Holly McGinn

While watching her best friend, Marion, ride 50 miles at the 2011 Bike MS: Tour de Farms, Holly McGinn was overcome with emotion. She was caught up in the amazing atmosphere of the event, feeling the excitement and solidarity of a group that was there for a cause very close to her own heart.

“To see all of those riders coming together for the greater purpose of finding a cure for MS was overwhelming and beautiful,” recalled McGinn.

She decided then that she needed to be out there with them, riding for herself and all others who are affected by MS. The following year, team “Ho Ho Holly’s Hopes” was formed.

McGinn is called “Ho Ho” by her friend’s children, and when it came time to pick a name for her Bike MS 2012 team, it seemed only natural to somehow incorporate the nickname.

“Ho Ho Holly’s Hopes is a great team,” said McGinn. “I have been so blessed with all of the love and support that surrounds me. Our team does team practice rides, and naturally we all wear the same team shirt.”

They also fundraise as a team, using social networking, garage sales and “bring your spare change” parties to raise money to support Bike MS and the movement to end MS.

McGinn was diagnosed with MS in March of 2003. She awoke one morning with a buzzing sound in her ear that progressed into a full head reverberation by days end. After a visit to the doctor and an MRI, McGinn discovered that she had two lesions in her brain. As her symptoms progressed, she lost vision in one eye and began having trouble walking.

“So many people are living with MS to such varying degrees,” said McGinn. “MS doesn’t follow any typical course.”

Today, thanks to high doses of steroids to shut down the disease, McGinn is symptom free and only has one lesion, which is half the size as it was at the time of her diagnosis.

“I am very fortunate that my disease stopped progressing, but there is no guarantee that it won’t return,” said McGinn. “I hope that someday we’ll all have that guarantee it can be stopped.”

Until that day comes, McGinn is dedicated to doing what she can to help make it happen, which is why she participates in Bike MS and encourages others to do the same.

“It would be wonderful if we could work together to discover the answers to all of our whys: Why do I have it? Why is it progressing? Why isn’t there a cure?”

On Saturday and Sunday, June 21 and 22, McGinn will help bring us closer to those answers as she rides in her third consecutive Bike MS: Tour de Farms.

“My hope, Holly’s Hopes, is that someday there will only be benign MS — that at the time of diagnosis, the disease can be halted,” said McGinn.

“Keep the faith, keep active, stay positive and stay informed.”