Riding For Those Who Can't...Yet
Benefitting The Myositis Association
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Riding For Those Who Can't...Yet Benefitting The Myositis Association
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The Beginning In February, 2006, Steve Morris was about to have his world turned upside down! What he thought was a bad case of the flu turned out to be Giant Cell Myositis, an extremely rare form of myositis. This is a disease that affects 50,000 people in the United States and Steve's type of myositis is even rarer than that. So rare in fact, that when you google "giant cell myositis", you only get one hit! The disease basically has your immune system attacking itself. In Steve's case, his immune system began attacking his good muscle tissue in his legs, making it extremely difficult to walk. After spending six days in the hospital, Steve went home to a whole new world! For the next six months, Steve would no longer be in the classroom teaching. He would remain housebound to the lower level of his home for the next several months because the doctors would not let him walk up stairs, drive his car, or ride his beloved Harley. He began getting around with the use of a wheelchair because his legs had become too weak to walk. The next several months saw Steve go from using a wheelchair, to using a walker, to riding his Harley with a cane strapped to the side. Today, Steve is in "remission" and can now walk without the aid of any kind and enjoying the freedom that that brings. Because of his experience with myositis and his desire to help others who are afflicted with this rare disease, Steve put together several fundraising campaigns to bring financial resources to The Myositis Association (TMA). Steve has started an organization called Riding For Those Who Can’t…Yet. In 2007, Steve and five of his friends took off on their Harleys from sunny Southern California to the Black Hills of South Dakota. This trip would take them 3,400 miles in 10 days through 8 states while collecting over $13,500 for TMA. In 2008, the ride took the boys to Canada by way of the West Coast. They rode 4,500 miles in 14 days crossing into two countries and several states. That year, the ride generated $10,000 for myositis research. For 2010, Steve is planning the first Big Duke’s Myositis 500, an indoor kart racing event in Murrieta, CA. For the golf enthusiast, there will be a golf tournament in Southern California in 2011. Be sure to check this site for updates on these events.
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Steve Morris |
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