As this province has one of the highest rates of Multiple Sclerosis in the world, people in Saskatchewan are bound to know someone who is living with MS. On May 3, Yorkton will host its Saskatchewan Blue Cross MS Walk, one of 13 walks in the province, and one of the biggest fundraisers for the MS society in Canada.
Colleen Hennan, Community Engagement Coordinator with the MS Society of Canada, says that this year the big change will be moving outdoors, starting at Yorkdale school. Hennan says that they’re excited to have the new route and hope that it will be a beautiful day to raise money.
Money raised by the walk is split in two directions. Half is used on research to find treatments and a cure, while the other half is spent on programming for people affected by MS. Examples include education sessions, support group and exercise programs.
“We really do have a wide range of services and programs that we are able to put on with the MS Society.”
Canada has the highest rate of MS in the world, and Saskatchewan one of the highest in the country, and there is no clear indication as to why. Hennan says that nobody knows what causes MS or why it’s so prevalent in this country.
“The other side of the coin to the high rates in Canada is that we believe that we will find the cure here, in Canada.”
MS Ambassador Amanda Matechuk was diagnosed with the condition in high school sixteen years ago. She says she is involved because it’s a way to help people like herself.
“It’s an opportunity to do something positive. Because I have MS that can essentially help me, and help other people with MS. I’m not a researcher, so I won’t be finding the cure, but I will make sure the people who are able to do that have the funds necessary.”
The support that the walk gets is something inspiring to Matechuk, as she sees people come out and support the cause.
“You realize there are other people affected, you’re not completely alone.”
Matechuk is also a support group leader, and says that it’s a way to find people who understand what your going through. She says when she was diagnosed she didn’t have people to talk to about it or understood the disease.
“It’s nice to be with people who understand, you don’t have to explain what it’s like to have MS because they all know.”
In the years since Matechuk was diagnosed, there have been dramatic changes in the way MS has been treated, including the introduction of oral options for treatment.
“Just not having to do an injection every day and just taking a couple pills like Tylenol, people take Tylenol every day and it’s no big deal. It’s so freeing when you have MS and you can just take a couple of pills... Doing an injection, there’s a lot of preparation both physically and mentally, and there were a lot of side effects for the injectable drugs.”
Seeing where the funds raised go, Matechuk says that she believes events like the MS Walk are making a real impact in the lives of people like her.
“The MS Society is really putting every effort forward to find a cure for MS.”
Whether walking, volunteering or sponsoring a walker, Hennan says that the MS Society wants everyone to get involved in any way they can. Participants can register at http://www.mswalks.ca.
