Fitlab Phoenix Rising: Pathway to the Paralympics

Hi! I am Liz, I am a Paracyclist and Multiple Sclerosis will not stop me. I have had MS since I was 14. In 2023 I was diagnosed with Secondary Progressive MS which mean that my disease has progressed to its final stage. I have become more disabled, most of my body now has symptoms including numbness, weakness, loss of coordination, vision issues, muscle weakness, just to name a few.

In 2019 I started off on a wild pathway- I wanted to go to the Paralympics! But I could not ride a bike due to my MS. So I found the best coach: Steve Bale and we have been working together since then. Fast forward to 2024- I have now competed in 4 Paracycling World Cups and In 2023 I Represented New Zealand in the World Championships. But I have also had many setbacks and additional health challenges since then which has meant that I have to make adaptations to my life and my bike in order to continue to be mobile and to ride. But this is expensive!

In addition, Over the next year, while we are traveling for international competitions, we will be speaking at multiple International MS events about how we have learned to cope with MS.

Please help us on our next Mission: to seek out new medical care and physical adaptations, to boldly speak at MS events, and to go to the World Championship Qualifiers!