Walk for MS

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, rare disease in which the immune system eats away at the protective covering of nerves. Less than 200,000 Americans a year get diagnosed. Sarah Hicks, senior, was diagnosed in 2011 and has been fighting since. She is attending the MS Walk fundraising event on Saturday, May 6th at Canyon View Park. This event is a way for people with MS to get in contact with others with MS as well as some information regarding new research and such that has been done to treat MS. Thousands of dollars are raised each year and the large portion of it goes to research to find a cure.

“This event is very special to me because I have been diagnosed with MS since 2011, and it is such an honor to be surrounded by so many people fighting the same fight. I also get to talk with just about everyone with MS that attends, so I feel as though I get to share my story and encourage others to keep fighting, and that is such a rewarding feeling! In addition, I am running my own team again this year, Team Sweet Potatoes, and we are hoping to raise $5000 dollars,” Sarah Hicks, senior said.
Hicks team Sweet Potatoes is participating in the Walk for MS

“MS had affected me in ways I never imagined. It has taken its physical toll on me for sure. In 6th grade, I went blind in one eye, and then when that returned to normal I got double vision. I have had for 2 years now a numbness in my legs and fingers, but I have been very lucky with my relapses and recovery. MS has also taken friends. Taken people from me that I thought would always stick with me but they didn’t know how to handle things when I relapsed again. It has made going to school somewhat difficult: cognitively I struggle. Sometimes I can’t think of words or even names of people that I have been in school with for years. Sometimes, I will talk and suddenly forget all of what I was talking about. However, through all of this, my family keeps me strong. I have horses which are a great therapy for me physically and emotionally,” Hicks said.

“My thoughts about my MS are that I have it and it sucks. But there is nothing I can do to change it, so I choose to use it to encourage others. I want to show people that just because you face adversity, just because your life changes drastically and you lose people and things and abilities, does not mean life is over. You just keep fighting. So I choose to show up everyday with a smile on my face, ready to take on the world. I refuse to let MS hold me back from the people and places and things that I love, and I choose to use it to help others, and that is what keeps me strong,” Hicks said.
Everyone is welcome to join Team Sweet Potatoes and to attend the event. To learn more about MS, ask Hicks about her story, meet new people and help Hicks raise money to discover a cure for MS.