Happy Canada Day!

The MS Society of Canada would like to wish all our members, sponsors, volunteers and partners a happy Canada Day. On July 1st, we celebrate the history, growth and accomplishments of our country. We’d also like to take a moment to think about the thousands of Canadian families living with multiple sclerosis, and thank all of our supporters for their contributions in the fight to end MS.

Have a great holiday!

Sounding the Bagpipes at the 2010 Orangeville MS Walk

Overcast weather didn’t stop almost 250 participants from showing their support at the 2010 Orangeville MS Walk. Thank you to all of the participants, including a loyal group who has been walking to end MS for many years now. This year, the Orangeville MS Walk raised almost $60,000 towards multiple sclerosis research and support.

The Orangeville MS Walk would not be possible without the hard work of the organizing committee, who each year seek out the sponsors, participants, volunteers and performers who continue to make the event a success. For Muriel Bosomworth, the committee’s chair, 2010 marks her tenth year as part of the organizing committee!

Thank you again to all of the Orangeville MS Walk participants, sponsors and volunteers for your dedication and support. See you all next year on April 17th for the 2011 Orangeville MS Walk!

Team Spirit Flies High at the 2010 Bolton-Caledon MS Walk

The 12th annual Bolton-Caledon MS Walk was another great success this year, with lots of enthusiastic teams showing off their team spirit! Deb’s Divas sported colourful leis and Hawaiian grass skirts, and Grant’s Angels not only volunteered at the check-in tables as greeters, they also took the important job of supervising the food area! We welcomed several rookie teams this year, including Dot-Dash, Johnny Walkers, Lacing Up for Liberation, and many more. All teams in Bolton-Caledon truly made a difference in the lives of people living with MS.

Other highlights of the 2010 Bolton-Caledon MS Walk: face painters getting everyone in a festive mood; Kate Moura’s beautiful rendition of the National Anthem; Dorothy Smith and her helpers handing out carnations at the finish line, and of course, pizza and hotdogs!

Thanks to the sponsors, the participants, the volunteers and YOU! Bolton-Caledon is bringing us one step closer to a cure.

Celebrating the 2010 Mississauga MS Walks

MS Walk season has wrapped up for 2010. It’s now time to enjoy the long, warm days of summer and celebrate our success. EveryStepMatters.ca will help you stay connected to the MS Walk community this summer with highlights from local MS Walks in your community*. You are invited to comment, share your thoughts and keep the movement to end MS going all summer.

*Not all communities will have posts. We will be selecting stories that represent different regions and aspects of the MS Walk.

Today we shine the spotlight on the 2010 Mississauga MS Walks:

On the beautiful morning of April 18th, the City of Mississauga showed its support in the fight to end MS by hosting both the Lakeshore and Streetsville MS Walks. Together, they attracted almost 900 walkers and raised over $220, 000.

This year, Mississauga walkers were joined by 10-time MS Walk participant David Knight at the Lakeshore MS Walk, along with their own local shining stars, like Nettie Roelfsema and her team “Cheerful Walkers.” Their endless support and explosive energy on walk day speak volumes of their dedication to this community and the MS Society of Canada.

The Mississauga Chapter and the MS Society of Canada would like to take this opportunity to thank all participants, team captains, sponsors and volunteers who made this event a success! We hope to see you all out next year on April 17, 2011.

Visit one of Ontario’s Scenic Trails

Interested in keeping up your walking routine but tired of the scenery in your neighbourhood? Grab a family member, grab a friend, or join a walking club and explore one of Ontario’s beautiful trails.

Many local trails are also wheelchair accessible, such as:

Bowmanville Harbour Conservation: Located on Lake Ontario in the Municipality of Clarington, there is a boat launch, parking and nearby access to the waterfront. Numerous parks and trails weave through the Bowmanville Harbour Conservation Area and nearby Port Darlington Marina.

Whitby Waterfront Trail: The Waterfront Trail follows the shore of Lake Ontario from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Quinte West. Whitby's Waterfront Trail is off-road and paved. There are a number of beautiful natural areas to enjoy, such Lynde Shore Conservation Area, the last remnant of old-growth white pines on the north shore of Lake Ontario.

Uptown Toronto: This Uptown Discovery Walk leads you through neighbourhoods just north of the City’s core. Hidden among the low-rise and high-rise residential, commercial and institutional buildings, you will discover a rich variety of parks, gardens and streetscapes.

