The town of Wawota does not give up easily. When beds were lost at Deer View Lodge, they formed a committee and consistently held their ground until a promise was made to bring some of the beds back in another location in the building. When the old handivan was showing its age, they raised money and bought a new one, and when residents of the town suffered from Multiple Sclerosis, they started annual walks to raise contributions to support research to end the disabling disease.
Early June saw the 16th MS walk in Wawota. It was a beautiful sunny day with no rain, and more than 70 people of all ages came out to support the venture. Local businesses supported it too, with RBC and Sunlife Financial not only giving financial contributions, but also prizes. Additional prizes came from smaller enterprises, including representatives of Mary Kay and Sunset Gourmet.
There was plenty of food for the walkers to enjoy. Local senior Lou McLean held a pit stop at her home with home-made treats and drinks to refresh the participants. Later a BBQ supper was hosted by Kelly and Wendy Greenbank, and it formed a perfect end to a superb day.
Over the years the event has raised more than $80,000 for MS research, with the 2011 contribution being almost $14,900. The top individual fundraisers were Wendy Greenbank($3,201) and Tanya Raffey ($2,531). Top teams included KG and family with $6,436, Raffey's Rebels with $3,021 and RBC raising $2,217.
While there is still no definitive cure for the disease, it is efforts like this that will ultimately win a resounding victory over MS. While current sufferers know they have to battle on, living life as best as they can, seeking alternate approaches and coping strategies, they also know that the day will come when MS is beaten forever. With that in mind, grateful thanks go to all the walkers, volunteers, sponsors and everyone who made a donation and contribution to the event. All being well, 2012 will be even greater!
