While there are many teams who offer their efforts to the Lakeland MS Walk each year, the St. Paul Fire Department is one group that perhaps stands out a little in both team spirit, and their ability to raise funds for the cause.
This year will mark the SPFD’s third year taking part in the walk. To date, the team has raised total of $18,000 for the MS Society.
Armed with the knowledge that people living with MS can experience a range of symptoms - such as extreme fatigue, lack of coordination, weakness, tingling, impaired sensation, vision problems, bladder problems, cognitive impairment and/or mood changes – the SPFD team decided to make an even bigger impact at last year’s event.
On Walk day, the entire team wore their full firefighting gear, with five team members also wearing an oxygen mask, while walking the entire 5 km route.
“We know that people living with MS have many symptoms, and we wanted to show others who don’t live with the disease what it could possibly feel like,” said team captain Brad Williams. Looking back on the past three years as a participant, Brad’s favorite memory is of his team crossing the finish line as a group, arm in arm - a demonstration of their team’s commitment to extinguishing MS.
While Williams was among the first members of the SPFD Extinguishes MS team to join the walk, it has only taken a few years for the members to grow the team from eight team members, to over 35.
And while this year may have been a little tougher to raise funds due to a slower local economy, with the increased size in the SPFD Extinguishes MS team, there is no doubt that efforts will once again be successful.
People are willing to support the walk, because “it’s a good cause,” says Williams, who was initially asked to be a volunteer, but instead offered to be a participant in the walk.
While members won’t be walking in their full gear this year, the team does have plans to stand out a little on May 13. Exactly what they will be doing is set to be a surprise on walk day.
This year’s Jayman BUILT MS Walk is set to take place on May 13. The 2017 walk signifies the event’s 10-year anniversary in St. Paul.
Much of the funds raised through the walk remain in the Lakeland area, helping support people who have been diagnosed with the often-debilitating disease. A large portion of the funds also goes to groundbreaking, Canadian-lead research in hopes of one day extinguishing MS.
In honour of the walk’s 10-year anniversary, organizers are hoping the 2017 walk is one to remember. Entertainment by local artists Boomtown, Cassidy Zahar, and Tianna Tanasichuk will add an extra fun element to the day.
“It will be a day to remember,” according to information from the Lakeland MS Society.
For more information, and to get involved in the upcoming walk, visit mswalks.ca – the St. Paul walk will begin at the St. Paul Rec. Centre at 10 a.m. There will be options for 2km, 5km, and 10km walk routes, or 5km, 10km, and half marathon runs.
Online efforts by local participants can also be viewed on the website, and donations to team members, such as the SPFD, can also be made via the website.
Local organizer Brenda Rosychuk can be contacted at (587) 465-0185 or by email at [email protected]
