Kayla Loos does it for her little brother Kory and her aunt Andrea Alfoldy who live with the disease.
She does it for her late aunt Reg 鈥� who they lost to Multiple Sclerosis several years ago.
Loos is the organizers of the annual MS Walk in 91原创, and she does it for all of her family stricken with the debilitating and potentially fatal disease. But she also does it for all the people she鈥檚 never met, who are afflicted.
Loos, is a young Delta woman who has participated in a number of MS Walks through the years, dating back to 2005. Two years ago, however, she decided to ramp up her volunteer involvement.
That鈥檚 when she took on the coordinator鈥檚 role 鈥� alongside her mother, Christa Fox 鈥� for the 91原创 walk. It鈥檚 one of 140 treks being taken in communities across Canada to raise money to help those affected by MS.
This year鈥檚 walk, much to Loos鈥� delight, attracted even more participants and raised even more money than last year.
Last year there were about 150 participants in the Sunday morning walk. This year, that number jumped to 200.
Last year they raised close to $23,000. This year, that tally has already exceeded $33,000, and it鈥檚 Loos鈥� hope that even more will come in from yet uncollected pledges.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 amazing,鈥� Alfoldy said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really helped to advance research, help people get funding for medication, and just be more comfortable in talking about their MS,鈥� explained Alfoldy, who lives with the disease.
While Loos and Fox have been working for the past few months to organize the event, Alfoldy (of Mission) was the family member to grab a microphone and serve as host for the morning fundraiser.
And several of family members worked behind the scenes on the logistics of the event, there were a few members of Loos鈥� family who also took part in the shorter leg of the MS Walk. That included Loos鈥� 87-year-old grandmother Margaret Fox, of Vancouver, as well as her little brother, Kory (now 21) who was diagnosed at age 14.
鈥淲ho knows where he鈥檇 be without the MS Society,鈥� Loos said. 鈥淚鈥檓 so proud of him鈥� I鈥檓 really proud of them (the MS Society) and I need to give back to them,鈥� Loos addded.
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Uniting for a common goal
鈥淐anada has one of the highest rates of multiple sclerosis in the world,鈥� Alfoldy told the crowd.
鈥淭oday, we鈥檙e gathered together to collectively show that we鈥檝e chosen to help change this.鈥�
The walk was attended by a number of local teams.
Lori Mahon of Cloverdale walked with her two daughters 鈥� Hannah, 10, and Robyn, six 鈥� and a handful of other family and friends on Sunday.
She was diagnosed with MS in September 2016, and the following May participated in her first walk.
She鈥檚 back again this year with a team. And this time out, with the support of her cousin and others, Team Lori managed to raise more than $1,000 for the cause.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a big family event for us,鈥� Lori said.
鈥淲e鈥檙e all going through it together,鈥� she said, specifically spotlighting the support she receives from her daughters. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e a huge part of my life鈥� they鈥檙e what keeps me going at the end of the day.鈥�
Other teams included Team Agrima, with more than 60 members, Team Hunger, Taylor鈥檚 Team, For a Cure, and Pamela鈥檚 Team.
鈥淭he money you have raised today,鈥� Alfoldy said, 鈥渕akes it possible for the MS Society to keep providing services and resources we need so much for people living with MS right now, as well as to fund research for a cause and a cure and to help people affected by MS enhance their quality of life.鈥�
In addition to the fundraising walk on Sunday, the MS Society is also hosting a bike tour this summer in the Fraser Valley, a two-day trek on July 14 and 15.
For more information, people can visit .
