Hundreds of people peddled their way 150 miles, from Midland to Lubbock, for the MS-150:Cactus and Crude ride this weekend. It raised funds and awareness for multiple sclerosis (MS). For one mother-daughter duo, this was a journey of a lifetime.
“When she was first diagnosed, they told her she had inoperable brain tumors and it was terminal, so I will gladly take the MS diagnosis. But it’s a hard road for her,” said Michelle Reid, Mallory’s mother.
Mallory was diagnosed with MS when she was just three years old. After her first attack caused partial paralysis, her mother said it has been a battle, both physically and mentally. While this includes things like fine motor skill coordination issues and difficulty in school, she is determined to keep fighting.
“I just try to tough it out and try to get through it. I have some tough days and I wish I didn’t want to do this and have MS…I feel like I don’t want to die soon because of MS,” said Mallory.
This weekend, Michelle showed her daughter what it means to keep fighting. She biked 147 miles, before trading out the single bike for a tandem bike, and finishing the ride with her daughter.
“I just had all the tears coming down my face, it was just awesome,” said Michelle.
“The ride was good. My grandpa passed away, so I’m looking up in the sky saying, I did it grandpa,” said Mallory.
Michelle will keep doing these races and raising awareness for her daughter’s disease until there is a cure, she said.
“I just kept thinking, I can’t do this, but one of my friends, she was like ‘We are done today when this ride is over, she has to live with this every day of her life until they find a cure.’ So until they do I will keep coming, no matter how hard it is,” said Michelle.
Meanwhile, Mallory is living each day moment by moment with a smile on her face.
“It makes me feel warm inside, and makes me feel happy. I’m just so excited to be here,” he said.
If you would like to donate to the National MS Society and help people like Mallory, visit their website.
