Feb 19, 2009
The Courage to be Open: Cary Resident Prepares for Triangle Walk MS
Arthur Vargas
In difficult times people often lose what they once took for granted. It’s ironic then, in the face of such loss, people are frequently at their best; case in point, MS activist Trish Miller.
A Team Leader
Miller found out she had multiple sclerosis four years ago and struggled initially to accept the diagnosis and be open about her disease. But within a year’s time, she sought out the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Eastern NC Chapter where she learned about Walk MS, an annual fundraiser walk hosted by the Society. She’s been a team captain at the event ever since. She knew walking was not only something she could do, but an activity to involve her friends and family in as well. The realization was the first indication of her skills as a team captain. At Walk MS, teams get involved under a variety of circumstances. They may be supporting corporations, groups of friends and family or people who have just met.
Teams range in size from large corporate participants of one-hundred or more to individual families and friends of just 4 or 5. It is the responsibility of the team captain to recruit, organize and lead participants toward a common fundraising goal. Last year, without the resources or network of corporate teams, Miller led a team of forty-two people in an RBC Center orbit worth five-thousand dollars, which was their goal for that year. For those who live with MS, the personal significance alone is more than enough motivation to go the extra mile, in every sense of the phrase. Miller aims to raise seven-thousand dollars at this year’s walk.
An Early Call Inspires Action
Miller is no stranger to neurological disease and her interest in advocacy has its roots in a personal history. “My mother had ALS which is closely related to MS,” she says. “In those days not very much was known about diseases like ALS,” she explains. The diagnosis of her mother, combined with the lack of research and public awareness regarding neurological disorders, prompted Miller to educate herself and others. This lifelong campaign intensified and focused more on MS when she was diagnosed.
Such advocacy and education could not have been possible without the courage to be open about her MS. “When I was first diagnosed I had difficulty being open about my disease,” she says. “But my willingness to be open really inspired my friend’s and family’s involvement.” And inspiration, as it turns out, is contagious. “I’m really excited to see growing numbers of people participating in the walk who don’t have MS,” she says. The observation speaks to a growing awareness among the public and the ingenuity of grassroots campaigning. With a diverse platform of fundraising events like Bike MS, Challenge Walk and Walk MS, the Society’s pool of potential participants runs almost as deep as the cause it supports. Miller has also stretched her own involvement beyond participation in a single event.
Trish of all Trades
Last year Miller organized a yard sale prior to the walk to raise more money. Anyone interested in simultaneously getting rid of excess belongings and bettering the lives of those with MS could contribute to the yard sale. She’s doing it again this year. Miller is also a part of the Speaker’s Bureau and recently presented to a local Kiwanis Club. Still in its infancy at only six months, the mission of the Speaker’s Bureau is to increase awareness about MS and garner support for research prevention.
Paula Lipford, the Bureau’s creator and manager of volunteer services at the Society’s Eastern Chapter, envisages future presentations to local organizations, corporations and churches. The Speaker’s Bureau is an excellent way for volunteers to get involved with MS advocacy. When asked what her favorite part was about being involved in a variety of activities, Miller talked about the chance to forge new relationships and make memories. Specifically with Walk MS, she has the opportunity for new friendships and family time.
Camaraderie, Children and Courage
The camaraderie is what Miller says she enjoys the most about the walk and “watching the children have fun.” In recent years after the walk Miller’s team has concluded with fellowship and refreshment. “We tailgate after the walk,” says Miller. Tailgating after the walk is becoming increasingly popular and the celebration is the perfect exclamation point on the statement the day makes about MS awareness and research. The walk also features live music, catered food and face painting which helps make it an event with something for every age. The event’s fundraising goal is $830,000.
The willingness to accept and be open about loss requires the faith that what you stand to gain is more valuable than what you have lost. People with MS face daily challenges and looking at each one as an opportunity is a philosophy the rest of us could learn from. And to that extent, I’m grateful to those with the courage to share.
About Triangle Walk MS
The Eastern North Carolina Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is excited to announce the 2009 Triangle Walk MS is scheduled for April 25 at the RBC Center in Raleigh. Walk MS, an annual fundraiser in its 20th year, is an opportunity for individuals to support the estimated 4,600 individuals who are living with multiple sclerosis in eastern North Carolina. The event’s fundraising goal is $830,000. Sixty percent of all the funds raised will go toward programs, services and advocacy for people living with MS in eastern North Carolina, and 40 percent supports national research to find the cause and cure of MS. In addition to the one, three and five mile walks, the event will feature live entertainment, food vendors and kids’ activities. Registration is now open for the 2009 event. Start a team today with your family, friends and coworkers. For more information, registration and event sponsorship, visit http://walknct.nationalmssociety.org or call 1-800 FIGHT MS.
About Multiple Sclerosis:
Multiple sclerosis interrupts the flow of information from the brain to the body and stops people from moving. Every hour in the United States, someone is newly diagnosed with MS, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with more than twice as many women as men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 400,000 people in the U.S. and 2.5 million worldwide.
About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
MS stops people from moving. The National MS Society exists to make sure it doesn’t. The Eastern North Carolina Chapter, located in Raleigh, serves the over 4,600 individuals affected by MS in our 49-county area. We help each person address the challenges of living with MS. Each year, through our home office and 50-state network of chapters, we devote approximately $125 million to programs and services that enhance more than one million lives to move us closer to a world free of MS. In 2007, the Society invested more than $46 million to support 440 research projects around the world. We are people who want to do something about MS NOW. If you or someone you know has MS, please contact the National MS Society today at www.nationalMSsociety.org/nct or 1-800 FIGHT MS to learn about ways to help manage multiple sclerosis and about current research that may one day reveal a cure.