Almost 400 cyclists set off across the Island on Saturday morning to raise more than $400,000 for the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society. 

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease where the immune system attacks parts of the central nervous system. Symptoms vary from person to person, and can include mobility issues and fatigue. 

The ride has deep roots on the Vineyard.

Ray Ewing

The ride has deep roots on the Vineyard.

Ray Ewing

The money raised by Ride the Vineyard event will go towards research related to the disease and programs to help support people with the disease. At the starting line at the regional high school before cyclists departed for the 60-mile ride, Lori Espino, the president of the Greater New England Chapter of the National MS Society, said that nearly 1 million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with MS. In the region she covers, around 45,000 families are supported by the group.

Ms. Espino said that in the 38 years since Ride the Vineyard began, much progress has been made in MS research, pointing to more than 30 medications available for patients and faster diagnoses. She said that that progress is in part thanks to the money raised by the bike rides held across the nation to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society— including on Island.

“I love coming here. You’re such great hosts,” she said. “We’ve come together, the Vineyard community and MS research.”

Greg Politz, who works for Brickyard Bicycles, rode along the route as a marshal, carrying a set of light tools in case anybody needed a tune up along the four different routes, which ranged from 18 to 60 miles.

“We’ve got three locals riding so we can give [other cyclists] information. They’re biking the route with the mindset of helping people,” he said. “All the Island bike shops that do repairs are here.”

Rides ranged from 18 to 60 miles.

Ray Ewing

Rides ranged from 18 to 60 miles.

Ray Ewing

Mr. Politz has participated in National MS Society bike rides since he was five, when he rode on a tandem bicycle with his father in New Jersey.

Cyclists applied sunscreen and affixed bibs to each other’s shirts as they lined up in the parking lot of Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School. A group of riders, each wearing blue and white shirts that read “I ride with MS” unfurled a blue ribbon to cut before the ride began. Among the group was Page Hirons, whose fiancé Tyler Heineman waited in line with other cyclists for the race to begin. 

Ms. Hirons and Mr. Heineman live in Boston, but came to the Vineyard to participate in the ride. Ms. Hirons was diagnosed with MS when she and Mr. Heineman were spending a summer on the Island. This is the couple’s second year cycling in the event. Their team, Fritters in Motion, raised $15,000. 

The couple got engaged earlier in the week, so family was in town to celebrate and join the both of them on the ride.

“It’s really special and a tradition now. We’re on the board [for Ride the Vineyard] now so we got to meet a lot of people, hear their stories about MS and about their research,” Ms. Hirons said.