Iron Man Jim Casey
In 2010 Lake Highlands resident Jim Casey got back on a bike for the first time in 15 years. The motivation? For one thing, he weighed 260 pounds and wanted to lose some. Also, he had just been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, an insidious disease that impacts many parts of the body and gradually causes serious disability (this New York Times feature gives a voice to several subjects living with MS).
While the grim diagnosis might send some into a state of depression or paralyzing anxiety, it, by all appearances, did no such thing to Casey, who promptly registered for a two-day cycling event to benefit MS research and treatment.
He enjoyed the sport so much that he kept it up, and soon added running and swimming to the mix. He lost 70 pounds and raced in an Iron Man triathlon — that’s a two-and-a-half mile swim, a 112-mile bike and a 26.2-mile run.
In his second triathlon he qualified for the Iron Man World Championships in Hawaii. That’s the holy grail of Iron Man, recognized as one of the toughest endurance events in the world.
Through it all Casey also became an advocate for activity and exercise in the management of MS. He’s partnered with local bike stores to help those who can’t afford it obtain bikes and gear.
He credits that first race, Bike MS: Sam’s Club Round-Up Ride, with inspiring him to accomplish feat after amazing feat, despite his diagnosis.
Thus he is one of Bike MS: Sam’s Club Round-Up Ride’s biggest proponents. Leading up to the ride, which takes place this weekend, Casey raised more than $23,000, a fundraising success matched only by his own sister who also raised some $23,000 for the National MS Society.
Some 2,000 cyclists will participate in this weekend’s ride, which starts Saturday, May 3 at 6:30 a.m. with cyclists departing in waves from MedAssets in Plano. Following an overnight stop at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, cyclists ride to Decatur and lasso back around for Sunday’s finish at the motor speedway. Donate through Jim Casey or any other participant here.
