Sixteen years ago, North Otter resident Jennifer Bryce woke up 鈥渢ingly鈥� and discovered she had difficulties swallowing and was slurring her speech.

She thought she was just half asleep at first, but she couldn鈥檛 shake it off.

鈥淢y husband [Colin] looked at me and said we better get [to] the hospital,鈥� she recalled.

鈥淚t was the scariest morning of my life. The whole world felt like it had just stopped.鈥�

A neurologist told her there was a good chance she could have multiple sclerosis and sent her for an MRI, which confirmed she had relapse-remitting MS.

鈥淚 was in denial for a few days, well, actually a couple of weeks,鈥� Bryce recalled.

It was just a year after she had her daughter Madissyn, despite being told she couldn鈥檛 have children.

鈥淚 wanted to see my daughter grow up and do all the fun mother-daughter stuff,鈥� Bryce said.

Madissyn is now 17.

鈥淭his year, I get to see her graduate.鈥�

So far, the 51-year-old mom said, she has been doing well.

鈥淚 have travelled, I ride my horse, I kayak and dragon boat for the MS Off Balance team in Vancouver, which I love to do with my daughter,鈥� she summarized.

Bruce was featured speaker at the 2024 Fraser Valley MS Walk held in 91原创 City鈥檚 Douglas Park on Sunday, May 26.

This year, the event , with 179 participants raising $44,560 as of Tuesday, May 28.

Bryce had a personal target of $150, and raised $260.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a long road,鈥� for Bryce, who is often asked how she has managed to deal with MS.

鈥淭hey ask me how I do it, and how I do it as a mom, and a wife, and also an active skate mom as well,鈥� she shared.

So how does she do it?

鈥淥ne foot in front of the other,鈥� Bryce said, 鈥� and say, I can beat MS, it鈥檚 not going to beat me.鈥�

Another participant, MS Society volunteer spokesperson Joanne Craven, has been participating in the MS Walk since 1992.

鈥淚鈥檝e been doing it for years and it鈥檚 wonderful,鈥� Craven commented.

鈥淚t鈥檚 just really beneficial and it鈥檚 just a wonderful way to meet people and get involved.鈥�

Craven, who has had MS for 40 years, considers herself to be lucky that she still can walk.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 walk long distances, but I do walk at home with a walker.鈥�

She noted the walk is one of the major fundraisers for helping with MS research and 鈥渢rying to find a cause and a cure.鈥�

READ ALSO: VIDEO: Fraser Valley MS Walk raises $30,000

Nationally, the MS Walk campaign this year had, as of Tuesday, raised $3.4 million towards a $4 million target.

The MS Society provides information, support and advocacy to people affected by MS, and funds research to find the cause and cure for the disease.

Visit or call 1-800-268-7582 for more information.

On June 15, the two-day event will get underway at Thunderbird Show Park in 91原创 at 6975 248th St.

For more information about the bike event, contact kimberley.tobin@mscanada.ca.

READ ALSO: MS Bike ride gets back on the road in 91原创