MS WALK

It was a cool and sunny morning as our family headed to our community centre for the Annual Supercities Walk for Ms. A crowd of 500 is gathered around the start line with our local radio station booth jamming out the tunes. The kids head inside the centre to get their faces painted while I grab my Starbucks coffee. An annual tradition once again upon us. We head back outside to hear Katie the personal trainer miked and demanding warm up commands to the crowd...the song " let's get this party started" blaring in the background. The runners head to the start line ahead of the walkers...dogs, kids, strollers and wheelchairs also line the area. I see some familiar faces including the lady with the greyhound dog. She has MS and now participates in the walk from her wheelchair...only a few years ago she walked with her cane....a sad reminder of how this disease can change one's life. The whistle blows alerting me back to the start line and the mayor cuts the ribbon.....we are off. We head down Main street our usual way and see the library, Carl's house and all the old century homes. Jamie makes sure he does the annual photo op laying on the usually busy road that is now closed for the walk. Talking and laughing we walk...and I think about how the kids have changed over the years. Katie no longer is in her stroller being pushed to the finish line.... Jamie easily walks the entire 5kms no more shoulder carrying the last lap of the walk... and Justin the team leader ...still compassionate about the cause and at the same time still enjoys the midway refreshment break. The kids are bigger but the reason we do this walk is still the same...we have family that have suffered from MS and walk to raise money to find a cure. As we make our way to the finish line...Jamie runs to make it monumental yet again...and I look at Brian and say...we are so lucky for our kids and their health. We walked for MS because we CAN! Patricia you are in our prayers always.