MS Walk 2016

Last Saturday was the MS Walk in Wichita.  It was our 5th year in a row to participate in Walk MS.  We had a smaller walking team this year, but we had a large group of friends and family who supported us with their thoughts, prayers, and funds.  Many of you have supported our "Go For Gloria" Walk team for several years.  We want to express our gratitude to each of you.  Without the funds raised the National MS Society would not be able to provide life-changing programs, ground-breaking research, and guarantee a supportive community for those with MS and their families who need it most.  So, THANK YOU!

Multiple Sclerosis is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body.  Mom was diagnosed with MS in 2009.  She actually started showing some symptoms in the 1980's (vision changes), but was not officially diagnosed until almost 20 years later when other symptoms appeared and many tests were run to get answers.  Today, when asked, Mom would always tell you that she is doing "good".  She wouldn't want you to think any different.  But, MS has changed her life.  She no longer has the energy she use to.  She gets tired and becomes fatigued easily and quickly.  It is harder for her to walk, especially up and down stairs, and she can lose her balance easily.  She has walking sticks to help her keep her balance as she walks, a weighted therapy vest that she wears daily that helps her with balance, and one loving husband who holds her hand and her heart on days that seem the hardest.  Modifications have been made in my parents house to help her to be able to stay in their home and get around the house safely.  She still treats her MS with Copaxone shots 3 days a week and other medication that she takes help to slow the MS symptoms.

Before the Walk there were a few tables and booths set up for walkers to check out.  We found Starbucks offering coffee and sweet treats, MS information tables, and tables that provided information about different drugs available to those with MS.

We also found WU there!  He is the Wichita State Shockers mascot.  Some of our walkers were excited to see him and get a picture taken with him... others were not so sure about getting too close to him....

Silas wanted to look at WU from a distance and talked about meeting him, but when he had the chance would only get about 4 feet from him, and would not even give WU a "five".  Maybe next time.

Gloria Balding from Wichita's KAKE News Good Morning Kansas was there to help emcee the event.  She noticed our team t-shirts right away and told us how much she liked them.  She was a fan of our team and our shirts when she found out we were team "Go For GLORIA"!  Of course we had to get a couple pictures of the two Gloria's and one with WU.  WU really liked the Gloria's too!

10 Facts about MS

1. Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic, unpredictable disease of the central nervous system.

2. More than 2.3 million people are affected by MS worldwide.

3. Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50.

4. Women are much more likely to develop MS than men.

5. There is no evidence MS is directly inherited.

6. It is challenging to diagnose MS.

7. No two people have exactly the same symptoms.

8. MS symptoms can be invisible.

9. The majority of people with MS do not become severely disabled.

10. MS has no cure.

Dad and Sarah went up onto the stage with Gloria Balding to introduce our team and to tell about our team t-shirts.  Our team logo was designed 5 years ago by my brother-in-law, EP.  He did a great job and was able to design something we could wear every year and put onto other things such as stickers, postcards, and our Go For Gloria facebook page so that our team could be easily identified and used from year to year.

Sarah wanted to walk the mile route with Popee.  When "GO" was said for all to hear, Sarah and Popee took off.  Power-walking, and passing people in front of them like crazy.  This was NOT a race, but when Sarah is lined up and the word "Go" is shouted, (or whispered) a switch flips, she gets the itch to win, and Miss Competitive comes alive.  She even ran the last stretch of the walk to pass as many people as she could and becoming the 2nd person to cross the finish line on the 1 mile route this year.  Good job, Sarah!  Way to Go For Gloria!

Our 2016 "Go For Gloria" Team Fundraising Stats:

• We had 9 registered team members.  
• 7 registered team members raised $100 or more.  3 of them are under the age of 10!
• Our team total raised this year was $930.
• Altogether team "Go For Gloria" has raised $15,070 over our 5 years of participating in Walk MS for the National MS Society.  (approximated totals rounded to the nearest ten are as follows:  2016 - $930, 2015 - $4500, 2014 - $1560, 2013 - $4090, 2012 - $4000)

We brought our lawn chairs and found a nice spot where team "Go For Gloria" could all sit together before and after the walk.  Lunch was provided for all the walkers and participants as they finished their one or three mile walk.

Again, "THANK YOU", to everyone who has donated funds to the National MS Society, helped us raise awareness of this disease, and given your time to participate or volunteer for MS events.  By giving, you are helping to STOP MS in its tracks, RESTORE lost function and END MS forever.

CLICK HERE to be taken to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society's website. This site is a very good resource.  It provides a wealth of information about Multiple Sclerosis: Symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment, research, support, and ways you can be involved.