MS Walk 2014 - Our 10 Year Anniversary

On April 27th, Kevin's Heroes walked in the Tri Cities Walk for MS for our 10th year.  10 years!  I can't believe how fast the time has flown by.  It seems like just yesterday that Kevin was on a short-term leave from work because of the double vision, dizziness, lack of balance and coordination and our overwhelming fear that he had a brain tumour.  When we were told Kevin had MS, there were 30 seconds of relief, but then a whole new set of fears and concerns took over.  What is MS?  What does this mean?  Is he going to be in a wheelchair a year from now?

As we all know, Kevin is not in a wheelchair.  All things considered, it's been a pretty 'good' 10 years since his diagnosis with this incurable disease.  When Kevin was first diagnosed, we attended a multi-session seminar at the MS Society for people that were newly diagnosed.  Although it was scary to hear what we could be facing, it was very helpful.  Walking in the MS Walk each year is my way of giving back. 

In 2005, we participated in our first MS Walk, and hosted the first brunch at our house after the walk.  It's funny how 10 years later, the story starts out the same, but ends much, MUCH better!

April 27, 2014:  The day started out wet, but by the time we began our 5 km walk/run (yes, I was running with the kids again this year), the sun was playing peek-a-boo with us. 

Here is our 2014 Kevin's Heroes team (less 4 members that caught up with us 1/2 way through).  We had had 25 walkers on our team this year plus 2 dogs and a cat!  That's right people, a cat..... on a leash!  It was absolutely adorable.  Believe me when I tell you that there were a lot of smiling faces and a TON of energy. 

Before we got started, Bradyn and her friends were tearing around the playground, having a ball.  I knew better than to think she'd be too tired for the walk, despite the fact that she and Kevin didn't get home from an All-Star Wrestling show in Cloverdale until 11:15 pm the night before.  In case you can't make it out, Bradyn wrote 'Catch me if you can' on the back of her shirt.  Catching her was definitely not my priority this year.

Lara, Natasha and Bradyn, at the start line.

Starting out

You may recognize Matthew from last year - he's the boy that Bradyn sprinted most of the 5 km with.  This year I got 'tricked' into running a few sprint races with him - he is FAST!  

Claudia, Ismael, Amaya and Athena

Enjoying snacks at the half-way mark.

The 'missing' members of Kevin's Heroes - 3 Franklins and a friend.

So proud of this little girl.  She whipped through 5 km like it was nothing and 'waited' for me at the finish line.  (OK, she was playing in the park and had no clue when I finally got back, but eventually she came by to say Hi.)

While the entire day was amazing, this is no doubt the best part.  The Tri Cities walk raised $55,000 this year and Kevin's Heroes was the #1 Fundraising team in the Tri Cities walk.  #1!!  There are some things in life that you get tired of hearing over and over again, but this is absolutely not one of them...... We did it again!!!  After doing it two years ago, I didn't know if we would again.  For those of you that received my post-walk email, I told you that we raised $8,445.  As of today, our total is actually $8,500.  Crazy!   That's $1,119 more than last year, and another record-breaking year.  This time Bradyn wasn't too shy, and came up with me to represent the team and accept our certificate.

After receiving our certificate, I have to tell you that there was a little part of me that was sad.  Do you remember me telling you last year about Brenda's Angels?  The team that we were neck-and-neck with right up until the day of the walk?  Their team wasn't registered this year (although it just occurred to me this minute that maybe they were, but under a different name?  Hopefully?)  I was thinking about her at the walk, hoping that she is doing OK.

I love this photo - Bradyn was reading the certificate, still trying to really understand what we won, and I'm trying to keep track of all the totals the announcer had read out.

After the team totals, they announced the individual fundraiser winners, in ascending order.  #3 turned out to be Trina, my hairdresser.  Trina's team is The Optimistics, and they dress up with capes and crazy outfits every year - it's great.  

