TOPEKA -- Local athletes, cycling enthusiasts and MS activists will be challenging both their philanthropic spirit and their bodies on Bike MS this fall.

On Sept. 26th & 27th, nearly 300 cyclists from the Eastern Kansas area will hit the roads in the National MS Society's 24th annual biking event.

The ride begins at Seaman Middle School. This year's all-new figure eight route will take riders through north Topeka and western Shawnee County on Saturday. Day two will take cyclists through the city of Meriden, Kans. and around Lake Perry. Rest stops with refreshments and medical support will be available every 10 miles on the route.

The ride is designed as a casual cycling adventure for riders of all skill levels. Sept. 26 offers three options: the traditional route of 64 miles, the Century Loop of 100 miles or a more leisurely route of approximately 30 miles.

Joseph Spradlin, 80, is the oldest rider in Bike MS. Spradlin has a sister, niece and several friends who suffer from multiple sclerosis.

"I ride and raise money in the hopes that my small contribution may help lead to prevention and a cure for this disease," Spradlin said. This is Spradlin's ninth year riding with Bike MS.

Riders can also participate in Bike MS by registering as a virtual rider. The downtown and southwest YMCAs in Topeka will host two virtual riding sessions for indoor cyclists who would like to participate. Virtual riders commit to the same fundraising goals and have access to the same fundraising tools as traditional riders.

It's not too late to sign up! Registration is only $30 online at www.msmidamerica.org. Each participant is required to raise at least $200, but riders average more than $450. Those interested in riding or volunteering can register online at msmidamerica.org or by calling 785-272-5292 press 2.

Multiple sclerosis interrupts the flow of information from the brain to the body and stops people from moving. Every hour in the United States, someone is newly diagnosed with MS, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with more than twice as many women as men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 400,000 people in the U.S., and 2.5 million worldwide.

Studies show that early and ongoing treatment with an FDA-approved therapy can reduce future disease activity and improve quality of life for many people with multiple sclerosis. Talk to your health care professional and contact the National MS Society at www.nationalmssociety.org or 1-800-344-4867 to learn about ways to help manage multiple sclerosis and about current research that may one day reveal a cure.