With the goal of raising money, about 70 people headed out on the Rotary Trail on the riverbank Saturday afternoon.
It was the annual Saskatchewan Blue Cross MS Walk.
Taking part were people living with the disease and those there to support them.
Kayle Brown came down from La Ronge with her family for the event.
She was diagnosed a little more than a year ago, and said the past year has had its ups and downs.
“I had one attack in my leg where it lost strength in it,” she said, but La Ronge doctors were able to give her the medication and care she needed. She hasn’t had a big attack since.
The young woman said having support from family and friend helps, especially since she is so young – the average age to be diagnosed is 34 years old.
“It was a big shock, but what can you, it’s the path that’s given to you, you learn to adapt and accept it,” Brown said.
Bernie Weinkauf has being living with Multiple Sclerosis for 40 years.
She has been taking part in the MS walk for the past 15 years.
“I think it is a good idea for people to get involved and the more money raised, the better,” she said.
“It’s for a good cause, it’s to do research – all the money that we can possible raise (is important), especially now with the liberation treatment that they are going to be researching.”
Weinkauf said she is not interested in leaving the country for the treatment, but is excited about the research being done in Saskatchewan.
“I would like to be the first one they do it on,” she said with a smile.
As of Sunday morning, the group raised about $22,000 from the walk, but money will still be coming in for the next two weeks.
All the money that was raised during Saturday’s event goes to research in Canada and client services in Saskatchewan to help cover costs of things such as strength training, tai chi and swimming.
klavoie@panow.com
