Local woman hopeful for future without MS as thousands lace up for walk
Posted May 27, 2018 9:44 am.
Last Updated May 27, 2018 2:13 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A local woman is sharing her experience will a neurological disease affecting thousands of Canadians, the same day people all across the country laced up their sneakers to walk in support of research.
Melissa Hope suspected back in the fall she may have multiple sclerosis, experiencing specific symptoms that pointed to the disease.
After a visit to a neurologist and an MRI, she received confirmation in January.
She’s says she has to be optimistic that a future free of MS is ahead, adding it seems there are new therapies every year.
“In fact it seems like since I’ve even been diagnosed in January and started kind of following MS news, almost every week there seems to be new research into causes and connections between other diseases and all of these things.”
Hope now deals with nerve pain in her legs, numbness in her hands and feet as well as some cognitive issues.
She’s raised thousands of dollars leading up to today’s walk, which has a two and five kilometre route.
“I’m also feeling really lucky and right now I’m on a therapy that is supported by the MS Society. The research into it wasn’t really being supported by drug companies because no one’s going to make any money off of it, it’s an existing drug.”
Hope doesn’t know yet if it’s working, but she says giving it a try wouldn’t have been possible without the support of people contributing to fundraising activities.
According to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, this country has the highest rate of MS in the world.
The money raised by those walking goes toward funding stem cell research, looking into the causes of MS, and advocating for accessible and affordable treatments.
The Vancouver walk began at 10:30 a.m. at Concord Pacific Place.
