"Mountain Biker Grace Ragland: Leaving Multiple Sclerosis in the Dust"
With each race, Grace Ragland proves to the world that rocky terrain, hilly landscapes and multiple sclerosis (MS) cannot curb her passion for victory.
After experiencing a host of symptoms, including numbness in her fingers, weakness on the right side of her body and extreme fatigue, Grace was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), at the age of 18. With encouragement from family and friends, Grace was determined to lead a normal life, filled with children, family, fitness and success.
Despite her strong will and active lifestyle, Grace admits living with MS is not always easy. Because MS was not well understood when Grace was first diagnosed, she was not prescribed any medication to alleviate her symptoms until 1998; 18 years after her diagnosis. Since then, Grace tried several interferon treatments; however, she found it difficult to stay consistent with her therapy due to the side effects, such as fatigue, nausea and depression. Feeling frustrated, Grace made the decision to see whether her body could manage MS on its own and stopped treatment altogether.
As a result, Grace experienced her worst relapse in 2005. Her physician prescribed a once-a-month intravenous steroid drip, two five-day drips, followed by 30 days of oral steroids, to reduce the symptoms of her relapse. Upon her recovery, Grace was prescribed a daily injection of COPAXONE® (glatiramer acetate injection) to manage her MS and has felt better ever since. "I would never skip my daily injection again," she says.
Years after her diagnosis, Grace decided to take up mountain biking and now routinely travels the rocky mountainside trails of Monte Sano Mountain in her hometown of Huntsville, AL. These paths have served as an escape for Grace, allowing her to leave her worries and concerns about MS behind for a while. Her passion for mountain biking gradually grew and eventually pushed her into competitive racing. "(I) will not let MS get in the way of accomplishing my goals."
While individual results may vary, with the help of exercise, a proper diet and a daily injection of COPAXONE®, Grace is successfully living with MS. Her first accomplishment was winning 1st place in the 2007 Snake Creek Gap Races in Dalton, GA, during her competitive mountain biking debut. Since then, Grace has gone on to secure a host of additional wins, including a 1st place win at the 2008 Snake Creek Gap race, a 2nd place win in the Women’s 30+ division for the 2008 USA Cycling National Championships finals and 1st place at the 2008 Tennessee Bicycle Race Association (TBRA) State Champion Women’s Sport 30+.
Every day, Grace challenges her MS to catch her and stresses to others how important it is for people with MS to continue fighting. With the help of friends and family, a daily injection of COPAXONE® and a passion to maintain a positive outlook on life, Grace has learned how to live well and manage her condition. "I have MS," she says. "MS doesn’t have me."
Team COPAXONE®
Grace is sponsored in part by Teva Neuroscience as a member of Team COPAXONE®. She is just one example of someone who is living with RRMS and pursuing her dreams. Team COPAXONE® celebrates the accomplishments of people, such as Grace, who refuse to let MS stand in their way. Members are working to change the perceptions society holds of people living with MS.
Advances in Medicine
Continuing research has led to treatments that can modify the immune processes thought to be responsible for RRMS. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved drugs for RRMS, such as COPAXONE®.
Call 1-800-887-8100 for more information about COPAXONE®, Team COPAXONE®, or multiple sclerosis.
097005310/090433