Record Staff
A&W is helping raise awareness and funds for Multiple Sclerosis Canada (MS Canada) on August 17. The annual A&W Rendezvous to End MS campaign celebrates 15 years of support for MS Canada. Over the past 14 years, A&W has raised more than $19 million for the organization.
According to a press release A&W sent out Aug. 1, Canada has one of the highest rates of multiple sclerosis in the world. On average, 12 people in Canada are diagnosed with MS every day. More than 90,000 Canadians have the disease, including an estimated 22,000 in Quebec. Of those diagnosed with MS, 60 per cent are between the ages of 20 and 49. In Canada, 75 per cent of people with MS are women.
On its website, MS Canada asserts MS, “is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. Since that includes the brain, spinal cord and optic nerve, MS can affect vision, memory, balance and mobility. It is considered an episodic disability meaning that the severity and duration of illness and disability can vary and are often followed by periods of wellness. It can also be progressive.”
MS Canada goes on to explain that the disease is unpredictable and may cause symptoms such as extreme fatigue, lack of coordination, weakness, tingling, impaired sensation, vision problems, bladder problems, cognitive impairment and mood changes. “Its effects can be physical, emotional and financial. Currently there is no cure, but each day researchers are learning more about what causes MS and are zeroing in on ways to prevent it.”
