Approximately 100 people walked Fort George Park on Sunday to support multiple sclerosis services in Canada.
Nationally it was the 20th anniversary of the Scotiabank MS Walk, walk coordinator Glen Scott said. Locally it is the 11th year residents have taken park in the fundraiser.
"All the money raised by the walk stays in Prince George," Scott said. "We really have threefold targets - making people aware there is a Multiple Sclerosis Society [of Canada] chapter in Prince George, showing our support, and raising money to help eliminate MS."
Multiple sclerosis is a neurological disease which can impair vision, hearing, mobility, balance, speech and memory. It is most commonly diagnosed in people aged 15 to 40 years old - an average of three Canadians per day are diagnosed with the disease, according to the society.
You may know people with multiple sclerosis and not know they have the disease, Scott said.
Prince George MS Society chapter president Louis Kutin was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 14 years ago.
"It's a hard one. When I was diagnosed, I had two small boys," he said. "I didn't know how I'd be able to manage. But you have to do the best you can do."
Kutin said it's great to see so many people from the community come out to support the society and its services.
"This is great," he said. "It's overwhelming to see the support."
Society community services coordinator Joann Smiley said the event typically raises $18,000 a year for the society.
"We're hoping to exceed that today. It's our biggest fundraiser of the year," Smiley said. " As a community, Prince George steps up and helps out every time."
The society offer information, resources, legal and counseling services and can provide assistive equipment, she said.
"Each year we provide $20,000 to $25,000 of equipment," Smiley said. "The more we raise, the more services we can offer our clients."
The final fundraising total was not available as of press time.
