Today on our SCC Tech Talk we’re sitting down with athlete, ambassador and true inspiration; Gene Caffery. Learn how Gene’s battle with Multiple Sclerosis has driven him to ride more, give back, and raise money for a cause that’s become part of his personal journey.
SCC TECH:
Thanks so much for joining us Gene. We understand you’ve been a lifelong athlete, from running, to swimming and cycling and have competed all around the country. What sparked your love for cycling?
Gene:
I have been riding since I was a kid. I did some triathlons in the late 1980’s but had a long break of not riding during my college years and when I started a family. I got back into triathlons in the early 2000’s and progressed to Full Ironman races by 2008. I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis after having my first MS attack during the 2009 Florida Ironman. By 2014 MS had taken away my ability to run, but I could still ride, so that really sparked my love of cycling even more, and I really ramped up my volume and started challenges to help me handle MS and raise awareness to help others.
SCC TECH:
Wow, that must have been a terrifying experience. What are some of your past cycling accomplishments and some future goals?
GENE:
I have finished two full Ironman races and several half Ironmans. I have also done many long distance cycling events and hill climbs. For example I did a 12 hour endurance race called The Triple Bypass in Colorado. I did The Mt. Evans Hill Climb in Colorado, and the Mt. Washington Hill Climb in New Hampshire twice. I have done three rides for MS here in North Carolina, ranging from 240 to 270 miles; all one day rides. My current streak of 100+ miles for MS awareness is a goal of at least fifty-two weeks in a row. I will continue to come up with more challenges, and as races open up, I will compete in both road and gravel endurance races.
SCC TECH:
Incredible! Those are huge rides. What sparked your quest to do a100+ mile every week for a year?
GENE:
SCC TECH:
What a birthday celebration that will be! Can we send a blue cake? Could you tell us about some of the challenges you face having MS and how cycling has helped? There have to be others out there who have just been diagnosed or have experienced symptoms and are wondering what their life will look like five, ten, or fifteen years from now.
GENE:
I face issues with fatigue, balance, numbness, tingling, and heat intolerance, to name a few. My feet and legs went numb in the 2009 Florida Ironman, and my feet have never felt the same. They constantly feel like they have fallen asleep and are trying to come back awake. Riding my bike is the only time I feel like I don’t have MS. Cycling helps me stay ahead of my MS. The combination of my medications, diet, and fitness helps keep my symptoms feeling better. But, if I miss too many days, my symptoms will start to feel worse. When I get back to it, they slowly start to improve.
SCC TECH:
That’s a great reason to stay in the saddle. I think we’d spend most of our day on the bike as well if it helped us like that. Tell us about when you’re not on the bike. What’s your day job?
GENE:
I am a sales person for a major printing company, selling labels and printed literature to the Pharmaceutical industry. I have been working there since 1992.
SCC TECH:
We’ll we’re so glad you found and thank you so much for sharing your story. You’re truly an inspiration! Here’s to many more miles ahead and a happy 53rd birthday ride celebration.
