Life often surprises us with unexpected paths, some of which are filled with challenges that put our determination to the test. This is the story of Kate, an extraordinary person whose life took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with MS at just 18 years old. Kate's journey with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a powerful story of resilience, the strength of community, and her unwavering commitment to living life on her own terms.

Join us as we delve into Kate's inspiring story, her unwavering commitment to raising MS awareness, and the transformative impact of the MS Moonlight Walk community.

"After years of experiencing a pattern of strange symptoms such as vision problems, numbness and constant dizziness, I was diagnosed with MS in 2006 at 18 years old.

The neurologist showed me my MRI brain scans and pointed out fuzzy blobs of ‘cotton wool’ which meant I likely had MS. I knew almost nothing about MS, and he gently explained the basics of the disease, at the time the medication options were only 3 treatments, and they were all injectables.

I was afraid that I was not going to be able to do all the things that I had planned. The neurologist made a strong point that MS ‘wasn’t the disease it used to be’ due to the pace that research was moving and how many new treatments were in the pipeline. I tried to remind myself of those facts, and not let my fears run away with me.

Despite his assurances I couldn’t help thinking of wheelchairs and nursing homes and my future was suddenly completely uncertain. I was a year into my uni degree, and my plans of travelling with friends, studying abroad, graduating, and working in IT weren’t even conceivable.

It was a frightening and isolating time while I learnt to understand my body again – made more difficult by the lack of information available in 2006 for a young person diagnosed with the disease.

MS Queensland have been amazing, and my life would be very different without their support - navigating the NDIS would have been so much harder, understanding and administering medication would have been much more daunting, I would know a lot less about the services and resources in my region, and we wouldn’t have our incredible Townsville-based support group.

Being diagnosed at a young age has driven me to promote awareness and support for other young people diagnosed with MS, and my Townsville-based coffee and catchup group ‘Young people living positively with MS’ has been running for over 9 years.

Through the group I get to hang out with some super cool young people undertaking study, working in various careers, taking on the challenge of parenting and travelling around Australia and the world - all whilst living with MS.

While medications and management have improved dramatically over the years, and MS no longer means a mandatory sentence in a wheelchair, it’s still a degenerative disease at its core and makes life for many a constant battle with changing goalposts.

I participated in my first MS Moonlight Walk in Brisbane in 2017, and I also travelled down for the event in 2018 and 2019. In 2021 and 2022 I ran and participated in the ‘In Your Neighbourhood’ event along the Strand in Townsville with around 35 walkers.

This year I will once again travel to Brisbane and take on the 10km walk to fight MS and celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the MS Moonlight Walk."

MS is a chronic disease for which there is no known cure.

The MS Moonlight Walk community is changing lives together and helping to ensure no one faces MS alone.

Join the iconic sea of lanterns on Saturday 28 October, when the MS Moonlight Walk returns to Davies Park, Brisbane! Choose between a leisurely 3km, 5km or 10km walk, and be part of Brisbane’s community to get active and celebrate our great city, while raising money to support thousands of people living with MS.

Alternatively, you can choose to walk in your very own neighbourhood on the same night, and light up your local area! No matter where you are across Queensland, together we will light up the skies.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

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