MS Climb-branded backpacks are available to all climbers and supporters. Order yours today!

Meet past and current climbers, learn more about MS Climb, and sign up for a 2012 climb, and the adventure of a lifetime.

When:  Saturday, November 19 · 7:00pm – 11:00pm

Where:

140 Simcoe Street (SW corner of Richmond and Simcoe)
17th floor party room

Please RSVP to brian.lim@mssociety.ca if you will be attending.

We are closer than ever to reaching the incredible goal of raising $1 million in 5 years for Canadians living with multiple sclerosis. Join us on one of our trips – for more information, please contact us.

KILIMANJARO: Sept 28-Oct 12th (includes the  travel/flight dates to and from Toronto Sept 28th and Oct-12th)

EVEREST BASE CAMP: Oct 12th -28th (includes the  travel/flight dates to and from Toronto- Oct 12th and 28th)

GREAT WALL OF CHINA: Oct 12th -24th (includes the  travel/flight dates to and from Toronto- Oct 12th and 24th)

MACHU PICCHU: Oct 13th – 26th (includes the  travel/flight dates to and from Toronto- Oct 13th and 26th)

(Please note that included flight dates are the most direct flights and are suggested flights only- flights are arranged by the participant)

 MS Climb Canada (Bruce Trail) is an independent hiking trip designed to raise funds for the MS Society of Canada, Halton Regional Chapter. This is a self-supported MS Climb and is a test for a roll-out in 2012.
 
Date: 9th-11th September, 2011
 
Details: This MS Climb program involves a 2 day hike in the picturesque Tobermory peninsula, the northern most point of the Bruce Trail. The hikes will be based out of Cypress Lake Campground. MS Climbers will trek approximately 4-5 hours on the Bruce Trail each day.
 
Cypress Lake Campground is located at 469 Cyprus Lake Road, Tobermory, Ontario, N0H 2R0. The campground has flush toilets, there are no shower facilities. More details: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/on/bruce/activ/activ2/camping-info.aspx
 
Level of Difficulty: The trail varies from moderate to challenging hiking along many different trail types including: rugged costal and forest trails, bolder beaches and private land. One section that is 4km in length is particularly remote and rugged and is considered the most challenging on the entire Bruce Trail.
 
What’s Included:

• Camp site fees
• Fire wood
• Basic eating supplies (paper plates, etc)
• Meals (Sat: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner, Sun:Breakfast/Lunch)
• Transportation  – We be renting a passanger van with pick-ups at Union Station at 2 PM and the Halton Regional Chapter Office at 3:30 PM on Friday Sept 9th (arriaval at campsite by 8 PM). We anticipate to be back in Toronto on Sunday Sept 11th by 7 PM. The van will also shuttle people to the start of Day #1 and bring back to campsite at completion on Day #2. 

 
What’s Not Included: MS Climbers will be responsible for their own camping equipment (tents, sleeping bags, etc) and transportation if you do not want to come in the van. The meals will be group prepared, so you will  be expected to participate in prep/cooking/clean-up. We will be asking MS Climbers to bring camp stoves and cooking equipment if you have it.
 
Expenses: There is a minimum of 13 MS Climbers required to hold this event. Costs are $120 per person (including food, campsite and transportation – van rental and gas)
 
Fundraising: MS Climbers will have access to the MS Society online fundraising system and are asked to do their best to raise $1000 or greater. We would like to raise $10,000 to contribute towards our $1 million dollar MS Climb goal!
 
Donations: Halton Regional Chapter will be the beneficiary of fundraising by MS Climb Canada (Bruce Trail)
 
RSVP: Deadline to register is Aug 15th  (contact brain.lim@mssociety.ca)

Etnikas Travel and Shamanic Healing prides itself on having over ten years of international travel and management experience, investing us with the ability to ensure you a hassle-free journey into the depth and essence that is Peru. We offer a choice of group departures for those who want to meet like-minded travelers, or, for the more solitary soul, the option of creating an itinerary tailored to your preference. Either way, as much healing, culture and adventure as desired can be incorporated.  It’s all up to you!

Original Trails is the official MS Climb travel provider for the Mount Kilimanjaro, Everest Base Camp, and Great Wall of China climbs.

Original Trails specializes in private and customized tours to countries in East Africa, South America and South East Asia. Our adventure tours are designed by us and are a perfect blend of culture, history, nature, activeness, safety and comfort, or especially crafted to suit your personal preferences, interests and needs.

Their core philosophy is responsible tourism, giving back and supporting local community projects or initiatives.

To find out more about Original Trails, visit their website.

You can also learn more about the Mount Kilimanjaro, Everest Base Camp and Great Wall of China climbs at Original Trails’ website.

