Battling MS through action
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Sherry McGarry was diagnosed with MS one year ago. She has raised $10,000 with a team of 30 people to walk in the Super Cities Walk for MS fundraiser on Sunday.
Newly diagnosed MS patient walks for cause
Shortly after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Sherry McGarry attended her first support group meeting and what she saw scared her.
“There was about 20 people in the group and I would say 16 were in wheelchairs and not moving real well at all,” McGarry said. “I had a real hard time with that.”
Seeing her discomfort, MS Society counsellor Bonny Pashak was quick to intervene. “Bonny came in and said ‘I think this is the wrong group for you, I don’t think you’re ready for this.”
Pashak helped coordinate a new group for the newly diagnosed who meet weekly.
“We’ve become just an amazing support group,” McGarry said. “If I’m having a bad day, I know where to go and who to call.
“My husband tries (to understand) and my mom tries and they’ve read the literature and that sort of thing, but it’s not the same. It’s not the same as knowing how it feels to wake up and have your leg be totally numb.”
McGarry said the society has been wonderful and its counsellors have helped both her and her daughter.
“She’s 10 and she has a little bit of a hard time wondering why fun mom who used to take her on bobcat rides and all these things is now not able to do that.”
Aside from a numb right side, McGarry’s eyesight is deteriorating and she suffers from balance and memory problems.
McGarry gave up her job managing a driveway paving company and now reserves a three-hour chunk of time to napping each day.
But one year after her diagnosis, McGarry is still quick to laugh and has thrown herself into the upcoming Super Cities Walk for MS, a fundraiser for the MS Society on Sunday (April 13).
With 30 people on her walking team, McGarry’s thrown three major fundraisers for the event, including a dance and silent auction, a games night and a garage sale. The team has raised more than $10,000.
“People have come from all different walks and parts of my life and joined and become a part of this,” said McGarry. “It’s been really great and it’s nice to see the support.”
While the walk has three distance options, three, six and nine kilometres, McGarry is hoping to complete the shortest walk.
For a woman who’s been playing soccer for 25 years, McGarry is thankful she can walk at all.
“One of my goals is to try to be back on the soccer pitch before I pass. I may be swinging at the air with my foot because I can’t see the ball, but that’s OK.”
rholmen@saanichnews.com
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