As a young adult and single mother with multiple sclerosis, I wanted to thank  Boston Volvo Village for holding their Thanksgiving Day 5K run to raise money and awareness for people living with multiple sclerosis. There are 19,000 of us the greater New England area who live daily with the disease and the challenges that comes with it.

The biggest challenge I have faced was which medication to go on when I was diagnosed in 2007. Due to great events like these, because of research and willing participants, there are more and more medications becoming available.  At the time, the only option for medication was daily injections, which I declined.  Instead I decided to participated in a drug trial for Gilenya. It is the first oral medication available. I'm happy to say that I transitioned onto it commercially in May 2011 and remain on it.

I am more active than I ever have been. Events like these raise awareness, money and talk of the disease. It means a lot to those of us with multiple sclerosis that these events exist. I hope to see a cure for MS with all the extensive research going on.

With regards,
Kathleen S.