When Sara Burelle got off her bicycle after completing Saturday’s opening trek of the Greater New Bern Bike MS, she had little or no feeling in her lower legs and feet.
It wasn’t from all the pedaling — 75 miles through the countryside. It’s because she has multiple sclerosis.
Still, she was one of many participants with MS who joined the nearly 2,400 riders in the annual two-day New Bern fundraiser to find an MS cure.
The numbness in her feet was one of the early signs that led to her diagnosis in 2009, along with severe pain in one eye, or optic neuritis. the eye problem has subsided with treatment. she noted that having optic neuritis is not always a case of MS.
however, she remains on Avonex doses for her disease.
“You feel like you have flu symptoms,” she said of the weekly dose, adding those side effects lessen over time and by being treated once a week.
She is a former life science teacher at the Epiphany School and she joined the Falcon Flyers team from the school, captained by Morgan Gerdes, which included a combination of students, teachers and parents.
Burelle was also joined by her husband Tim and daughter Kathleen, 14. her other daughter, Meg, 11, worked as one of the more than 600 volunteers at the Union Point event center. Riders must be at least age 12.
Burrelle and her husband previously rode in MS events many years ago, long before she was diagnosed.
At that time she rode to show support for MS victims and for the fun of riding.
She called it a “lifetime” disease and said most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50.
“I probably had it a lot longer and just didn’t know,” she said. “there is nothing to warn you ahead of time.”
For those who have their lives shaken by a diagnosis, her advice is to get treatment and remain upbeat.
“there are lots of things (medically) that people have and like we all say, ‘You’ve got to just keep on keeping on,’” she said. “You just have to deal with it.”
This year’s event, with a record number of riders is expected to produce another record — $1.7 million in funds raised by the individual riders and teams who came from more than 20 states.
“They do a fantastic job. They have the best ride,” Burelle said. “It is incredibly well organized — all the volunteers out here working, all the rest stops and support. the people out helping people having problems on the road are just awesome.”
Charlie Hall can be reached at 252-635-5667 or