Last updated on September 8th, 2023 at 12:44 pm
After more than a decade fundraising, H-E-B Chief Operating Officer Roxanne Orsak is the first person in South Texas to raise $1 million in support of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and its mission to help create a world free of MS.
To achieve the milestone, Orsak raised $150,000 for the Bike MS Valero Ride to the River, presented by H-E-B. She was the top fundraiser for this year’s event. In honor of her achievement, she was presented a cycling shirt that recognized her as a $1 million lifetime fundraiser.
While she is the first to hit the mark in South Texas, she is one of two fundraisers to reach the milestone in the South Central Region, which includes Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.
“Roxanne has been a tremendous example throughout Texas of leadership, dedication, tenacity and heart within the MS Movement,” said Linda Bates, president, south central region. “Her story reminds people of the incredible impact that each one of us can make.”
Orsak started participating in Bike MS in 2011. What first began as an opportunity to ride for health and fitness, soon became a mission close her heart when her daughter was diagnosed with MS. Since then, she has continued to lead the way in fundraising as the top fundraiser for the Bike MS Valero Ride to the River, raising more than $100,000 each year since 2015.
In addition to Orsak’s efforts, H-E-B has raised nearly $3 million in team fundraising and sponsorship since 1999. For this year’s San Antonio ride, Team H-E-B, which was the top fundraising team, raised an additional $267,800.
“This is something that hits home for me and many Texans. Whether it’s $1 or $1 million, each of us can make a difference in support of this cause,” Orsak said. “I’m immensely thankful for all the H-E-B Partners who participate each year along with the donors, family and friends who have supported us over the years. Together, we’ll continue to champion this effort to bring an end to MS.”
The MS Society has hosted a Bike MS ride in San Antonio for more than 30 years. Held every October, the San Antonio ride raises more than $1 million annually and has more than 1,000 participants each year. Through 55 ride events across the nation, Bike MS cyclists, volunteers and donors have raised more than $1.4 billion to stop MS. Funding raised through these rides fuels research and delivers critical services to help the community.
To learn more about multiple sclerosis and the work of the National MS Society, visit nationalMSsociety.org.
