Женщина с болезнью Альцгеймера продолжает гонку по всем 50 штатам США на лошади

S.C. woman with ALS races to ride a horse in all 50 states LUGOFF, S.C. - Tricia Jackson has been riding horses since she was 3 years old. Seventy-one years later, she’s still in the saddle — and she has no plans to stop. Jackson, an award-winning competitive equestrian, lives on a farm in Lugoff that she calls her place of peace. Over the years, she has owned as many as 12 horses at once, riding and racing them all. These days, most of her time is spent with her favorite horse, Luke, competing in endurance rides that span anywhere from 25 to 100 miles in a single day. “That’s a lot of miles,” Jackson said. “We’ve done 50 miles in 3 hours and 50 minutes — way too fast. We riders have to be tough.” A diagnosis — and a decision In April, Jackson was diagnosed with ALS, a rare disease that attacks the brain and spinal cord and gradually steals a person’s ability to speak, move and eventually breathe. There is no cure. “Statistics say 3 to 5 years, but the kind I have is bulbar ALS, which starts up here and not weakness and loss of limbs, which is coming,” Jackson said. “That’s why I decided I’m not sitting on the front porch and wait to die.” Riding through all 50 states Instead of slowing down, Jackson is chasing a lifelong dream — riding a horse in all 50 states. With only 10 states remaining, she is closing in on her goal. “Everything goes away when I’m horse riding,” she said. “I feel good, my speech is better. It’s therapy. But I tell them my ALS journey so far and it’s not going to keep me down. As long as I can go, I go. And even if I lose my speech first, which I’m going to do, I can write. I ain’t stopping. That ain’t me.” A life already full of adventure Jackson’s 74 years have been marked by a series of pursuits. In 2001, she competed on Season 4 of “Survivor” after her son dared her to audition. She has traveled on mission trips. And now she is passing her love of horses, hard work and life to 11-year-old Cooper, a young rider she mentors on her farm. “I love this boy. He’s my heart,” Jackson said. For Cooper, the lessons are already taking hold. “I’ve learned you always have to help people,” he said. ‘Never give up’ Jackson says her faith and the people around her are carrying her through. “Never give up. Use what God gave you, don’t sit on it,” she said. “This is a terminal disease. I’m going to die from it, but that’s okay because I’m right with God. He’s blessed me, and I’m so blessed to have so many people in my life supporting me.” Next month, Jackson heads to Yellowstone to ride through Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.