Brian Ahrens

Treasurer

I have lived in Minnesota most of my life, and I currently live in Saint Paul with my wife, Bethany, my children, our dog, two cats, and three chickens. I work for a legal publishing company, applying my legal education while working with new and emerging technology. I also have prior experience running my own law firm, teaching, and marketing, as well as a long history of participating and volunteering for charity fundraising events to benefit various organizations.

When I was diagnosed with indolent systemic mastocytosis in 2022, I took some time to educate myself and process the new reality I faced. There were so many unknowns, so many new concerns. I knew I wanted to do something to help others in similar situations, but first I needed to get myself in a good position mentally and physically. This is when I discovered TMS and all the materials available for patients and caregivers. I leaned into a great support network and received wonderful medical care and advice, and I started to feel comfortable with what I needed to do to stay safe while refusing to allow this condition to stop me from enjoying my favorite activities. 

I started Brian’s Bike Ride to Support TMS in 2024, giving me an outlet to raise awareness and fundraise for the organization. While the unknowns and the concerns are still present, it is a real joy to have a way I can exert some control. Playing off some of my favorite song lyrics, “I don’t know if I was the boxer or the bag,” I like to say, “I am the boxer, not the bag.”

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