Casson’s Crew has helped raise more than a quarter million dollars in annual MS Walk

By Dale Woodard on May 5, 2021.

For the past 14 years, Casson’s Crew has been pounding the pavement for a good cause.
This year, the local team will be out and about again — albeit virtually — and putting on the miles once again with the Jayman Built MS Walk as part of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month.
“It’s our family’s passion,” said Jeanene Casson, the Chair of the Lethbridge Chapter of the MS Society, whose daughter, Richelle, was diagnosed with MS in 2004. “As cast and crew, we’re comprised of family and friends and we’ve walked in each of the Lethbridge area walks since 2006. We’ve raised over $255,000 for the cause.”
For the second year in a row, this year’s walk will go virtual.
“We’re going to be having small walks in different places so that we’re monitoring the protocols,” said Casson. “There’s a group that is going to walk down in Indian Battle Park and another group that is going to walk around their block.”
But no matter where or how, Casson urged participants to take to the trails for the cause.
“We encourage participants to take part in the walk in their own communities, however they choose to do it, in their backyards, around the block or on the hiking (trails),” she said.
The MS Walk is a nationwide community-driven event to build awareness and raise much needed funds that will help get closer to a world free of multiple sclerosis.
Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect vision, memory and mobility. Approximately one in every 400 Canadians live with MS, while 12 Canadians are diagnosed every day.
MS is the most common neurological disease among young adults, with 60 per cent of adults with MS between 20 and 49 years old.
“It impacts all Canadians, not just those who live with MS, their families, friends, the community and country and are also touched by the disease,” said Casson. “Employment is a key factor in maintaining financial security and with donations we can help some of these people with that. The cost of medications, services and equipment and treatment is significant and a burden for people and their families and through some of the donations we are given we can help Canadians.”
In fact, Casson has also been pedalling towards the cause, having joined the Virtual Bike Tour under Keiko’s Waterton Cycle.
“I biked around my community and raised some money for one of our local chapter members,” she said, adding she’ll be taking part in another virtual ride in August. “I’ve had a pedal bike since I was kid, but I just do it for pleasure and around the community.”
In the pre-pandemic years, walkers gathered at Indian Battle Park and Henderson Lake.
“It’s just been unbelievable, the attendance. We had between 400 and 500 walkers,” said Casson. “Our hope is next year it’ll go live again and we can get back to the whole city joining.”
Virtual or not, this year’s MS Walk will have some special features.
Among those is the Team MS Party Pack, containing event decorations such as balloons and streamers.
As well, The City of Lethbridge has agreed to light up City Hall in red on May 30 in support of National MS Day.
On that day, people can tune in at 10 a.m. Mountain Time for a live streamed rally featuring members of the community.
For more information, visit http://www.mswalk.ca.
MS awareness initiatives will continue beyond May, including A&W Burgers To Beat MS, which is Aug. 19.
Casson said they’re also hoping to host a Savour For MS in October with local restaurants participating.
“A world free of MS is acheivable,” she said.
As they enter their 15th year, Casson’s Crew continues to do their part.
“We have some very stalwart people who donate to us each year and walk with us each year,” said Casson. “We just appreciate their passion with us. We’re so happy with what it is.”
The MS Society of Canada can also be reached on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MSSocietyCanada, on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/mssocietycanada/ or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MSSocietyCanada
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