Walking for a Cure

Multiple Sclerosis is a neurological condition that affects millions of people worldwide. In April, survivors and advocates gathered in Woodward Park for the 2022 Walk For MS to raise money and garner awareness for the disease.

People with MS often battle with extreme fatigue and debilitating cramping. During flares people may even experience a loss of mobility or vision. Although many of the symptoms may not be visible to others, the disease can significantly impact one’s life.

“There was a time I didn’t look so good. There was a time that I did have problems with my walking and I couldn’t see and did have coordination issues,” said Fotini Alfeares who was diagnosed in 2007.

Neurologist Nithat Sarwar explains that a large reason people go undiagnosed for so long is because symptoms tend to come and go. 

“When young people are having some symptoms, don’t ignore them because MS tends to heal by itself,” she said. “So people, if they’re having symptoms and they’re getting better, should always seek more help or run it by their primary care physicians, you know, and don’t ignore it.”

Today, there are 23 approved treatments for MS. The $35 thousand raised for this year’s walk will go toward progressing research and current medicines.

“To think that 15 years ago there were only five approved treatments and even 20 years before that there was barely anything, maybe one approved treatment. So to see how far we’ve gotten is why these events are important,” said Alfeares. “We are going to find a cure, and it’s going to happen, I’m convinced in my lifetime.”