Multiple sclerosis awareness month: woman outruns her disease

A Pitt Meadows woman is determined to outpace her unpredictable and often debilitating disease.

After living with multiple sclerosis (MS) for over a decade, Michelle Taschereau has decided to take up running, knowing exercise could help her brain adapt.

However, she faces daily challenges that few understand, as symptoms can include pain, fatigue, lack of coordination, weakness, mood changes, and more.

“It is a very variable disease. It is really hard to navigate. There is a lot of emotions that come along with it,” Taschereau said.

“Running is really hard. When you have MS, you have to fight through a lot of the physical pain,” she added.

I do it because it really makes me feel like I am taking control of my disease, Taschereau says proudly.

Taschereau will run a half-marathon next month

She is thankful to be able to run, given that every case of MS is different.

“I like to akin it like a faulty navigation system. In the morning, you are like: I am gonna do all of these things today and these are the places I’m gonna go and this is what I am going to accomplish. And then, MS shows up and throws in a couple of detours here and there so you are constantly recalibrating,” explains Taschereau the chronic disease.

But with a team of healthcare providers and a constant battle to listen to her body, she keeps going, reminding herself it’s her against MS and she will not back down.

Next month, Taschereau will be tackling a half-marathon.

May is also Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month, dedicated to raising awareness and understanding of the disease.