Ballard resident Barbara Scott completed the 202-mile Seattle to Portland 2007 bicycle race in July while educating the public about a rare disease called cadasil.

Scott decided entered the race to raise awareness for the relatively unknown disease, affecting only 635 people in the world. Cadasil is a brain disease that has been mistaken for multiple sclerosis or early stages of alzheimers. Blood vessels to the brain collapse and bleed into the brain. White matter important to the brain that maintains communication pathways is lost.

The disease affects people 17-85 years old. It was misdiagnosed until 30 years ago. The very first conference to discuss cadasil is will not take place until April 2008.

Scott, 48, formed a team for the Seattle to Portland race as a fundraiser for the Cadasil Foundation and to educate the public about the disease.

"Cadasil is so rare. So few people have it. I want people to know about it," said Scott, a 17-year resident of Whittier Heights.

By getting the word out about cadasil, Scott says she is trying to do what she can for others who are affected by it.

Scott has undergone acupuncture while maintaining a healthy lifestyle to keep the disease in check. As a result she is now stronger than anytime in the last six years. There are no drugs to treat cadasil at this time. She does take medications for migraine headaches caused by cadasil.

When she started training with her husband Gary, Scott could barely lift the old bike she once used to commute to the University of Washington.

After finding a lighter bike with the help of the Cascade Bicycle Club, she began 50-mile training rides to prepare for the Seattle to Portland race.

Two setbacks did not deter Scott. Five weeks prior, Gary had a stent, a tubular support placed inside a blood vessel to relive an obstruction in his heart. Then a week before the ride, Scott's father passed away.

"I felt emotionally unprepared," said Scott, with the race date coming up.

"I never competed in anything. I had not done anything like this before," she said.

The race's early stages took the riders through Seward Park, Seattle's industrial area, past Boeing and then to the famous Puyallup hill that is described as a "rite of passage" on the route.

"It's long and arduous. After you get to the top, you feel you can accomplish the ride," said Scott.

When the ride became difficult, Scott's 17-year-old son, Karsten, who rode along, encouraged her, offering suggestions on different ways to peddle.

Scott had assembled a team of six. Beside herself, Gary and Karsten, they included Pat and Erika Craig and Mary Hauslauden.

Family members of the six riders followed in cars to form a support group. As they passed through small towns, people cheered the riders.

The race took Scott 14 hours to complete in two days.

Crossing the finish line in Portland, Scott said she felt exhilarated, energized and humbled that she could do it.

"It was quite an honor to bring the team to the finish line," Scott said.

She was very pleased with her husband, riding after his heart surgery.

"I was so proud of him. He rode it like a champ. He was my hero. We encouraged each other the whole way," said Scott.

Some Portland friends met the team at the finish line. They all feasted with a big spaghetti dinner that night.

"We celebrated big time. We shared stories, our love and fears," said Scott. She plans to do the ride again next year and add more team members.

Scott has learned that two other Seattle residents have cadasil and plans to meet them to provide support.

"It's not about me. It's about what I can do for others. My son has a 50 percent chance he has it," said Scott.

She will continue getting to word out about cadasil to help future generations.

Scott wanted to give credit to Kinko's for making a banner for the team that was displayed on the side of a support van. She estimates that her team has raised $1300 for the Cadasil Foundation and more contributions are being accepted at http://www.cadsilfoundation.com.

Checks can be sent to the Cadasil Foundation, c/o Barbara Scott, 7722 11th Avenue N.W., Seattle, WA 98117.