Team Captain, Heather at Walk MS 2011
My niece, Veronica (Roni), lived with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) for over 20 years before passing away on September 3, 2010. Veronica had a vivacious spirit and vibrant smile even as she spent her final years with severe limited mobility, lovingly cared for by her husband and daughter at home.
"Running for Roni" Team 2011
Walk MS
Veronica’s daughter, Heather, has headed up a Walk MS team in Joliet, Illinois in her mom’s honor for many years and will once again lead “Running for Roni” in her memory on Sunday, May 6, 2012. I’ll be joining Heather and thousands of others across America walking to create a world free of Multiple Sclerosis.
The cause of MS is still not known and there is not a cure.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an often debilitating disease that attacks the central nervous system, interrupting the flow of information between the brain and the body. Symptoms vary from one person to another and range from mild numbness to severe paralysis or vision loss. It affects 400,000 people in the United States, and every hour someone is newly diagnosed.
There is hope.
Advances are being made in research and new treatments are being developed that give hope to people affected by MS. The money raised for Walk MS funds research and provides educational programs and services to help those living with MS and their families.
How you can help.
I encourage you to learn more about Multiple Sclerosis and what you can do to make a difference by visiting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s website.
Thank you!
Eager Running for Roni Teammates
Participating in great causes feels good on so many levels. I have done MS bike rides in the past and not only do I enjoy helping out a good cause, I have always been impressed with how well they organize the MS events.
That’s great that you’ve done the bike rides. The Nat’l MS Society really does do a great job organizing these events. I’ve done the walks in other locations, too, and they’ve all been successes.
Great cause….looks like you and the family really make the most of it out there!
It’s a very upbeat, happy day. Everyone feels like they’re doing something positive to help the cause and honor Roni.
What a great cause and a wonderful way to get together with family and friends. Go “Running for Roni” Team =)
Thanks! 🙂
Very touching, Cathy. Such a lovely way to remember your niece!
Thanks for your kind comment, Sophie.
Great idea, Cathy. A lovely way to remember your niece.
I did a stroke run a few years ago for my grand-aunt and all the folks who’re affected. It felt so empowering!
Good for you doing the stroke run. I think we all want to know that we’re doing something positive that can help to make a difference.
Good luck in your Walk, and we hope you hit your goal.
Thanks, I’m working on it. Appreciate your support! 🙂
This is a very good cause, Cathy, unfortunately I know quite a few people with Multiple Sclerosis, some doing ok considering their condition, some doing not well. It’s very sad to see them getting worse, I’m very sorry about your niece.
Thanks, Angela. It is sad to watch the disease get hold of friends and loved ones, but there is so much hope for the future with research for treatments and finding a cure. I wish the best for the people you know who are living with this disease.
What a wonderful way to honor Roni. Look at all of those smiling faces — she must have been an exceptional, extremely happy person!
She was an exceptional, loving person with a million dollar smile.
My friend is participating again this year too! Her soon-to-be daughter-in- law was diagnosed with MS two years ago at the ripe old age of 24. I would love to join her but have another family commitment in Southern CA. This is such a nasty disease and you are doing great work!
Thanks, Debbie. The walk is a great opportunity for those living with MS and their friends and families to get out there and show support. It’s a very uplifting event. The MS Society is doing great work to fund research to find a cure. I wish the best for your friend’s daughter-in-law.
My neighbor, mother of two, in Taiwan also have MS. We know her family for more than 20 years now. It is amazing to watch their family supporting her throughout the process and fight MS with her as one.
Thank you for your inspiring comment. The love and support of family and friends is so important to those living with MS. All the best to them — there is hope!
I love your posts on Roni and remember the one you wrote last year. I’m sure she would be proud to know that her aunt is fighting so hard to find a cure.
Thank you for your kind words, Laurel.
I’m so sorry to hear about your niece, Cathie. What a great cause this is, though.
Thanks, Andrew. I’m proud to be a supporter of this cause!
Strange how you never think about some of these diseases until they affect you personally. My younger brother was diagnosed a couple years ago and I noticed the other day that he is now walking with a slight limp. He’s only in his early 50’s. It breaks my heart.
Jan, thanks for your comment. I’m sorry to hear that your family has been touched by MS, too. But there is so much hope for those dealing with this disease thanks to developments in research and treatments. I wish the best for your brother and hope for a cure to be found very soon.
That was really a great cause that you and your family held. I particularly like participating in awareness campaigns like those and trust me the feeling is good when you know that you are helping somebody out there. It helps a great deal for one to get informed in many areas too.
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