Visit the Ontario Trails official website for a list of accessible trails.

Know a great trail in your area? Tell us about it! Visit our Facebook page, click on the arrow tab on top of the page and select “Discussions”.

13th Annual RBC/MS Golf Tournament a Success!

A sincere thank you to all the golfers who participated in Friday’s Multiple Sclerosis Charity Golf tournament, presented by RBC Procurement. Now in its 13th year, Friday’s tournament was another great success.

Approximately 450 golfers came out to the Angus Glen Golf Club in Markham, Ontario, and together raised $400,000. These funds will be specifically directed towards paediatric multiple sclerosis research. The MS Society currently funds significant research led by Dr. Brenda Banwell at the Hospital for Sick Children, and through her, all paediatric MS clinics in Canada. Dr. Banwell is a leader in the study in the progression of MS in Canadian children.

Thank you to all participating golfers, sponsors, and volunteers for your support. To view photos from the event, click here.

Keep on Walking

You showed us how great you are at walking for a cause, but let’s keep walking for our own health. Consider adding some walking time to your weekly routine.

Regular walking is a healthy exercise that has multiple benefits. It is an aerobic exercise (it keeps your heart strong) that doesn’t require equipment, subscriptions, special apparel or specific locations, just comfortable shoes to avoid minor injuries. It can be enjoyed by anyone, anywhere, regardless of gender or age.

Walking can improve your mood, help you get a better night’s sleep, and help you maintain a healthy weight. Aim to schedule in 30 minutes of well-paced walking at least 3-4 times a week. You can do it on your lunch hour, before, or after work. For extra motivation, set specific goals and times, and ask a friend or two to join you. Finally, keep looking for new trails and paths in your area to explore—try to add variety to your walking routine!

Happy exercising!

We want to hear from you!

We have officially reached the end of the 2010 MS Walk season, and thanks to you, it’s been a great success. You’ve made every step matter and helped to raise over $6 million in Ontario!

We’d like to give you the opportunity to tell us about your MS Walk experience.
To share your thoughts, visit our Facebook page, and find the Discussion tab in the tab menu, or under the arrow tab. We can’t wait to hear from you!

MS Walk Top Fundraiser in LA!

This April, Canadian MS supporters were well represented in Los Angeles, California!

Through incredible hard work and dedication, Nancy Lester, a participant in the London, Ontario MS Walk, raised over $11,000 in pledges. She became an MS Top Fundraiser, and as her prize, travelled to Los Angeles in April for the Los Angeles MS Walk.

Read about Nancy’s exciting experience below:

“My name is Nancy Lester and I am the top fundraiser for the London MS Walk. I have Multiple Sclerosis. I am also a breast cancer survivor of 26 years. A few years ago I was attending a MS appreciation night where I met a lady who had raised $6000 for MS. I said to my husband Larry, "I can do that!"

I got busy and contacted local businesses in our small town of Tillsonburg. I emailed and phoned everyone I knew. With Larry's help, I was able to raise over $11,000, which I have continued to raise each year. As an incentive, when you raise over $10,000 you can choose any city in North America to visit and walk in their MS Walk. Larry and I have walked in San Francisco, Boston, New York City, Washington and this past April, we walked in Los Angeles.

The Walk was amazing, with over 6000 people walking around the Rose Bowl. We met so many wonderful people and they were so welcoming to us. I even had one fellow walker serenade me with his ukulele!

LA was also amazing. We did some sight seeing and saw Hollywood, Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills. Of course, when in LA, one has to do a "star" search. After hearing the American Idol judges were doing the Larry King show I decided to make my way to the CNN building to see if I could spot them.

To my surprise Ryan, Kara, Randy and even Simon Cowell stopped for a picture and signed an autograph. They were so friendly and accommodating. When I told Simon I had MS and had walked in the MS Walk, both in Ontario and in LA, he was very impressed and said I looked very fit. I will take that from America’s top judge. It was an incredible experience.

Fighting back against MS has turned into a journey I could not have imagined. It has brought so many opportunities and unexpected rewards. I will continue to commit my time and energy to end MS.”

To see the rest of Nancy’s pictures with the American Idol judges, visit the MS Walk Facebook page and click the “Photos” tab.