- North Shore MS Walk: A two or five-kilometre walk open to people of all levels of ability (wheelchairs, scooters and strollers welcome) in support of the MS Society of Canada, Sunday, April 29, at West Vancouver's Ambleside Park. Check-in opens at 8 p.m. followed by the walk at 10 a.m. Family-friendly festivities to follow. Info: mssociety.ca/ mswalk.
IT was an incredibly touching gift.
As part of being awarded the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada National President's Award, longtime society volunteer and MS patient Marilyn Lenzen was given a memento book filled with descriptions of what makes a good volunteer and leader, as well as photographs and kind words from her peers, celebrating her many achievements and impact over the years.
"It was so moving to get this book and the effort that they put in. Most people get a plaque and the joke with MS is, 'We have enough plaques, that's what started the whole problem is we have plaques in our brain,'" the North Vancouver resident laughs. "So when they gave me this, it was really, really touching."
According to the society, MS is an unpredictable, often disabling, disease of the central nervous system, which is composed of the brain and spinal cord. MS attacks the myelin, the protective covering wrapped around the nerves and the damaged parts of myelin are referred to as lesions or plaques.
The National President's Award, the society's most prestigious, is given to people with MS in light of their valuable contributions to others who are affected by the disease, as well as the society as a whole. Lenzen received the award at a recent national board of directors dinner in Toronto, Ont., earlier this year.
Diagnosed with MS at age 40, Lenzen, now 52, first got involved with the MS Society of Canada 10 years ago, helping to organize the North Shore MS Walk. The 2012 edition is scheduled for Sunday, April 29, at West Vancouver's Ambleside Park. Lenzen has remained an integral part of the annual event ever since. In the last five years, the walk has raised more than $500,000 for the society, which supports MS research and client services.
When Lenzen first took the job, she was told it would take a mere few hours. Little did she know the extent of time she'd ultimately devote to the cause.
"It's something I'm passionate about because the disease has touched my family numerous times," she says, adding her sister is also affected. "For me, I get more back from it than I give into it. I'm a fortunate person with MS, I've managed to get my MS under control. Even though I can't work, volunteering still fulfills me, by volunteering and making a difference. There's lots of people who can't and to be out there and advocate for them and try and make changes for them and ensure that the society is doing the types of things that those people with MS need, is really important to me. That's why I keep doing it."
Lenzen has continued to increase her involvement with the society, climbing the ranks from local to provincial and national involvement. After becoming involved as an organizer of the local walk, she joined various provincial committees, like client services, then became a director on the B.C. and Yukon division board. After four years, she became provincial board chairwoman. She simultaneously signed on as a national board of director member, joining a number of committees, including one that focuses on chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) as it relates to MS.
Receiving the award was "very humbling," says Lenzen.
"I do it because I feel passionate about the disease and I do it for those who can't. When I accepted it, I said I didn't accept it for me, I accepted it for all my friends and people out there who have MS. To receive the volunteer recognition award is really quite an honour within the MS Society because it's more than just volunteering, it's volunteering and making a change . . . . and also inspiring other people to get involved," she says.
While Lenzen plans to stay on with the society in a minor capacity and work on some smaller projects, she's planning to retire from her governance roles once her term as provincial chairwoman runs out May 25.
"It's hard to believe it's been 10 years," she says. "It's flown by. I would say to anybody who wants to get involved in a volunteer role, start small as I did. If it's something that you have an interest in, seek out an organization and seek out opportunities. . . . The rewards that you receive back, far out-weigh the time spent."
Lenzen encourages community members of all levels of ability to participate in this year's North Shore MS Walk, as a walker, volunteer or donor. The two-and five-kilometre routes are fully accessible to wheelchairs, scooters and strollers. Scooters will be available for use by participants and HandyDART will pick up people who only want to walk a portion of the course. A host of family-friendly activities will follow and current MS research will be shared.
Among those scheduled to participate is Success MS, a North Shore-based self-help group that Lenzen helped found. The team has participated in the event for the last 10 years and has raised more than $300,000 for the society.
"For me I believe you plant the seed and you make the seed grow," says Lenzen. "And that's what I like to do, I like to get things started and I like to get more people involved."
For more information on the MS Society, visit mssociety. ca.
For more information on Success MS, visit www.successms.ca.
