Every step matters. That’s the motto for the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Walk and something that rings true for those affected by the disease.
The annual Prince George Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Walk took place at Lhedili T’enneh Memorial Park this afternoon (May 26) and it was also a beautiful day for a walk as the participants enjoyed sunny weather.
The walk takes place annually throughout Canada during the last Sunday of May with the goal of raising both funding and awareness for MS.
Things began with an opening ceremony, where a member of the Khast’an Drummers, Wesley Mitchell, began the event with traditional drumming and singing.
Wesley Mitchell singing and drumming during the opening ceremony for the annual MS Walk at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park #CityofPG pic.twitter.com/1ZcRekedJp
— Hanna Petersen (@hannaepeter) May 26, 2019
“This gives people an opportunity to really bring awareness to MS,” said Mayor Lyn Hall. “Early on, when I was growing up, two of my friends had MS. It’s interesting how it alters family and friends that are close to those individuals. To have this walk year after year in our city and our country really does bring recognition and awareness to not only the impact of the individual but also to family and friends.”
MLA Shirley Bond also took a moment to reflect on how MS has impacted her life.
“The statistics are shocking when you stop and think about how many Canadians will be impacted by MS today,” said Bond. “We have very close friends, a young woman that we’ve known since she was little, who currently has MS and we walk that journey beside her. It impacts families and communities and we are here today to say we want to make a difference.”
Sandra Stibrany, a volunteer with the Northern Regional Chapter for the MS Society of Canada, also spoke about her daughter’s MS diagnosis.
“My daughter had her first MS relapse in 2003, but we didn’t know it was MS at the time we just knew that her leg went numb,” said Stibrany.
“When you find out your child has MS you wonder, is it something I did… We have no answers and we still don’t have answers. We don’t know what causes it and we still don’t have a cure.”
Canada has one of the highest rates of MS in the world, with an estimated one in every 385 Canadians living with the disease. It is currently classified as an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord).
MS is unpredictable and can cause symptoms such as extreme fatigue, lack of coordination, weakness, tingling, impaired sensation, vision problems, bladder problems, cognitive impairment and mood changes.
“I will continue to participate in the MS walk and be a member of the MS society, and I would really like to thank everyone for coming today and for their support,” said Stibrany.
To find out more about MS Society of Canada and the Northern Regional Chapter, check out their website and Facebook page.
