Ever since I was 12 years old, I have ridden in the Bike MS: Tour to Tanglewood. The Tour to Tanglewood takes place in Clemmons, NC and the proceeds go directly to the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Multiple Sclerosis is a cause near and dear to my heart because my dad fights with this disease every single day.

According to the National MS Society, MS is defined as "an abnormal immune-mediated response causes inflammation and damage to the myelin coating that is wrapped around nerve fibers in the central nervous system." While MS affects every individual differently, some of the common symptoms include fatigue, numbness, spasticity, vision problems, dizziness, cognitive changes, and depression.

After being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at age 17, the doctors were worried my dad might never walk again. Thankfully almost 30 years later, he is still out here kicking MS to the curb, thanks to all the incredible work the MS Society does each day to help people like him stay on their feet.

If not for this incredible nonprofit, who knows where my dad would be, and if I would even be here. I believe more awareness needs to be given to this disease so more people can help fight to find a cure for MS.

Each September my whole family rides in the two-day event of Tour to Tanglewood riding anywhere from 50 to 130 miles. This is a great weekend for us to spend time together and help raise money and awareness for the MS Society.

Thinking back to my first year riding in the tour, I was a nervous seventh-grader with a broken wrist. I could not even grip the handlebars properly because even though I convinced my doctor to take the cast off just for the weekend, I still was in too much pain to brake using that hand.

The determination I had back then all came from the inspiring role model my father has always been and still to this day he serves as a constant motivator.

While I absolutely love the weekend of Tour to Tanglewood for Bike MS, I cannot wait for the day when we are all living in a world free of this awful disease. Shoutout to my dad, and all of the other people living with MS for proving to us all each and every day that no matter how tough the obstacle, we can always prevail.