The Alumni Run Crew made it our goal for 2017 to raise money in support of the MS Walk Campaign with one of our very own Alumni runners, Candice Thomas.
We love to show our #alumnilove for other people within our community. Today I write to you about one of our own very special people- Candice Thomas. Candice is a vibrant and energetic member of the Alumni Run Crew and this year Candice celebrated a huge running milestone. She ran her very first half marathon, that is 21.1 km! We are all very proud of her hard work and dedication.
Candice has MS.
What is MS?
Canada has the highest rate of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the world, with an estimated 100,000 Canadians living with the disease. While it is most often diagnosed in young adults aged 15 to 40, younger children and older adults are also diagnosed with the disease.
MS is currently classified as an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord). The disease attacks myelin, the protective covering of the nerves, causing inflammation and often damaging the myelin. Myelin is necessary for the transmission of nerve impulses through nerve fibres. If damage to myelin is slight, nerve impulses travel with minor interruptions; however, if damage is substantial and if scar tissue replaces the myelin, nerve impulses may be completely disrupted, and the nerve fibres themselves can be damaged.
MS is unpredictable and can cause symptoms such as extreme fatigue, lack of coordination, weakness, tingling, impaired sensation, vision problems, bladder problems, cognitive impairment and mood changes. Its effects can be physical, emotional and financial. Currently there is no cure, but each day researchers are learning more about what causes MS and are zeroing in on ways to prevent it.
What causes MS?
Despite decades of research, the cause remains a mystery. The best current evidence suggests that lifestyle, environmental, genetic and biological factors all contribute. All these areas are being actively examined. Studies funded by the MS Society are asking if certain risk factors, such as gender, age, family history or lifestyle habits impact a person’s susceptibility to MS.
Who gets MS?
MS can occur at any age, but is usually diagnosed between the ages of 15 to 40, peak years for education, career- and family-building. MS has been diagnosed in children as young as two years old – and in far older adults. It has some peculiarities: MS is three times as likely to occur in women as in men and is more common in people of northern European background.
Is there hope for a cure?
Absolutely. Researchers are zeroing in on what causes MS and exploring ways to repair the damage it causes and ways to prevent MS from occurring. The MS Society of Canada and its related MS Scientific Research Foundation fund investigation into many aspects of the disease including:
Progression/therapies – Examines current or potential therapies for MS and seeks to improve imaging technology to better visualize what happens in the brain.
Cause/risk factors – Investigates potential triggers of MS and why some factors may increase susceptibility to MS.
Nerve damage/repair – Focuses on the cellular mechanisms that result in either damage or repair of myelin and underlying nerve cells.
Symptom management/quality of life – Probes how MS affects day-to-day living and develops treatments that more effectively manage symptoms.