‘We have hope’ Walk MS in Newport News kicks off awareness weekend, Walk MS in VB Sunday
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) – The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is hosting two awareness walks in Hampton Roads.
An expected 2,000 people will walk and raise money to help those diagnosed with MS and researchers work toward research for a cure.
In Newport News, more than 100 families laced up their shoes at Newport News Park.
“They look forward to walk all year long. They have a place to belong. A place where they can connect and can find someone that’s just like them,” said Sherri Ellis, President for the National MS Society in Virginia. “Friends and family and coworkers are all showing up to support their loved ones while also helping to raise money for a cure. That’s really what the hope is… that we have better treatments, earlier diagnosis, and ultimately a cure!”
Ellis adds, “We’ll have over $150,000 raised. That’s going to be really good to help us do research for our local programs and services for people to be able to call their MS navigator.”
Carrie Buchanan moved to Newport News from New Jersey years after after she was diagnosed with MS.
“I was coming home from work. I was driving and all of a sudden, I had double vision and I had to pull over. Thank God, two young men that I worked with at the time saw me because I had my flashers on. One said he would drive me to my house. That night I called the doctor,” explained Buchanan.
Over the last three-decades, she has been fundraising for a cure.
“It’s been rocky at times. There are times [that] I can’t get out of bed. I’m always tired. Luckily, I have a great support system! My daughter, her three sons and my son-in-law. He is more like a son than a son-in-law,” said Buchanan.
Ellis confirms there are some racial disparities when it comes to MS diagnoses’.
According to the Neurology Journal, Black women have a higher risk of MS than white women, while Latinx and Asians are less likely to develop the disease.
“There’s a lot of health inequities for a lot of different diseases and the MS does not discriminate,” said Ellis. “You can look very good. You don’t see those internal symptoms that are really debilitating, hurtful and painful…the racial disparities are more Black men have progressive MS.”
The hope is to help lessen the symptoms and find a cure.
“When I started with the society 16 years ago, we had eight disease modifying therapies. Today, we have 25. [Back] then, all we had were injectables, now we have oral medications. We’re seeing so much advancements with the medicines and therapies. People can live a really good life with everything that we have to offer,” explained Ellis. “We have hope!”
On Sunday, Walk MS in Virginia Beach kicks off at 1p.m. registration starts at noon.
10 On Your Side’s Morning Anchor Katie Collet and the WAVY Warriors will be at the ODU Virginia Beach Higher Education Center.
“Katie Collett is going to be there! We’re super excited to have her! Her big force of nature and team from WAVY TV 10.”
Collett was diagnosed with MS in 2012. Since then, it has been her mission to walk to raise funds for new research, aid people with Multiple Sclerosis, and find a cure.
She hopes you’ll join her and the WAVY Warriors to meet and beat her goal of raising $15,000 by clicking here.
Learn more about Collett’s journey, by clicking here.
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