Check out her amazing story at Good News Toronto.

So far, they’ve already raised over $30,000! Join this amazing team as they end MS, one mountain at a time.

For more information, contact Brian Lim (brian.lim@mssociety.ca)

“Mount Nemo doesn’t bear much resemblance to either Peru or Nepal, but this summer it’s acting as a stand-in for six Halton climbers who are training to face what will likely be the challenge of their lifetimes.…”

Read the full article here

“Taking it to new heights.
Cochrane woman climbing to Machu Picchu in Peru for MS.
In October, a dozen Canadians that have each been touched differently by Multiple Sclerosis will forget about the disease and take on a new adventure…”

Read the full article here

Timmins Daily Press
“Uphill challenge for girl with MS”

Read the full article here

Kelly’s fundraising page

My first symptom started in the summer of 1998. I began to notice that my right leg was feeling weaker than my left. It first became apparent when I would walk up a flight of stairs that it took much more effort to raise my right leg than my left. The weakness gradually got worse, until I was visibly limping. After my GP was not able to tell me what was wrong I was referred to a neurologist and after the results of an MRI came back my diagnosis was confirmed as MS. A couple of months later, the weakness in my leg subsided and I was again able to walk normally. Then just 6 months later the weakness in my leg returned. It got so bad that I had to give in to my grandmother and use the cane that she had stored in her basement. Again after a couple of months, the flare-up subsided.

Just when my life had returned to normal, I remember stopping at an intersection and looking up at the traffic light and thinking something didn’t look quite right. I closed my right eye and looked just through my left and realized that I couldn’t see the colors of the traffic light; I had a grey spot right in the center of my vision. Over the next couple of weeks this spot spread out and very quickly I was completely blind in my left eye. I went to an ophthalmologist who told me it was Optic neuritis, that nothing could be done and I had to just wait and see (no pun intended). Months went by and slowly my vision started to return, however it never did return 100%.

Throughout the course of my illness, in addition to those noted above, I have experienced many other symptoms. These have ranged from numbness and double vision, to an awful period of vertigo during which I had to do a lot of crawling because I was too dizzy and nauseous to stand. With no exaggeration, I can say that those first few years of my diagnosis were the worst years of my life.

Thankfully I am happy to report that I have now been in remission for several years. That is why this cause is so important to me. I want to take advantage of this time in my life, when I am strong, healthy and physically able to participate in something of this magnitude. I want to give a face to MS and hopefully help others, who have suffered or are suffering from its debilitating affects, my family included.

It is only with your help that we will see a the end of MS. Every dollar counts and please know that your contribution WILL make a difference.

Thank you for your support!!

Sponsor Stephanie here

Then, one day, I got an answer.

In 1996 I attended my very first WALK for MS. I had seen a brochure, and thought I had nothing to lose by checking it out. In fact, I had everything to gain. There in front of my eyes were hundreds of people, all of whom who had in some way been touched by MS, and all of whom who had come together with a single, common purpose…

To end MS!

From that day forward I knew I would never feel alone again. A random chance led me to volunteer at my local WALK two years later, and I have never looked back since!

i have since become one of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada’s most visible and prolific spokespeople and volunteers, and I am proud to say that I am one of only three people to ever be named to their Volunteer Hall of Fame!

Today, I spend much of my time talking to others, be they people with MS and their loved ones, potential donors, or corporate partners, sharing the story of my journey and leading by example – showing people that they can be victors over this disease instead of victims of it!

Sadly, my disease has begun to worsen, but I will not let that stop me from doing whatever I can to help find a cause and cure for this insidious disease – and to finally end MS!

Therefore, I am putting my moeny where my mouth is, and am embarking on what is sure to be the biggest challenge of my life, as I attempt to climb 17,600 ft. to Mt Everest Base Camp in Nepal, Asia, using a specially designed wheelchair called a Trail Rider™.

It will be daunting at times. It will be overwhelming at times. But, like I said, I am going into this determined to be a victor, not a victim, and when I finally make it back to the comfort and security of my apartment, it will be with the knowledge that my world will have become infintiely larger than it ever was…

… regardless of the size of the room I might find myself in!

Sponsor Michael here

What more can I say? I truly believe that the effort put forth returns two fold when helping others in need or less fortunate.

We’ve work hard and very few people experience giving back to the community. The money raised for this climb goes towards Multiple Sclerosis which to date there is no cure for. I can’t imagine the thought of finding out a friend or family member being diagnosed with MS.

This climb is a family affair, I’m blessed to share this experience with my siblings Ron and Brian. We are here to support each other and in turn make a difference for those suffering from MS.

Sponsor Gary here

My heart is ever hopefull!

