To the average person, a bike ride might consist of a few miles on a leisurely path through the trails of Johnson County. But Broadcast teacher Steve Cortez isn’t the average person. He uses his talent and passion for the sport to help raise awareness and fund research for a deadly disease.
On Sept. 17, Cortez completed a bike tour called the MS 150. It is 150 miles, starting in Olathe, looping around in Lawrence and returning to the start. A ride like this takes months of dedicated preparation.
“I have been training since December, and have about 900 miles under my belt,” Cortez said. “I ride during the week, and 45 miles every Saturday, adding five miles each weekend. I’m pretty confident in my abilities.”
All of this biking and preparation led up to an exciting Saturday morning, where all were gathered to support a single cause. Proceeds from the sponsorship of the bikers go toward fighting and researching cures for multiple sclerosis.
“This bike tour is one of the biggest fundraisers for MS research,” Cortez said. “My goal is to raise $500 or more.”
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms can include impaired thinking, difficulty walking, and speech and swallowing problems. MS can be deadly, and this concern caused Cortez to take action through this bike tour.
“My good friend – she’s my twins’ teacher – has MS,” Cortez said. “When I found out, I decided to pick up the cause. It’s a tough disease that really affects the whole body.”
A similar passion for the cause provoked social studies teacher and fellow biker Tyler Alexander to become a sponsor for Cortez.
“He [Cortez] and I both bike, and over the summer I saw him at an organized ride,” Alexander said. “I really wanted to sponsor this cause because my grandma died of MS, and I’d like to help out.”
Not only are these two teachers helping out a worthy cause, but they are also supporting a sport that they love.
“I love doing weekly rides with the same people,” Cortez said. “There’s a lot of camaraderie. There’s such a range of ages, from early 20’s to early 70’s. It’s a great sport.”
Alexander’s family has made a large influence on his love for the sport.
“Biking has always been a big deal in my family,” Alexander said. “It’s so familiar. My grandpa still does triathlons to this day, and my dad bikes a lot. I started riding after college, started liking it, and now, it’s what I do. I’m participating in a 100 mile bike ride in Arkansas pretty soon.”
From creating communities, to bridging age gaps, to funding research, this sport truly is one for life.
“I love biking,” Cortez said. “It helps me set goals, and I always need something to shoot for. It’s a great way to stay in shape, it’s a great ride, and it’s a great cause.”
