ST. PAUL – Members of the Lakeland community came together to raise awareness and funding for multiple sclerosis (MS) during the 2025 St. Paul Jayman BUILT MS Walk on May 25 at the Lagasse Park.
The event was part of the over 50 MS walks that took place across the nation on the same day.
The St. Paul-based walk already surpassed its fundraising goal of $60,000, having raised over $61,000 as of May 26, according to the walk's online donation website.
MS is a disease that erodes the body’s ability to communicate with the brain and function normally, affecting vision, memory, balance, and mobility. There is still no cure for MS.
Over 90,000 Canadians live with MS, with Alberta having the highest rate of MS across "the world," said Brenda Rosychuk, manager of community fundraising for western Canada with MS Canada.
"We're all here because we've been affected by MS in some way or another. Whether you're personally affected by MS, or you're here to show your support for a friend, a neighbour, or a loved one – thank you," she said.
Experience with MS
Kassidy Doonanco from Glendon was present during the Walk. She shared some of her experiences living with MS. With MS, "Life . . . can change in an instant," she said.
In 2019, when Doonanco was working as a flight attendant in Calgary, she unexpectedly woke up and lost half of her vision. After going through multiple tests, she was diagnosed with MS.
"I've gone through many relapses combined with countless MRIs, new symptoms, some acute pains, and I've bounced back as much as I can. But I do still struggle," said Doonanco.
She said it is through the "immeasurable" support of family and friends that holds her that she can continue on, she added. Doonanco remains positive and encourages others with MS to do the same.
"To anyone who has been recently diagnosed, just know that it's OK to grieve the loss of the person that you thought you would become," she said, adding that even if their new life might be a little blurry - life is still beautiful. "So, just keep your head up."
Fundraising efforts
MS Canada helps fund over 100 research initiatives with the goal of finding a cure for MS.
According to Rosychuk, because of the research, the world knows more about the disease, including having gained more knowledge about the Epstein Barr virus as a strong risk factor for developing MS.
"We also know more about the importance of an early diagnosis and early intervention to help protect brain health," she added. Early diagnosis, in particular, could help minimize disease activity and delay the disease's progression.
As of 2025, MS Canada has raised $244 million to MS research in Canada, and that's because of all the efforts of Canadians across the nation, said Rosychuk.
