The Valero MS 150, presented by HEB, from San Antonio to Corpus Christi Will get underway Saturday Oct. 20 and more than 3,000 cyclists are expected to pass through Karnes County as they participate in the annual event to raise funds for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Lone Star Chapter’s programs and research for MS. 

Riders agree to raise a pledge of $300 and can register for a fee of $50 through October 12. After October 12, riders must pay the amount of $375 ( $75 fee and $300 pledge) in order to participate.

The Valero MS 150 is a two-day bike ride to the gulf coast that raises funds to help more than 17,000 Texans living with MS.  Cyclists will set out for their journey on Saturday, Oct. 20 from the AT&T Center in San Antonio for an overnight stay at Coastal Bend College in Beeville.  On Day Two, they will continue to the finish line at the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi.

Riding, volunteering and fund-raising opportunities are available on www.ms150.org.

The Valero MS 150 Bike to the Beach is one of three fund-raising rides that the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Lone Star Chapter hosts in Texas, including the North Texas SAM’S CLUB MS 150 in May and the BP MS 150 from Houston to Austin in April. All three are regarded by cyclists as the premier rides in Texas, with experienced management, well-coordinated routes, and special attention to riders’ safety and comfort.

Multiple sclerosis interrupts the flow of information from the brain to the body and stops people from moving.  Every hour in the United States, someone is newly diagnosed with MS, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with more than twice as many women as men being diagnosed with the disease.  MS affects more than 400,000 people in the U.S., and 2.5 million worldwide.

MS stops people from moving.  The National MS Society exists to make sure it doesn’t.  We help each person address the challenges of living with MS and are dedicated to achieving a world free of MS.  The Lone Star Chapter serves more than 17,000 Texans affected by multiple sclerosis.  Charity Navigator honored the Lone Star Chapter with four stars – its highest award for outstanding financial and service excellence.  The Lone Star Chapter has offices in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin and Corpus Christi. We are people who want to do something about MS now.  Join the movement at nationalmssociety.org/txh.

Studies show that early and ongoing treatment with an FDA-approved therapy can reduce future disease activity and improve quality of life for many people with multiple sclerosis. Talk to your health care professional and contact the National MS Society to learn about ways to help manage multiple sclerosis and about current research that may one day reveal a cure.

To register, volunteer or donate: log on to www.ms150.org.