Menifee family takes part in MS Walk for father

A Menifee family will be among Southland residents taking part in Walk MS: Inland Empire 2019 today to raise money for research and for awareness of multiple sclerosis.

Heather Montgomery, her husband and their children will take part in a walk starting at Quakes Stadium in Rancho Cucamonga this morning. The walk, which begins with check-in at 6 a.m., includes options of 1-mile and 3-mile walks. There is no registration, but participants were encouraged to make a fundraising commitment.

Montgomery's father, Kerry Robins, suffers from MS. He lives in an assisted living facility in Fairfield, Calif. This is the first time she and her family have taken part in the walk.

"He has lived with MS for the past 17 years," Montgomery said about her father. "At first, the symptoms started off severe, and now you could say they are mild. Everyday things like walking, talking, swallowing are a pain. MS is a neurological disorder, so it affects even the simplest things."

Montgomery said her father continues to have a positive outlook on life, and she is convinced that the support of people like those participating today make a difference.

"He has bouts of depression, but for the most part has a happy demeanor," she said. "His outlook on life is optimistic and he always takes his MS with a sense of humor.

"I am finally getting around to do an MS Walk because it seems like more and more I am meeting people who have been diagnosed. I want to do my part to spread awareness. I want a world free of MS for my children and I am also walking for my father, who can’t."

MS involves an abnormal response of the body’s immune system that is directed against the central nervous system, according to the National MS Society website. Worldwide, more than 2.3 million have been diagnosed with the disease.

Nearly 300,000 people participate in fundraising and volunteering each year at MS Walks, which have generated more than $1 billion toward fighting the disease.

"Every individual's MS symptoms are different; no two people are alike," Montgomery said. "It’s the most common nerve disease out there, so it’s imperative we spread the word and raise awareness."