you ride in Bike MS?

Stephanie: I started riding as a personal challenge suggested by my oldest daughter.  After riding 40 miles for 2 days and realizing it wasn’t that big of a challenge – nothing like the challenges my husband faces every day – I decided I wanted to challenge myself by riding 150 miles.  However, in addition to my personal challenge, I was so inspired and impressed by the volunteers, staff, and individuals with MS that were at the event that I wanted to be a part of this event – always!  This became a way I could give back; pay the kindness, help, and support I have received over the years forward. 

Q: Tell me about your Bike MS team, Brendie’s B-Bops.  Who joins the team and why?

Stephanie: Our team started out small and ranges from 5-15 people.  This will be our fifth year riding.  The team consists of mostly people who are very close to me, both family and friends.  We did have a few friends of friends join, but after training for their first ride, they became very near and dear to me.  We also recruit volunteers for the ride.  It’s a family affair and if you aren’t up to the physical challenge, we encourage spouses, children, cousins, etc. to help out in the dining hall or at the finish line.  This year, my husband’s cousins from Omaha, NE will be joining us in the ride.  Every year, I try to persuade more and more of our family members to get involved.  After all, we have two in our family that fight this fight every day.

Boyce BikesQ: Do you have any rituals or traditions that you do with your team every year? 

Stephanie: Each year, we design our Team Brendie’s B-Bops shirts featuring a quote from my husband (often adapted to cycling), as well as a list of all the people we ride for.  My husband has a snarky sense of humor.  That has never left him, despite his many struggles.  For example, he has always told people when departing to “drive fast and weave” rather than “drive safe”.  We adapted this for our shirts to “Ride Fast and Weave”.

Another tradition has always been to stay at the same hotel and have a sort of slumber party and catch up on one another’s lives as we crowd into one of the rooms.  Often, we are busy painting finger and toenails orange and blue in the true spirit of supporting the fight against MS.  As the team captain, I enjoy putting together a goodie bag for my team members filled with orange items that I shop for all year.  We have orange flip-flops, orange bandanas, orange watches, and I already found some fun orange surprises for this year as well. 

Oh, and breakfast at the fairgrounds as a team is a must!

Q: Tell me about your fundraising strategy.  How do you build your fundraising from year to year?

Stephanie: Our fundraising started out aiming to collect the minimum, but as one or another of us beat that goal, it inspired the rest of us to strive for that also.  Most of us send letters and emails, ask family and friends, and use social media for fundraising.  Our average fundraising per rider is now about $1,000, although several of us have raised more than $2,000.  We each try to meet or, better yet, beat our total from the previous year, which boosts our fundraising efforts.  This year, I would like to have a team event where we raise money together and ask more small businesses for contributions.

Q: What are some of the ways Bike MS has changed your life or affected you?

Stephanie: Bike MS has positively impacted my life in so many ways.  It has been the start of me living a life where fitness is a priority.  It has made me want to become involved in more charitable events and activities that are for a cause, not just events for the sake of fun.  It has become fun AND rewarding to support the National MS Society.  I have become more vested in the fight against MS and actively try to enlist others to become involved so that they can reap the rewards that giving back can bring them. 

In an attempt to be more involved, I signed up as a volunteer at another MS event, so I could experience the other side of giving. 

In general, Bike MS has made me a better person.

Q: If you could tell people one thing about MS, what would it be and why?

Stephanie: Don’t give up hope!  I have this tattooed on my wrist and it was featured in an email promoting Bike MS.

Learn more about Bike MS events nationwide

Go
man riding bicylce

Bicycling Magazine: 1 Year for $7

Go
woman riding bicycle and waving

*includes a special free water bottle. Proceeds benefit Bike MS.

View special offers just for Bike MS cyclists

Go

Thank you to our national sponsors


 

Live Events


Please check back as events are added regularly!