Crystal Noack

Crystal Noack has always enjoyed riding her bike, but she had never been interested in riding more than a few miles at a time. When she was diagnosed with MS in 2009, she began receiving Bike MS: Tour de Farms emails from the National MS Society, and although she overlooked them at first, there was something about the event that she couldn’t ignore.

“I dismissed it and didn’t think it was for me,” said Noack. “Weeks went by and I had this nagging feeling that I was missing out. I contacted the Bike MS folks and voiced my concerns about how much experience I had with cycling and distance, and they assured me that I could do it.”

Noack admits that having MS terrifies her at times, and she has experienced enough symptoms from the disease to more than justify that feeling. Even more terrifying are the unknowns that come with having MS. Noack was worried that her diagnosis would mean that she could never do the things she had always wanted to and that she couldn’t plan for her future. Questions like, “What if I can’t walk one day?” and “What if I lose my vision?” consumed her, but she didn’t want to let the “what Ifs” control her.

“I took a stand,” said Noack. “I said, ‘What if I decide I’m not giving into this disease? What if I take on the challenge and ride my bike to raise money and awareness?’ I was determined to show this disease who was boss.”

Noack decided to join Bike MS, and she hasn’t looked back.

“Once you participate, you’re in,” said Noack. “There’s no way you wouldn’t want this to become part of your life. Since being diagnosed, I’ve participated in three Bike MS events, several other charity bike rides, a few 5Ks, hiked up mountains and taken on challenges that I would have only dreamed of before.”

After learning about Bike MS, Noack was quick to recruit her best friend, Melissa, whose husband is also living with MS. That’s when team “Whose Idea Was This Anyway?” was formed. Since its inception, the team has continued to grow, and Noack hopes it will keep getting bigger and bigger.

“I love each and every one of my teammates,” said Noack. “Being a smaller group, we go on training rides together, support each other and challenge each other. We motivate each other with epic bacon cheeseburgers and gas station burritos.”

Noack believes that her team will surpass its fundraising total from last year, and she hopes to help them achieve this goal by raising over $3,000 herself.

“I open up to people — to coworkers, family and friends — and talk to them about MS,” said Noack on how she fundraises. “I ask for their support, and they are happy to help me.”

After a successful year of fundraising in 2013, Noack was named to The 2014 Gold Spoke Club, a privileged group of cyclists comprised of the top 150 fundraisers from the ride. With the amount of support she receives and her dedication to fundraising, she should have no trouble surpassing this year’s goals to become a Gold Spoke again next year.

On Saturday and Sunday, June 21 and 22, Noack will be leading her team in what will be her fourth Bike MS, and she plans on biking 110 miles during the two-day event, her longest distance yet.

“Through Bike MS, I have gained strength, confidence and some of the most amazing friendships anyone could ever hope for,” said Noack. “This community of riders and volunteers is like nothing else, and I cherish them all.”

Noack rides because she doesn’t want MS to stop anyone from living out their dreams, including her.

“I made a promise to myself to never stop trying, to never let this disease stop me from moving,” said Noack. “I intend to keep that promise. Bike MS has taught me that I’m not alone in this. There is love and support all around me, and nothing compares to that — nothing.