by Laurie McLean, special to Northern News Services
Melanie Dumont and Kristina Gardiner have a bond of friendship that not even the most challenging times or long distances have been able to break.
Since they first met in college in 1995, the friends have shared some of life’s great milestones together – from Melanie’s wedding, to the arrival of her children, to her diagnosis with multiple sclerosis.
Melanie was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS in May 2008. Several years ago, her diagnosis was changed to secondary progressive, which is typically a more debilitating form of the disease.
“I don’t see Melanie every day, but when I do I notice the impact MS has had on her life,” says Kristina. “It’s heartbreaking. My dear friend has lost the ability to move, walk, play with her children and do basic things in life we take for granted.”
Though life’s journey has taken the women to different parts of the country, with Melanie living in Yellowknife while Kristina calls Calgary home, the two come together at least once a year for an event that means so much to both of them.
Kristina uses Air Miles or Aeroplan points to be able to fly to Yellowknife each May for the Yellowknife Jayman BUILT MS Walk, where the two tackle the route together – Melanie in her wheelchair, with Kristina and Melanie’s family and friends by her side – a journey that in many ways symbolizes the ups and downs they’ve shared in their own lives.
“Melanie is kind and precious. She deserves the best life has to offer. That’s why I travel to Yellowknife every year to join her at the Jayman BUILT MS Walk,” says Kristina. “If I can help her and her family set up their personal MS Walk team fundraising page, with housework, running errands or shuttling her kids to activities, I’m grateful I get to do it for them.” she adds.
Melanie’s parents and sister, who live in Yellowknife, are also key supports to her. Over the year, as a family, they have attended many of the functions that the MS Society hosts in Yellowknife. Funds raised through the Yellowknife Jayman BUILT MS Walk fuel local MS Society services that help enhance quality of life for families like Melanie’s, and also support world-leading Canadian MS research into a cure – providing hope for Melanie, Kristina and far too many others like them who face the realities of MS daily.
The 2018 Yellowknife Jayman BUILT MS Walk will take place on Sunday, May 6, and the local MS Society is looking to build on a very successful fifth anniversary year in 2017 which raised over $35,000.
Registration for the 2018 event is now open and can be done online at mswalks.ca.
Kristina and Melanie are encouraging the community to step up and join them at this year’s Yellowknife Jayman BUILT MS Walk, which will mark almost 10 years to the day since Melanie’s MS diagnosis.
“My passion is helping Melanie live the fullest life she can. I wasn’t blessed with a biological sister, I got to pick Melanie. That’s why I’m going to Yellowknife again this year – and every year after,” adds Kristina.