Walking for a Cure

The Cause:
Twice, I have volunteered at Walk MS, a 5K to raise awareness for Multiple Sclerosis and raise money for research to understand and cure MS. The 5K I volunteered at is one of many across the country. Started in 1988, over 330,000 people now participate in Walk MS 5Ks each year. Through its 5Ks and other events the Walk MS foundation has raised over $920 million dollars for its cause.

Beyond thoroughly enjoying working at this event, I have a personal connection as to why I participate as a volunteer at these 5Ks. Both my aunt and close friend's mom are fighting MS. They are two of the strongest women I know and I would like to support them in anyway I can, even if this just means raising awareness of the disease, creating a community for MS patients, and helping raise money for research.

What I Did:
The two times I volunteered I did different things. The first time I worked at the 5K, I was at a water and snack stop where the walkers could refresh. I directed people which way to go for what, which amused the walkers and by the end of the day I had no voice left.

The second time I volunteered, I helped set up the starting and finishing line, which turns into a dance party zone, prepare and hand out food, cheer the walkers on to the finish line, and hand out medals. While waiting for walkers to arrive at the finish line the volunteers got to know each other better and had a little fun.

When I was cheering, I was with some other volunteers in a tunnel so our voices echoed. We would start a quiet, slow chant and get louder and faster, do the wave, and anything else we could think of to get the walkers to smile and make it through the last stretch.

At the very end of the day it was our turn to break everything down until the following year.

What I Learned:
Most of the people that walk in Walk MS 5Ks are people with MS, their support group, and those walking in honor or memory of a loved one. Working these events taught me about how important a strong support group is. If you have loved ones willing to fight alongside you, through anything, nothing can beat you.

As this video from the National MS Society shows, the 5Ks are all about a time to build community and support those fighting the disease.

Beyond medicine having the will to fight is what will enable someone to win their battle and having their family and friends behind them helps make this possible. Most people walking the 5K are wearing a shirt that is part of a larger group showing who they are supporting in their fight.

Throughout the 5K day, the foundation works to build a larger community by having activities where you can make signs to say who you are supporting, share your story, or leave messages of support for those fighting.

Another lesson I learned volunteering at the 5K is how important perseverance is. The men and women with MS who were walking were some of the most determined people I have ever seen. Some of them walked the entire 5K with a cane or some kind of support but still pushed to make it through, with their family and friends by their side. There were also some people pushing wheelchair bound people through the entire 5K so they too could experience the walk for a cure. Perseverance became particularly important in the second 5K I volunteered at because it turned out to be significantly longer than a 5K because whoever mapped it out messed up, yet the walkers still made it.

This determination goes hand in hand with the last lesson I learned- sometimes you just need that one final push. When I was acting as a cheerleader in the tunnel we could see how tired everyone looked as they approached us. Once we cheered for them and said just up this last hill they seemed to get a final burst of energy and smile as the made one last push to get to the finish line. Some people told us they heard us cheering from pretty far away and were excited to reach us as they approached us.

All the walkers needed was that tiny reminder of why they were there and that people were supporting them in order to complete the race with a smile on their face.

The lesson of perseverance and a final push carry into every day life. In order to succeed in something that may seem impossible, all you really need to do is have a little faith in yourself and push forward. Also, sometimes its nice to have that final push when you don't know you need it. So, next time you see someone trying hard or looking like they are almost read to give up, give them some words of encouragement to help them through their race.