Thousands of cyclists are expected to saddle up across the Bay Area the weekend of September 19-20, for Bike MS: Waves to Wine, a fundraising ride that will send riders pedaling through Petaluma and Napa in support of multiple sclerosis research. The event offers five distinct routes ranging from short community rides to a full 102-mile trek, and organizers are aiming to raise at least $1.1 million nationwide.
According to ABC7 Bay Area, the ride is a national fundraiser for multiple sclerosis research, and as of the report the event had already collected $366,527 toward a $1.15 million goal. The longer 75- and 102-mile routes begin at Levi's Plaza in San Francisco, while shorter 23- and 44-mile options start at SOMO Village in Rohnert Park, according to the National MS Society. Riders on the longer Saturday courses head north from San Francisco toward Sonoma County, while the shorter courses stay centered closer to home.
A Bay Area Tradition Turns 42
The ride traces its roots to 1984, when cyclists living with multiple sclerosis and their supporters founded what has become one of the region's longest-running charity cycling events, per the National MS Society's local chapter, Bike East Bay. That makes the 2026 edition the 42nd annual Bay Area ride, and ABC7 Bay Area reports the event began more than 40 years ago. Nationally, the broader Bike MS series is recognized as the largest fundraising cycling series in the world, having raised more than $1.3 billion to date for the National MS Society, and it was ranked the seventh-largest peer-to-peer fundraising program in the country in 2023, according to Multiple Sclerosis News Today.
To join, cyclists must be at least 12 years old and commit to raising a minimum of $350 individually, per event guidelines. Meeting that fundraising threshold guarantees riders event amenities including rest stop support, SAG vehicles, meals, and a finisher medal.
Why the Cause Resonates Locally
Multiple sclerosis is a progressive neurologic disorder with no cure, and it typically strikes young adults between ages 20 and 40, though it can develop at any age, according to the National Institutes of Health. A 2019 prevalence study funded by the National MS Society and published in the journal Neurology estimated that nearly 1 million adults in the United States — about 913,925 people — live with the condition, more than double previous national estimates. Globally, roughly 2.8 million people live with MS as of 2020, and women are twice as likely to be diagnosed as men, per the Atlas of MS.
The disease also shows a geographic pattern: epidemiological data compiled by Healthline show higher prevalence in northern regions like the Northeast and Midwest compared with the West and South, a gradient researchers hypothesize may be tied to lower sunlight and vitamin D exposure at higher latitudes.
Law Firm Steps Up as Gold Sponsor
Among this year's sponsors is Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger, a San Francisco personal injury law firm founded in 1959 that has recovered over $1 billion for clients in personal injury and wrongful death cases, according to Best Lawyers. The firm is serving as a gold sponsor of Waves to Wine and assists people with neurologic disorders through disability assistance, medications and drug research support, ABC7 Bay Area reports.
Firm partner Michael Kelly told ABC7 Bay Area that the event is a national fundraiser aiming to raise at least $1.1 million for MS research, and that the firm's work with people facing neurologic conditions aligns with the organization's mission. “The firm aims to make life better for people it represents and people who live next door,” Kelly said. He added that community service is central to the firm's values, saying the firm has a responsibility to take care of its neighbors.
Organizers hope the ride will not only raise money but also encourage awareness, financial support and volunteer participation nationwide, with the goal of supporting research that could directly benefit Bay Area residents living with the disease. Nearly 75,000 cyclists across more than 6,000 teams take part in Bike MS rides nationally each year, according to the National MS Society, making Waves to Wine one node in a fundraising engine that has helped fund disease-modifying therapies now used by patients diagnosed decades ago.
