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MS Walk raises over $120,000

The 11th annual Jayman BUILT MS Walk, presented by The Co-operators Saik Insurance Services Ltd drew in a huge crowd and raised thousands of dollars, as 575 participants raised over $120,000, for the MS Society of Canada during the May 12 event.
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The MS Walk took place on May 12 in St. Paul, raising over $120,000.

The 11th annual Jayman BUILT MS Walk, presented by The Co-operators Saik Insurance Services Ltd drew in a huge crowd and raised thousands of dollars, as 575 participants raised over $120,000, for the MS Society of Canada during the May 12 event.

"It was incredible. I think (it went better) than we had hoped for. Our goal was to have 400 people register," coordinator and Manager for Lakeland Regional Office MS Society of Canada Brenda Rosychuk said about the walk.

Rosychuk talked highly of the level of the support the community has shown year in and year out.

"It means a lot to me. I've been doing this walk for the last eight years, and it means we're creating more awareness and we're getting the word out that we're here to end MS, and increase the quality of life with those living with MS."

Multiple Sclerosis is an "autoimmune disease of the central nervous system," according to the MS Society of Canada website. Some symptoms include extreme fatigue, lack of coordination, weakness, and vision problems.

Rosychuk estimates the St. Paul walk has raised over $1.5 million for the MS Society since it's induction in 2007. She says there are a few teams each year that bring in a lot of money.

"Some teams bring in $40,000, some bring in $500, so there's a huge range. We have five or six top fundraisers that always go over $10,000 or $15,000. We're pretty blessed to have those people and everybody who contributes."

Mandy Lakevold was one of this year's participants. Her team was walking in support of her mother and sister's father-in-law who both live with MS.

"It just seems like the more people we know, the more we know people who are affected by it. So we come to St. Paul and we all gather here and do the walk as a family," she said.

Canada has one of the highest rates of MS in the world, with an estimated one in every 340 Canadians living with the disease, according to the MS Society of Canada website.

Lakevold says she comes from Provost each year for the walk, as most of her family members are from the area. They had "about 20," people on their team this year which included both friends and family.

Lakevold's mother, Laura, was diagnosed with MS 18 years ago, and spoke to the level of support on display at the walk.

"It's great. People show up and (they) know MS is going on. MS is different for everybody, such a different disease, so it's nice to see lots of people come."

She added that despite living with MS for almost two decades, it hasn't demobilized her completely.

"I was good for the first 10 years, I was fine. It's just my mobility that has gotten worse the last eight years or so."

Darrel Vistetter's daughter Jodie was diagnosed with MS a little over a year ago when she was just 17 years old. This was his family's first time participating in the walk. Some of her classmates also walked together.

"The initial words - the diagnosis - was tough. But she's doing well, no symptoms right now or anything, but (we know) that's down the road," Vistetter said.

He says they plan to participate in more events like the MS Walk in the future.

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