The #2 Individual Fundraiser for the Tri Cities was none other than our own Miss Bradyn!  Bradyn squeezed out Trina by $10 by raising $1,420.  It was adorable because Bradyn was so excited, but couldn't believe that she'd won.  "I got #2?  Really?"  This is a photo of Bradyn receiving her "Hair We Are" gift package from Trina.  Bradyn was thrilled to find out that, among other things, the package had 2 hair chalk 'bugs' and a bottle of blue nail polish in it.

So proud.

Drumroll please.....  the #1 Individual Fundraiser in the Tri Cities Walk this year, raising a whopping $5,555, was Dallas Reeves!   Here is Dallas getting his gift package from Trina.

Even though I'd been tracking the totals suspected/hoped that we would be the #1 team and Dallas would be #1 individual, Bradyn's accomplishment was a special surprise.  What an amazing way to commemorate our 10-year anniversary.  So, so, SO proud!!

Re-fueling with chocolate milk after all the excitement.

Lara had the right idea after the walk - get a free massage!  Next year I definitely have to do this.

Here is Bradyn with yet another new best friend.  Although he was bringing up the rear, I have been assured that Kobee (Matthew's cat) walked to the first water tent, which I think is about 1 km.  I still can't believe it - awesome!  (despite the fact that he was filthy from walking, this picture sure makes me wish I wasn't allergic to cats because this is what we would have - a cuddly, fluffy, purring fur-ball)

Back at the house, we hosted brunch.  Sadly, I neglected to take a photo of all the food but believe me when I tell you it was Yummy!!

Kevin had to leave for work shortly after we got home, but we had time for a special family photo.  Too bad I can't get it to rotate left!

Bradyn was running around the house snapping photos with my camera.  I love these shots from her perspective, and just had to include one.

To commemorate our 10 years of walking, I printed off some photos from each year.  It was a fun trip down memory lane.

If I was smart, I would have put our annual totals beside each year:

2005 = $3,463

2006 = $5,495 (3rd team in Tri Cities)

2007 = $5,659

2008 = $4,366

2009 = $5,206

2010 = $5,685

2011 = $4,180 (2nd team in Tri Cities)

2012 = $6,305 (top team in Tri Cities and Dallas was top individual fundraiser)

2013 = $7,381

and last but not least:

2014 = $8,500 (top team in Tri Cities, Dallas was #1 fundraiser, Bradyn was #2 fundraiser)

Grand Total .....so far = $56,239.43

Writing this post today (6 days after the walk), I am struck again by the generosity, love and support of all of our family and friends.  I hope you all know how much it means to Kevin, Bradyn and me to have you in our lives.  But it's not just that - your pledges don't just give our family hope that maybe one day they will find a cure or a treatment that will help Kevin.  Your pledges help other people with MS and their families too.

Kevin's MS symptoms have been getting more challenging as of late, but he is still pushing forward and not giving in.  He has been opening up to me more lately about what he is experiencing - the cramps in his legs that wake him up in excrutiating pain too many times during the night, the numbness in his leg, back and fingers, the overwhelming fatigue.... I am so proud of his courage and his strong will but I won't lie - it scares me.  We have been 'lucky' that the progression of his disease has been slow these past 10 years but I can't help but worry that at any given time, things could speed up.  We don't know how Kevin's disease is going to progress or what we may have to face, but we do know that we will face it together.  

After the brunch was cleaned up on Sunday, Bradyn and I vegged out on the couch watching TV shows we had recorded.  I kept cuddling her because I was just so proud of her.  She'd been so excited about doing the walk, wanted to help me get things ready the day before, and had made some bracelets for our team members as a way of saying thank you for joining us.  There had been a few brief moments when I thought maybe our 10th year would be our last - end on a really high note.  But then I quickly realized we couldn't quit.  Kevin's MS isn't going to go away, and I now have a little co-captain to keep me going.  I truly am blessed. 

I hope you can join us next year.