The Saskatchewan Blue Cross MS Walk is a fundraiser close to the heart of Megan Strube, who has been giving her voice to the cause since 2015.
Having been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis five years ago, Strube feels very strongly about the fundraiser. She walks because it's personal, but also because she wants others affected by MS to know they have support.
“Before I got diagnosed, I assumed everyone with MS was old and in a wheelchair,” admitted Strube. “It's amazing to know that there are other people out there who are living with the same thing, who are kind of going through similar struggles, and you can relate to that on a personal level.”
With a goal of $25,000 and 100 walkers, Moose Jaw’s MS Walk is looking to once again bring awareness to the ongoing cause.
Amy Bosche, community coordinator at the MS Society, described the walk as not only a fundraiser but as a way to gather the MS community together — so that people know there is a support system available near them.
“It's not a sad or depressing place to be,” said Bosche. “It's a happy and uplifting place to be, knowing that you're part of a community that's all coming together for one goal, which is really to have a world free of MS.”
Strube finds that is exactly what happened for her; after moving to Moose Jaw, she connected with a number of people in the city through her first MS Walk here.
Each year, Strube and her team of family and friends raise an incredible amount to support the ongoing research about the disease; they have collected around $25,000 in donations over the last four years that Strube has been walking.
“The first year, my whole team did over $10,000, so every year I think our whole team strives to beat that. We were close last year. I hope to be close to this year, but we'll see how things go,” said Strube. “Every little bit counts.”
Seeing such support for the cause is so important for Strube, and she’s grateful for her team and the community.
“[The support] feels amazing, not only just for the walk, but for my life in general. Having MS is definitely something that's a struggle,” said Strube. “Having the love and support of that many people, especially knowing that they're there year after year, is really, really good and touches my heart a lot.”
All of the funds raised by MS Walks across Canada are put towards either support programs for people affected by MS, or research about the disease — which is happening right here in Saskatchewan.
“I believe in my lifetime there is going to be a cure,” said Strube. “[The walk] is definitely a way that people can come together and raise funds for working towards a cure, and working towards programs that help people with MS.”
Bosche estimated that about 3,500 people in Saskatchewan are living with MS; our province has one of the highest rates of multiple sclerosis in Canada.
Moose Jaw’s walk is one of nine happening in the province and will begin at 10 a.m. on May 26. Walkers are to meet at Sunningdale Elementary School, where they will embark on a wheelchair-accessible route of 5 km.
Strube and Bosche encourage everyone to come out and join the crew, as there’s always room for more walkers.
“Come out and put on one of the shirts, and people driving by will see everyone participating and hopefully it'll raise even more awareness that way,” said Strube.
Donations for the walk can be processed online, or by contacting a team member who has signed up for the walk. New walkers can also register online to be part of the event.
Those wishing to support Megan Strube can select her team on the donation link online and help the MS Walk reach its goal for 2019.
