Young woman diagnosed with MS reflects on emotional battle with disease at Calgary MS Walk

WATCH ABOVE: A big turnout Sunday for the 24th annual Calgary MS walk at Prince’s Island Park. The event raises money to help fight multiple sclerosis, an unpredictable disease that can affect vision, hearing memory, balance and mobility. And as Carolyn Kury de Castillo reports, Canada has the highest rate of the multiple sclerosis in the world.

CALGARY- The 24th annual Jayman BUILT MS Walk brought out a few thousand people Sunday in downtown Calgary, in support of research and programs for those affected by MS.

It also brought out the stories of those affected by the unpredictable disease.

It was an emotional walk for Nikki Pritchard, who at just 25-years old, was diagnosed with MS.

She said the symptoms started off as some minor vision problems and numbness in her leg, then Pritchard went to her doctor and was diagnosed with MS.

“He sent me for blood work and X-rays too and then just one day I couldn’t walk. It was terrifying,” Pritchard said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "He sent me for blood work and X-rays too and then just one day I couldn't walk. It was terrifying," Pritchard said.

Nikki was one of around 2000 people taking part in the walk for MS at Prince’s Island Park on Sunday. She’s also one of 14,000 Albertans with the disease, the most common neurological disease affecting young adults in Canada.

“Most people are diagnosed with something called relapsing remitting MS, that’s the most common type of MS in which you might have those symptoms – pain and fatigue. And as you progress, some people develop progressive MS and the symptoms become more severe and will ultimately lead to paralysis,” Darrell Gregory from the MS Society of Canada said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Most people are diagnosed with something called relapsing remitting MS, that's the most common type of MS in which you might have those symptoms - pain and fatigue. And as you progress, some people develop progressive MS and the symptoms become more severe and will ultimately lead to paralysis," Darrell Gregory from the MS Society of Canada said.

Alberta has the highest rate of multiple sclerosis in the world but scientists don’t know why. However research at the U of C is zeroing in on new treatment possibilities.

“Some of the most exciting research that we’re conducting now is in the area of stem cells using the bodies own stem cells to treat the disease. and that is what’s most exciting out because were hoping it leads to recovery of some of those lost functions that people are facing,” Gregory said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Some of the most exciting research that we're conducting now is in the area of stem cells using the bodies own stem cells to treat the disease. and that is what's most exciting out because were hoping it leads to recovery of some of those lost functions that people are facing," Gregory said.

Marie Despins is part of three generations of her family at the Calgary event. She has lived with the pain of MS for 23-years.

“I feel I am incredibly lucky because I can walk and talk and do those kind of things that a lot can’t do. So I feel very lucky,” Despins said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I feel I am incredibly lucky because I can walk and talk and do those kind of things that a lot can't do. So I feel very lucky," Despins said.

The big turnout in Calgary is inspiring to Nikki Pritchard, who is determined to fight the disease that changed her life.

“It’s improving, I lost movement in my arm and my whole right side, now obviously I can walk out of the hospital. I couldn’t walk at all.

“I’m young enough that I want to just push through,” Pritchard said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I'm young enough that I want to just push through," Pritchard said.

The fundraiser goal for this year’s walk was $570,000 and over 230 teams participated. Calgary and area contributed $586,644 to MS research in 2014.