Kids are amazing!!

Before being diagnosed with MS I was an active volunteer at my boy's school! I helped in the grade 6 literacy class twice a week, I also helped out during the Smart Friday sessions! Because of always being at the school the kids got used to me being there, and when I didn't return after spring break they had a lot of questions!!

Because I spent so much time in Taylor's grade 6 class it was him that had to deal with most of the questions. At first he didn't mind but after a week or so he became overwhelmed with all of the questions about me!

Taylor showing his presentation at the MS Society.
The pool noodle represents the spine,
and the pieces that are ripped out
show what MS can do to a persons spine!

Luckily there was an amazing school councilor that was more than willing to help my boys deal with all that was happening. Taylor and I decided that the best way to deal with all of the questions was to answer them all at once, and the best way to do that was with a presentation. The school councilor helped Taylor put together a power point to teach all of the grade 6 students about MS!

Taylor and I at the very first MS
Bake sale he hosted!! 

I attended the presentation to help Taylor answer any questions that might come up. During the presentation the entire room was focused on Taylor, I was surprised to see this from this normally rambunctious group. I think that a lot of their focus on the presentation came from the shock of seeing me for the first time since before spring break. I definitely looked different than the last time I had seen any of them, I had lost a lot of weight, I walked with a cane, and getting ready for the day at that point consisted of running a brush through my hair if I was lucky.

Once the presentation was over and it was time for questions the room kind of exploded with voices, the very first question asked was "can we do a fundraiser?" From that point on the presentation turned into a brainstorming session to host "the greatest fundraiser ever."

A wonderful friend spent a lot
of time making these!

Within a couple of weeks of the initial presentation Taylor and his classmates put together a bake sale and toonie drive! Taylor approached the MS Society for help advertising and answering questions from his classmates. The MS Society contacted newspapers, radio and TV stations, and posted about Taylor all over social media.

The bake sale was run during the lunch hour and because we had so much donated baking the sale went on for 2 days!! Students lined the hall waiting to get some sweet treats, it was quite a sight to be seen!! Taylor and his classmates raised $800 with that fundraiser!!

Since the first fundraiser in 2017 my boys have hosted a fundraiser at their school in support of our MS Walk team every year! Taylor is normally in charge of the talking while Braden works behind the scenes on the posters and presentations.

 In 2018 the boys worked together to present to the grade 4 and 7 classes. They both really enjoyed the presentation this year since they incorporated some symptoms into it. We made saran wrapped balls filled with treats, to get the treats out you needed to unwrap  the saran wrap while wearing oven mitts. A lot of the kids got really frustrated trying to get a treat.....that was kinda the point though. The idea of these activities is to show others what it's like dealing with limited motor skills.

Taylor and Braden with their saran wrap ball!

Taylor has since finished his time at this school and has moved on to high school, he is not done with his fundraising efforts though. He plans to ask a local grocery store to help him host a fundraiser this year. (I will post the grocery store once things are decided)

Braden is still attending the school where the presentations began and is continuing with them this year! This year will be a bit different for the presentations since we have a new principal, she has asked that Braden go around to EVERY classroom to teach them something about MS! It's going to be quite the challenge for him but he says he's up to it!!

To date my boys have raised about $2000 with their bake sales! Taylor and Braden are always looking for ways to raise more funds and awareness for the MS Society, and I could not be more proud of them both!!

Because of their efforts, both Taylor and Braden
have earned themselves MS Walk hoodies!