Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
Texas Border Business had the opportunity to speak with Suzannah Swanson, a 22-year-old graduate of South Texas College. She was born with spina bifida, a birth defect that affects the development of the spinal cord. Her life story is the driving force behind one of South Texas’s most impactful charity cycling events: the SB250.
“So, we are setting up for the SB250, a charity bike ride that we have celebrated for 15 years,” said Suzannah. “Fifteen years ago, we started this to raise money for children and families affected by spina bifida.”
Suzannah’s parents, Casey and his wife, began the event after discovering how few resources they had when their daughter was born with Myelomeningocele, the most severe form of spina bifida. With help from Spina Bifida Texas and guidance from other families, they found the strength to navigate a new world and support others entering it.
The SB250 is a 250-mile cycling challenge from Edinburg to San Antonio held annually in the summer heat. More than 100 riders participated this year, braving the Texas sun to support the spina bifida community. “It’s like a big family at this point,” Suzannah said. “I love doing it every year with my parents and seeing all the cyclists.”
Although Suzannah doesn’t ride herself, she and her mother manage a key part of the operation. “My mom and I have a little crew of our lunch ladies that provide the food for the cyclists at the stops,” she explained. “We have to make sure to beat them to the stop, set up everything, and have the food ready so they can just come in and eat and cool down a little bit.”
Using a wheelchair full-time, Suzannah has never allowed her condition to limit her ambitions. “Yes, I’ve adapted. I’m 22 now, so there’s always a learning curve, but you work around it and have to,” she said. She recently earned her degree in sign language interpreting and is preparing for certification. “I hope to get a job very soon,” she added. “With my degree in interpreting, I hope to become an interpreter.”
The SB250 has evolved into more than just a fundraiser—a movement. Numerous sponsors, including the Edinburg Economic Development Corporation (Edinburg EDC), support the event. Raudel Garza, Executive Officer of Edinburg EDC, has been a long-time rider and supporter, participating in the SB250 for twelve years. The City of Edinburg and its economic development office support the cause.
“I hope to spread the message of our foundation and about spina bifida to more people as the years go on,” Suzannah said, reflecting on the future of the initiative that grew from her family’s journey into a community-wide effort.
The SB250 culminated on Saturday, June 21, 2025, with a finish-line celebration in San Antonio. Once again, the event demonstrated what a family, community, and a determined young woman can accomplish together.
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