Twenty-three years ago, my life changed when my son, Michael, was born with spina bifida. What started as a surprise diagnosis, quickly became a journey that introduced me to an incredible community of families, children, doctors, advocates, and friends who show me every day what resilience looks like.
I’m riding 140 miles of the SB250. It’s one day of the two-day ride, but every mile carries a story.
These miles are for Michael.
They are for the mom who called me at midnight worried because her daughter had a headache and she didn’t know who else to ask for help.
They are for the smiles I see when children with spina bifida walk, roll, or wheel into a Spina Bifida Texas event and realize they are finally in a room full of kids just like them.
They are for the kids who swear I’m their aunt because we see each other so often.
They are for the children who gain the gift of mobility when Spina Bifida Texas helps provide prosthetics or equipment that insurance wouldn’t cover.
They are for the adults with spina bifida I see every month at our job readiness program who are actively working toward employment and independence.
Every mile represents the strength of the SB community that I have the privilege of serving. Through Spina Bifida Texas, we bring families together, provide education from medical professionals, and create opportunities for children with disabilities to build confidence and independence.
After my 140 miles on the bike, I’ll be at the finish line helping coordinate the celebration for the riders completing all 250 miles. It’s a reminder that this ride is about more than distance. It’s about community, perseverance, and showing up for one another.
Your support helps Spina Bifida Texas continue providing resources, equipment, and life-changing programs for families across Texas.
Thank you for cheering us on and being part of this mission.
SB250
On June 12th and 13th, 2026, the Suzannah Smiles Foundation will be hosting its 16th annual road cycling event, the Spina Bifida 250 (SB250). This event is a 250-mile bicycle ride from Edinburg to San Antonio in the heat of the Texas summer.
The SB250 continues to grow as a premier cycling event in Texas. In the last 15 years, the SB250 has raised over $650,000 to help Texas children and families impacted by spina bifida. All proceeds of the event are donated directly to families impacted by spina bifida through scholarships and grants as well as to Spina Bifida Texas (SBTX). SBTX is often the first resource for families after a spina bifida diagnosis. The SB250 generates a sizable portion of SBTX’s operational capital for the year. With your help, the 15th edition of the SB250 will allow us to serve more families across Texas.
About Suzannah Smiles: Suzannah Smiles’ mission is to spread awareness of spina bifida and to raise funds to support programs that provide services for those affected, so that we can empower them to live a barrier-free life and reach their fullest potential.
About spina bifida: It is estimated that spina bifida affects two out of every 1,000 births in Texas, twice the national average. Spina bifida is a birth defect that occurs when the lower end of the spinal cord does not form properly in the developing baby. Paralysis, loss of bowel and/or bladder control, brain damage and learning disabilities are among the many issues associated with this complex disability. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), if every woman of childbearing age (15-44) would take a daily vitamin containing 400mcg of folic acid, the incidences of spina bifida would be reduced by 70%.
About the SB250 Ride: The SB250 bicycle ride starts in Edinburg, TX on June 12th and ends in San Antonio, TX on June 13th. Participants will be cycling up to 260 miles over two days through the grueling South Texas heat to raise funds through sponsorships and donations. All profits will go directly to families impacted by spina bifida and to Spina Bifida Texas. Information can be found at: https://www.suzannahsmiles.org/ or by contacting Tommy Smith, Executive Director of Suzannah Smiles at (281) 408-5858, or [email protected].
Our goal for 2026 is to raise $150,000.00. Please consider supporting our effort to assist Texas families living with spina bifida by sponsoring, volunteering, and/or participating in the event.
On June 12th and 13th, 2026, the Suzannah Smiles Foundation will be hosting its 16th annual road cycling event, the Spina Bifida 250 (SB250). This event is a 250-mile bicycle ride from Edinburg to San Antonio in the heat of the Texas summer.
The SB250 continues to grow as a premier cycling event in Texas. In the last 15 years, the SB250 has raised over $650,000 to help Texas children and families impacted by spina bifida. All proceeds of the event are donated directly to families impacted by spina bifida through scholarships and grants as well as to Spina Bifida Texas (SBTX). SBTX is often the first resource for families after a spina bifida diagnosis. The SB250 generates a sizable portion of SBTX’s operational capital for the year. With your help, the 15th edition of the SB250 will allow us to serve more families across Texas.
About Suzannah Smiles: Suzannah Smiles’ mission is to spread awareness of spina bifida and to raise funds to support programs that provide services for those affected, so that we can empower them to live a barrier-free life and reach their fullest potential.
About spina bifida: It is estimated that spina bifida affects two out of every 1,000 births in Texas, twice the national average. Spina bifida is a birth defect that occurs when the lower end of the spinal cord does not form properly in the developing baby. Paralysis, loss of bowel and/or bladder control, brain damage and learning disabilities are among the many issues associated with this complex disability. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), if every woman of childbearing age (15-44) would take a daily vitamin containing 400mcg of folic acid, the incidences of spina bifida would be reduced by 70%.
About the SB250 Ride: The SB250 bicycle ride starts in Edinburg, TX on June 12th and ends in San Antonio, TX on June 13th. Participants will be cycling up to 260 miles over two days through the grueling South Texas heat to raise funds through sponsorships and donations. All profits will go directly to families impacted by spina bifida and to Spina Bifida Texas. Information can be found at: https://www.suzannahsmiles.org/ or by contacting Tommy Smith, Executive Director of Suzannah Smiles at (281) 408-5858, or [email protected].
Our goal for 2026 is to raise $150,000.00. Please consider supporting our effort to assist Texas families living with spina bifida by sponsoring, volunteering, and/or participating in the event.