Multiple Sclerosis Sufferers Go the Distance

NZ MASTERS GAMES MEDIA RELEASE 9 FEBRUARY 2012

Multiple Sclerosis Sufferers Go the Distance

The further they walked the wobblier they became but six women with Multiple Sclerosis completed the 5km Walk at the Masters Games last night in Dunedin and one won a Bronze Medal.

“It was an absolutely awesome night with everyone in the grandstand clapping and cheering every time one of the women entered the Caledonian ground, it was so emotional”, said Liz Carroll- Lowe, MS Development Coordinator from the Otago Multiple Sclerosis Society.

The 6 women with MS who walked were part of a group which included 6 other MS sufferers who travelled the 5ks in wheelchairs. Liz says everyone in the group was buzzing when they had finished.

“One woman who became very wobbly actually fell over once but got right up and carried on and finished the race. Afterwards she said it was the first time in many, many years that she had achieved something. Even those in the wheel chairs, you would think it would be easy for them, but keeping their hands on the controls is very difficult for them and they have to use their energy to concentrate on steering. Fatigue is a real problem with MS so the 5Km Walk was very tiring but they all did it and have felt such immense pride from their achievement.

Mel Hogue was absolutely stoked with the Bronze Medal in the 35-39yr age group. No one had been thinking about medals as finishing was to be a reward in itself.”

Liz says they wanted to show the community what MS sufferers can do, not what they can’t. Now, according to Liz they are already planning their next event.

“They want to start fundraising so they can enter the Masters Games in Wanganui next year.”

NZ MASTERS GAMES 2012
Dunedin