MEET Michelle and Aaron
21 JULY 2025
Multiple sclerosis is the most common neurological disease affecting young people in Australia. Aaron originally rode in the MS Gong Ride because he loved to cycle. He hadn't really thought about what the ride meant, and who he was riding for... It turned out, he was riding for his wife, Michelle.
It all started when Michelle broke her ankle in December 2017. After it healed, she broke it again a year later. After each break, she found walking very difficult. With two young children, Michelle was relying on the help of strangers to help her get to and from her car for school drop-off.
She also had some other symptoms that couldn't be linked to her broken ankle. Michelle was suffering from slurred speech, blurred vision and was unable to perform daily tasks such as using a pen to write a shopping list. She was initially misdiagnosed with an auto-immune condition called Hashimoto's disease. It was only after visiting her father's neurologist with him that Michelle was sent for an MRI and found to have multiple sclerosis.
Suddenly, all the symptoms Michelle had been experiencing for the last 2 years made sense. She had put her inability to walk down to her broken ankle, but it had been the first sign of MS.
In 2024, Michelle’s MS diagnosis changed to be secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. Symptoms are very unpredictable, which means that everyday could look different to Michelle, but she has found ways to manage her symptoms and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Having supported the MS Gong Ride every year since Michelle’s diagnosis, Aaron and Michelle have built an incredible powerhouse of a team, Team MICH. Rallying their community together and being not only one of our biggest teams, but consistently one of our highest fundraisers!
Connecting to her community is what Michelle loves most about the MS Gong Ride; team members, sponsors, other people living with MS, and fellow riders and supporters at the Event Finish Village. While Michelle has been unable to take part in the MS Gong Ride, she has loved cheering on Aaron and the other riders at the finish line!
Watching Aaron cross the finish line has taken on a new meaning for me since I was diagnosed. This year, I'll be there cheering EVERY rider across the finish line, because your support means I'm not fighting this battle alone.
It’s your epic fundraising that makes support and services possible for Michelle and others living with multiple sclerosis. Michelle will be at the finish line, cheering on Aaron and the rest of Team MICH!
