There may not be a cure for Multiple Sclerosis yet, but this past weekend a group of local snowmobilers tried to ride the effort a little closer to home.
Beginning in Mount Forest, 17 sledders took to their snowmobiles and made the long trek to Owen Sound. The trip was initially supposed to begin in Elmira, but after meeting in Lions Park, the group had to drive to Mount Forest and start from there due to a lack of adequate snow on the trails leading from here in town.
Amanda Lynn Mayhew, creator of Fytness Fanatik Magazine and sponsor of the event, was inspired by Michael Adams, a friend with MS, to embark on the snowmobile trek.
“He knows all the work I do with magazine and such and he knew part of the ride we did last year on motorcycles,” she said. “He said it would be a good idea to do on snow machines, so he put together the locations and destinations and we organized it.”
Through the event, which was initially expected to be a five-hour trip, those involved were able to raise more than $1,500 for MS, which far exceeded Mayhew’s expectations.
“I wasn’t expecting the turnout we got,” Mayhew said. “We got more riders than anticipated and the sponsors were really awesome.
Adams, a truck driver who was diagnosed with MS in 2007, said when he was diagnosed, had no idea what the disease was, which is a reflection of many other people out there.
“A lot of people have no clue, but once they figure it out, they go ‘oh wow, that’s not good,’” he said. “It’s a good feeling knowing that you have friends, and people you don’t really know out there trying to help you out. There are a lot of people with MS that need that support.”
Given the nature of the disease, that support is all the more important, Adams said.
“It can be very crippling and destroy somebody’s ego,” he said. “It can put you into depression and just the support from people, everything going on, there might actually be a therapy that could be working on a cure; that’s what we’re all hoping for. This money will help it out.”
Jamie Fenton, another truck driver, was diagnosed with MS in 2003.
“I was driving into the States and the tip of my nose just kind of felt numb. I got down, took 8 hour nap, woke up whole left side of my face was numb, so I thought (it was a) pinched nerve in the back or something,” he said. “I went back and saw doctors, tried to put it off and didn’t think about it. After about a month, the disease started to get worse. The left side of my face started to sag, so I went in and saw specialist. I got a CAT scan and that’s when they found the lesions and realized I had MS.”
The Kapuskasing native, called Rodeo by his friends, said these kinds of events are exactly what he wants to see.
“I want to see people come out and help raise awareness, help raise funds to actually give money to the research companies that help find cures,” he said. “I think (everyone) should come out and take part in it and have fun. This isn’t just about raising awareness, it’s about people getting together and having a good time and supporting a good cause.”
Susan St. John, executive director for the Waterloo district chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, said events like this, put together by members of the community, are essential for financially supporting and sustaining the society.
“They’re the primary events that raise money for the work we do; the core for how we’re able to support our effort,” she said. “Without them there wouldn’t be any work. Every penny we spend in the chapter to support people living with MS is fundraised money.”
The MS society is trying to become better known and raise awareness for MS in the community, something St. John hopes will lead to an increase in events and fundraising.
“The better we become known within the general community, the more clear people will be about the message and the work we do in support of people living with MS; how much it helps improve their lives,” she said.
St. John said she looks at these events and sees all the work that goes into them, but is amazed at how much fun the participants seem to have.
The sum of $1,500 can go a long way, from renovating someone’s bathroom to make it more accessible and user-friendly for someone with MS, to providing outreach and keeping support groups running.
The society is extremely grateful for any and all support that comes in, St. John said.
“We simply couldn’t do as many events as it takes to raise that kind of money; there isn’t enough volunteer power do it all ourselves and we’re so grateful to people like Amanda and her crew,” she said. “It’s just so heart warming and to be able to see it through and see people who are so wonderful. We want the community of Elmira to know that we are so very, very grateful (for their support) and for the efforts of Fytness Fanatik and their drive to help us out.”