 |
Be a walker
Be an end to MS |
Giving is Believing
Jeanne DesBrisay, Team Captain of Sally's Second Super Six, can clearly recall the struggle her mother Sally, a once-vibrant, active mother of four suffered with MS while Jeanne was just a teenager. At a time lacking awareness, treatment and understanding, Jeanne's mother endured the inevitable progress of MS with spirit and determination for almost twenty years, but lost her battle and succumbed to it in 1996.
Today, as a mother of four herself, Jeanne cannot imagine how it must have felt to watch helplessly, unable to look after her children as they grew.
Since her mother's death, with her team by her side for the past nine years, Jeanne has found a way to honour Sally's memory and continue in her inspiring, charitable footsteps through fundraising at the annual MS Walk.
The MS Society of Canada has played a role in Jeanne's family from the time her mother was alive to this day. Her father, John DesBrisay, actively led initiatives such as campaigning to convert a former Toronto hospital into a chronic care facility and facilitating the donation of Sally's specially-equipped van to a family in need. Continuing on with the legacy of compassion and altruism their parents handed down, Jeanne's sister Anne formed the team Sally's Super Six in Ottawa with her family and soon after, Jeanne's husband Don and their now-older children John (15), Sara (14), Kate (12) and Meg (10) formed their team.
"The uplifting, positive feeling we get every year participating in the MS Walk is so wonderfully different from the experiences I have known with this disease," says Jeanne. "We started out with strollers and wagons and now our children bring their friends along. We are inspired by the sight of our fellow walkers, dedicated to a loved one, but we are most moved by all of the walkers living with the disease, walking with canes, limping or using wheelchairs who are determined to end MS."
Jeanne's team has generated more than $100,000 worth of donations for the MS Walk - an achievement that would make her parents proud. In 2011, the team raised nearly $30,000, with each of the two previous years coming in close behind at nearly $25,000. Their goal for 2012, marking a decade of their participation - is their biggest yet - $30,000 -and they look forward to rising to the challenge.
"Fundraising for the MS Walk teaches a valuable lesson to my kids about giving back and reaching out. Yes, it gets harder to ask for donations as the years go on, but that makes it all the more important. It's truly amazing how generous people can be–you'll never know if you don't ask."
The knowledge that her family has a genetic susceptibility to MS is with Jeanne daily. She strongly believes in creating awareness and encouraging advocacy in younger generations and is amazed by the connections she makes through her fundraising efforts with people eager to share stories about their loved ones' battles with MS. Though every day progress is made, Jeanne knows she and her family must continue to do their part in making MS a disease of the past.
"When I first encountered MS 35 years ago, there was hope but little progress. Today there is a real probability that the funds raised will, in the very near future, translate to finding a cure for MS."
And does she think there is a cure out there?
"I think we're moments away," she says, with a smile.
We're all in this together... and together, we'll end MS
Kosta Makrostergios recently joined the organizing committee for the 2011 MS Walk. He has been involved in the RONA MS Bike Tour for several years, both as a cyclist and a volunteer. Kosta lives in London with his wife and 6-year-old daughter.
I was diagnosed with MS five years ago, at age 30. My life isn't over because I have MS - far from it. But no matter how well you come to terms with it, MS changes your life in ways that can be tough to deal with. Today, I battle with fatigue, numbness, and cognitive challenges on a constant basis. They're a part of life that I just have to deal with.
The good news is that I've seen firsthand the progress that's been made in MS research. There are now six therapies that that can modify the progression of MS, and for the past two years I've been part of a clinical trial for a brand new treatment. None of this would be possible without the funds raised through events like the MS Walk. I'm living proof of the impact that those pledges can have.
I know that time and energy is precious. There never seems to be enough of either, and we all need to make choices about what to support and where to focus. When I think about how close we are to a cure for MS, I believe that the MS Walk is more critical than ever. Incredible progress has been made in the last two decades, and we need to keep this momentum going.
I have no doubt that we'll find the cure for MS. Until that day comes, we also need to help people who are living with this disease right now. Every dollar raised for the MS Walk helps make a real difference in the lives of people with MS and their families. We're all in this together. By working together - one step at a time - we will end MS.
Back to top
