Every Step Matters: The MS Walk & Who I Walk For

A couple of years ago I did the MS Walk (I think I raised about $700 or so?). I didn’t the following year as that was when my own illness hit, and didn’t last year because everyone died and it was very stressful, but I’m committed again for the 2016 one.

You might remember this picture from the 2013 walk:

I blurred that out to protect her privacy because other than to a handful of people, she’s never come out before publicly. This is something she’s lived with for ten years and she didn’t want to be treated any differently because of it, so I remained silent and I crossed my fingers in the hope that saying “hey, help my nameless friend” would be enough to get the support of others.

She has dealt with multiple sclerosis for a decade. Not just the progressively fewer spoons but the knowledge that one day there will be none left (although she’ll always have knives). Through example, she has taught me how to be stronger, better, braver, and how to face terrible truths not because of a lack of fear but in spite of it.

For a myriad of reasons, she’s finally come out now in a post I urge you to read and consider.

One of those reasons is because the way this disease operates, chipping away at her bit by bit, there is a clock ticking over her head. As it progresses, she’ll reach a point in the future where she won’t be able write that post and say what she wants to say–hell, MS might even cut the signal from her brain to her lungs and she’ll stop breathing suddenly and without warning.

The thing is, I want to stop that clock.

I firmly and totally believe I can stop that clock.

There are huge strides being made right now with regards to MS research. Seriously. Every single day we’re that much closer to the cure. Canada has the highest rates of multiple sclerosis of any country, and research being done in this very country with money raised by MS Walks hold the promise of not only stopping the clock over Dina’s head but maybe reversing it.

It’s her fight, but I’m in her corner, now and for always (because she’s my Platonic Murder Wife). This year’s goal is $500. Every dollar counts, so please support me in my walk to cure MS.

Dina James is the only person who has given me hope in the past year when I was at my worst and had nothing–now I want to give that back to her. She has saved my life before.

I believe together we can save hers.