Join Kelowna’s MS Walk. Be There May 26, 2019 and Make a Difference
By Lesley Buxton.
On Sunday May 26th Kelowna residents will be gathering at 9 am in Stuart Park to prepare for the MS Walk. Participants will be taking part to support family, friends, coworkers and neighbours. Canada has one of the highest rates of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the world, with an estimated 1 in every 385 Canadians living with the disease. This means we all know someone struggling with the challenges of this terrible affliction.
For Megan Brumovsky, a team captain of a MS Walk team, who was diagnosed with MS in 2008, this event is extremely significant. It helps her to feel less isolated: “My Walk team is a fun bunch! I love how we turn it into a party and it’s like an adrenaline rush for me. It also reminds me that there are others with MS out there, and I’m not alone.”
MS is typically diagnosed in young adults aged 20 to 49, but younger children and older adults can also be affected. It’s an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system known for being unpredictable. Symptoms include extreme fatigue, lack of coordination, weakness, tingling, impaired sensation, vision problems, bladder problems, cognitive impairment, and mood changes. Like all chronic illnesses, its impact isn’t just physical, it effects every aspect of a person’s life—emotions, relationships, finances.
This year there are approximately 131 MS Walks taking place across Canada. Sixteen of those will be happening here in British Columbia on May 26th. Funds raised by the walks will go towards providing programs and services as well as supporting important leading-edge research.
For those suffering from MS, the impact of the event cannot be overstated. “It’s hard to describe the intense emotion I get at MS Walks,” says Sarah LeHuray, a team captain of MS Walk team
who was diagnosed with MS in 2012: “It truly is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. The MS community is so strong, so supportive, and has helped me immensely. Having all those people together in one place, for one purpose is absolutely the best feeling.”
This May join fellow Kelowna residents and hundreds of dedicated participants across the country in supporting Canadians living with MS. Your backing plays an integral part in strengthening the speed of scientific research, but most of all, it tells those with MS, they are not alone.
For more information visit: http://mssoc.convio.net/site/TR/Walk/BCandYukonDivision?pg=entry&fr_id=6335
Featured photo from https://www.facebook.com/MSSocietyCanada/.
