- From the Community
- May 11, 2026
Riding for Barbie: Alli's MS Bike Story
“I could talk forever about my mom, Barbie. I get emotional when I talk about her, but not because her life was filled with sadness. My mom was an anomaly. She was the most amazing woman, which is easy for me to say as her daughter, but anyone who met her would agree. Within two minutes of being in the same room as her, she made you feel welcomed, loved and seen. She was able to find meaning and warmth in even the smallest moments. I think that’s so undervalued in life.
Growing up, my mom did her best to be present for my brothers and I, but it wasn't always easy for her. I remember my friends going on girls’ trips or shopping dates with their moms, when other moms chaperoned school events, or swimming meets where my mom couldn’t make it down the stairs to the pool deck, so my friend’s moms would step in. I tried so hard not to be affected by those moments, but when it's happening to you at 11 years old, it's hard to brush off.
There were mornings when my dad would tell us, ‘Mom had a bad night, pack your bags and get yourselves to school on time.’ Sometimes I would come home to her exhausted on the couch, asking us to ‘be her legs’ and help unload groceries and prep dinner. I know those are normal tasks that many children help with, but there’s a different weight to it when your mother physically CAN’T do those things. I’m not sure I realized how much I was affected by my mom’s MS until she passed and I began to grieve her life.
I was introduced to MS Bike through my friend Josh, who was shocked to learn my mom had MS and I had never taken part in the event. That first ride was life-changing and I’m so grateful he invited me to join his team. After the first year, I knew I wanted to put my own team together.
The way my mom navigated her disease with grace and dignity inspired me to create Barbie's Believers. Even in the worst of times, she helped you see the light, and I wanted to do something for her so she would know I was fighting for the light too.
I reached out to family and friends and had three takers: my aunt Gail and my cousins Brad and Anthony. For many years, Barbie's Believers was just the four of us, riding and crossing the finish line together.
My mom showed up at the finish line every single year, and not just for our team. She showed up for every single rider, because in her mind she couldn't imagine anyone else going through what she had to go through. She was the type of person who would take an MS diagnosis all over again if it meant preventing someone else from having it. She was selfless like that.
My mom passed away in June 2021, and I had to take a break from MS Bike for a bit. I was mad at the disease and as much as I wanted to keep making a difference, I didn’t have it in me.
My return came at the MS Bike Tour of Champions in Nashville, an international ride for top fundraisers across the country. At the welcome dinner we were each taking turns introducing ourselves and sharing why we ride. I stood up and couldn't get the words out. MS Bike has always been more than just a ride to me. Every single person in that room had carried the torch for me when I had to step away and grieve. They continued raising funds to fight this disease when I couldn’t. That's what makes the MS community so special. MS Bike isn't just an event, it's a family. Crossing the finish line in Tennessee was a very heavy, yet special moment. Having some of my closest MS Bike family members there meant so much to me. That feeling is irreplaceable.
What I love most about MS Bike is seeing people you might not expect to be riding to support the MS community. Children, people living with MS, and even people who’ve never been on a bike before. People of different ages and abilities coming together for one goal. Our volunteers are also so important. We couldn’t do the event without them and throughout the weekend, I feel their encouragement and support.
In June 2024, I took part in MS Bike for the first time as a mom, just months after welcoming my son Leo. Our team has always crossed the finish line together, even as we’ve grown over the years, but on the second day of the ride, I needed some time on my own. I rode solo the entire day, finishing an hour and a half ahead of my Barbie's Believers teammates. I took that time to talk to my mom and reflect on our life together. I’ll never forget the feeling of crossing the finish line, with her in my thoughts and hugging my son afterwards.
Last year, I was 38 and a half weeks pregnant at the time of the ride. My son and I were cheering for Barbie’s Believers with noisemakers in hand as they crossed the finish line. My second son, Charlie, arrived just four days later.
My mom always said she wouldn't want anyone to have to go through what she did. She wanted a future free of MS for the next generation, for her grandkids' generation. That's why I keep coming back to MS Bike year after year. I know funds raised make a difference and that my mom would want me to do everything in my power to make sure we end this disease. Barbie’s Believers will continue to ride and fundraise in her memory. We’re doing what she couldn't. The advancements in MS research and treatment have come such a long way since my mom was diagnosed thirty years ago. It's the motivation we all need to keep going.
If you've ever thought about joining MS Bike, my message to you is simple: just do it. You’ll be so glad you did, and I promise you’ll want to come back.”
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