A MORLEY-based gym instructor has drawn inspiration from her mother, who suffers from multiple sclerosis (MS), to take part in her sixth year of entering in charity events.
YMCA Morley instructor Dianne Byrne, along with a group of fellow instructors, will be participating in the Multiple Sclerosis Society of WA (MSWA)’s Step Up and 50km walk from Bakers Hill to the Swan View Railway.
MSWA provides support and services to people living with neurological conditions, including people living with MS, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, motor neurone disease, and acquired brain injury.
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READ NOWMs Byrne, who holds a 17-minute record for the double ‘Step Up’ Central Park race, said the team had a $1000 fundraising goal, which she already reached individually.
“We do it for people that cannot do this for themselves so we are just trying to raise awareness and money for this great cause,” she said.
“The people of the YMCA plus a few other centres that I work at have been really supportive in donating money and gifts.”
Ms Byrne said the team have been walking up to 30km each week along with their gym classes at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre.
Teammate Toula Hollingum said the preparation had been hard and time-consuming.
“I just want to finish…it is gruelling over 10 or 11 minutes of going straight up stairs but your legs burn from the first minute,” she said.
“(Ms Byrne) wants to retain the ‘princess crown’ but I just want to finish.”
Ms Hollinghum said she joined the cause to walk for people living with neurological conditions could not move their bodies.
The 50km walk will be held on May 6 followed by the Step Up on June 18.
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