Walks to raise money for MS
Published 10:50 pm Monday, March 30, 2009
Mary Sprute of Lynnwood was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 11 years ago, when she was 42. She said her exercise routines, which include swimming, doing resistance training, riding an exercise bike and participating in yoga classes, help her cope with the disease.
This Saturday, walks will be held across Washington, including in Snohomish County, to raise money for MS research. Sprute answers questions about herself and her disease.
Type of MS
Primary progressive multiple sclerosis. Only about 15 percent of patients have this type of the disease, which can cause problems such as tremor, poor coordination and difficulty walking from its onset.
Workouts
YMCA in Bothell, where she takes yoga classes and has resistance training and stationary bike workouts.
Swims laps at Meadowbrook Pool in Seattle.
How she gets there
DART, public transit that provides transportation to the elderly and disabled.
How exercise helps her cope with MS:
“If I wasn’t exercising and swimming, I wouldn’t be able to walk. I don’t believe I would be functioning as well as I am if I wasn’t doing stretching, swimming, all those things with the workouts, yoga and so on.”
How MS affects her exercise
She uses a walker with wheels to get around. “I even walk between the different exercises with my walker.”
What happens as she exercise
“I get weak. I have a hard time standing up. Once I get my sea legs, I can go.”
Her life when she was diagnosed
“I had been a single parent, raised two kids and worked full time for 25 years. When I stopped working, I went into shock psychologically.
“I immediately knew I had to find things to keep me busy.”
What she does
“I do telephone calling with other people who have MS. I’m an activist, do a lot of stuff with (legislators), both state and federal.
“I’m a support group co-leader. I’m also involved in the MS Helping Hands in Edmonds. I’m a board member.”
2009 MS Walk
What: Fundraising walks to benefit MS research will be held across Washington this Saturday.
Where: Tulalip Amphitheatre, 10400 Quil Ceda Blvd., Tulalip
When: Register at 8:30 a.m.; the three-mile walk starts at 9:30 a.m.
For more information: Call the National MS Society’s Greater Washington Chapter at 800-344-4867 or go to www.walkMS washington.org.
