Deb Slorach and families battle to raise funds and awareness about Multiple Sclerosis

The disease can cause many different symptoms, including vision loss, pain, fatigue and impaired coordination which can make it hard to treat and care for.

For Stawell resident Deb Slorach and her family, it has been a challenging time since her husband Phillip was diagnosed with the disease.

"My husband was diagnosed with MS around 13 years ago and it has stuck in the kids heads and they have done a few things over the years to support MS fundraising because it is personal now," she said.

"It is important to me because my husband is affected by the disease.

"I can't tell you first hand, he is the only one that can tell you first hand, but I know the challenges that he faces and that we face as a family.

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"There is a lot of frustration and pain and disability that goes along with it and it is heartbreaking to see that happen so any improvement, and particularly a cure would be amazing.

"We pray one day they will be able to find a cure for a disease like this."

And that is why, for years, the Slorach's have dedicated their time and energy, running fundraisers to support researchers trying to beat the disease.

In 2021 Ms Slorach and her daughters Caitlan, Madison and Alicia have formed a team to raise funds via the Kiss Goodbye to MS: The May 50k.

So far the team have raised $2,748.30, with more donations still rolling in as the challenge wrapped up Monday May 31.

For the month of May each of the team members walked 50 kilometres or more to raise a funds and awareness to the cause.

Ms Slorach said she had been overwhelmed by the support she has received so far and encouraged others to donate if they could.

"It is an amazing thing that people recognise the challenge that is going on in your life," she said.

"Other people have really embraced what we are doing and have supported us because they want to see an improvement for us and every other person that suffers from this horrible disease, so it really does mean a lot.

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"It makes the heart swell a bit to think that other people care as well."

Over the years the Slorach's have completed many different fundraising efforts including completing the MS Readathon, before their father was even diagnosed.

After the diagnosis 13 years ago, the family then expanded their fundraising efforts to online picture fundraisers, cake stall events held in Bendigo and even a fancy dress The May 50k in 2020.

And in 2021 the Wonky Walkers Team was formed to keep up the fundraising effort in the fight against MS.

Ms Slorach wanted to thank everybody for their support and hoped their efforts in 2021 have raised awareness about this disease.

"My husband is about to start a new drug that has come on the PBS so we are pretty excited about that and we will see what the future holds with that medication," she said.

"It is amazing, that once you get an MS diagnosis, how many people in the area actually have it.

"There are so many people, and there also quite a few people in Stawell that have it too."

To donate to the Wonky Walkers Team Kiss Goodbye to MS: The May 50k efforts visit their website.

Most people are diagnosed with MS between the ages of 20-40, but it can affect younger and older people too, with roughly three times as many women effected by MS than men.

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