It's the last day of the 2009 three-day, 50-mile MS Challenge Walk,, and there are a little more than five miles to go. As a bicycle support crewman, I'm riding up to an intersection when I notice Carolyn coming around the corner behind me. At this crossing, we will be going uphill. I am going to ride my bicycle up that hill, as my legs work fine, I have very good balance, and I can do almost as much on my bicycle as the average person can do on two feet — but Carolyn is rounding the corner in her wheelchair. She is a vibrant young woman who is in a wheelchair because multiple sclerosis has stopped her legs from working.
I have been part of the MS Challenge walk for five years now. I've walked it twice and have been bike crew for three more. Carolyn has been here for years as well. I remember seeing her standing a while back, but for these last couple of years, I have seen her only in that wheelchair.

The road is never lonely when you have the support of your fellow MS Challenge Walkers. Photo courtesy Andrew Child.
Carolyn is starting to labor as she thrusts her hands downward, driving her wheels forward. I can see a look on her face — the look you see on the finest athletes when they are digging deep for that last bit of strength. We go a little farther. The walker behind her says, "Let me know if you want help." Carolyn doesn't respond until she gets through this push, then she pauses for a second in her wheelchair. We are a little more than halfway up. A pretty good size group of walkers has built up behind her. She doesn't appear to know how many are back there, but they are there. So she pauses, still looking straight up that hill. I look at her and say, "Come on kid, you can do this." Carolyn looks up at me and says, "This is my Rocky moment." With a little grin on her face, she starts driving her wheelchair forward again. Over her shoulder she responds to the walker, "I'm okay, this is one of my goals, I have to get over this hill." So we continue on.