It's not often a fundraising event allows participants a glimpse into the lives of those they're supporting.
That's just what the MS Foundation of the Cayman Islands aims to do through its first-annual MS Walk & Roll event, a 12-hour walk with a twist – there will be a handful of props used to mimic symptoms of multiple sclerosis and provide a taste of what it's like to live with MS.
"We really wanted to create an event where the community could come together to raise awareness for MS but also to allow people to experience what it is like to have MS," MS Foundation of the Cayman Islands Founder Alyssa Christian said.
"MS is still quite new in the sense that it is not as big or known as other diseases and it is not fully understood. The best way to do this is to have community awareness and education. This will allow for just that and a wider support system for all of our MS warriors in Cayman."
The MS Walk & Roll event is scheduled from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, 4 May, at Camana Bay's Maris parking lot. The goal is to complete as many laps around the lot as possible, but teams will have to do so while using the props provided to them. That could mean, for example, one team member does a lap in a wheelchair.
"The mission of the MS Foundation is to provide emotional and financial support to MS warriors and their families; but to also bring awareness to the community," Christian said. "This walk achieves our mission. It allows the community, sponsors, MS warriors, family and friends to come together for one day, while experiencing a little taste of MS, supporting each other and having fun."
While data on MS in the Cayman Islands is not tracked by the Economics and Statistics Office, the MS Society UK estimates about one in every 500 people in the U.K. has MS. Multiple sclerosis is an immune-mediated condition that affects a person's brain and spinal cord.
The event includes a post-walk party and raffle as well as a cash bar, food trucks and other wellness vendors. Those interested in participating can email info@msfcayman.com for more information and a registration link.
"We hope that one day there is a cure and we won't need a walk," Christian said. "But until that day ... we are grateful that we are able to be there for MS warriors during their journey."
This article was published in the May 2024 print edition of Camana bay Times.