Sponsor Cathy here

The first significant attack that I had was in April of 1996 when I suddenly lost the vision in my right eye for six weeks. It was at that time that I had my first MRI, only to have inconclusive findings. Over the years I silently battled bouts of fatigue that would leave me physically and mentally exhausted. I chose not to directly address the issues until it reached the point where I began to lose the feeling in my feet in addition to increasing bouts of incapacitating fatigue. I had another MRI in January of 2009 and a month later I was officially diagnosed with MS.

I’ll never forget that day. My close friend Nicole Leff was with me at the neurologists’ office. She was there to support me, despite that fact that she had helplessly watched her mother Debbie deteriorate under the wrath of this disease for many years and eventually pass away on Thursday, June 04, 2009. That spring prior to her death, both of our families united at the MS Walk. Sadly, it was Debbie’s last time participating in this event. I can’t begin to tell you what it felt like to participate in the MS Walk and to have a large sticker over my chest declaring that “I am living with MS”.

I decided that I need to do more. I want in to make a difference and to help find a cure for MS. I want to participate in a venture that speaks to some of my core interests of physical fitness, healthy eating as well as creating education and awareness of MS. That is why I decided to participate in the MS Climb. I would like to do what I can to help MS Climb raise 1 million dollars to elevate the support of MS research, and individuals and families living with MS. It is also important to me that I serve as a power of example to others facing MS, while living a healthy and happy life despite of this potentially crippling disease.

I am extremely grateful to have the support of my mother Elly Litvak to work with me on this campaign. Her positive attitude and willingness to give of herself is an ongoing source of motivation for me.

I appreciate any time or money that you are willing to donate to this cause. Please visit my donation site to make a donation and help us to achieve our goal.

With gratitude,

Yonan

Sponsor Yonan here

El Camino del Santiago features a 7 day trek through the Spanish countryside. The route calls for approximately 20 kms of trail to cover every day – none of the altitude but all the effort of the more mountainous Climbs. El Camino was added the the schedule to make MS Climb accessible to people who are in relatively good health but may be prone to suffering from altitude sickness or other types of illness associated with more mountainous destinations. “We wanted to introduce a climb which would be accessible to people with mild MS. In the past, many people who have MS expressed interested in MS Climb but were hesitant because of the unknown challenges with climbing and altitude… now we have something that might work for them… and its AMAZING adventure too!” says Ralph Cochrane, program founder.

Everest Basecamp is 14 days of trekking into the Himalayas of Nepal. For climbers who have been involved for the past two years (Peru, Kilimanjaro) they wanted a new, more exotic and higher altitude adventure so the Basecamp trip was created. Climbers are being taken to higher destinations, they are also taking on higher fund-raising goals with a minimum commitment of $20,000. “I think raising the funds will be the real challenge. Once I get the funds collected, the climbing will be the icing on the cake” says Ron Reeleder, one of the first Climbers to sign up for this year’s “way up there” adventure!

These two new additions to the MS Climb program have already been well received with 6 Climbers already confirming their spots for Everest Basecamp. MS Climb 2010 is already posed to exceed all the funds raised in 2008. Each of the 4 climbs this year have capacity for only 24 climbers so its expected that spots will fill up early in 2010.

RALPH COCHRANE has first hand knowledge of the effects of multiple sclerosis, having watched his mother struggle with the illness his entire life. After participating in several charity runs for the MS Society of Canada, he felt the need to do more so he married his love for travel with his passionate desire to fund research, and created MS Climb. The first excursion was a climb in Peru in 2007 where 23 climbers rasied over $150,000. Since then, the intitative has grown into a five year plan to raise $1 million through hiking adventures around the world. Machu Picchu, Kilimanjaro, The Great Wall of China, Everest Base Camp there’s no challenge too great for MS Climb!

I’ve participated and fundraised in the MS Walk since 2003 and when I was introduced to the MS Climb team last summer I immediately signed on for this year. I’m challenging myself to hike to Everest Base Camp in October, and to raise in excess of $20,000 for the MS Society, with the firm belief that a cure will be found in the near future.

The effect that high altitude has on the body is similar in many respects to symptoms people with MS experience. For the more than 75,000 Canadians who live with MS daily, my discomforts for a couple of weeks will seem minor. My difficulty with walking, stamina, sleeping, breathing, mental tasks, and general discomfort are something they deal with everyday. The only difference is that when I come back the symptoms will disappear.

So that’s my goal! To trek to Mount Everest Basecamp, then come back and regain my health, and to be a part in finding a cure to help people with MS regain their health.

I challenge you to join me in this adventure as a fellow climber, a supporter, or as a helper in my fundraising efforts.

Thank you. Together we can End MS!

Sponsor Jim here