MS RISING

MS RISING
The Origin Story
Feature Story by Phoebe Walker

​The day after Father’s Day in 2025, I remember feeling unusually low, searching for something to steady myself. Eventually, I found myself scrolling through Facebook when I came across a post from Adam Powell. I remember thinking, look at him. He lives with this beast, but he is doing it. He is unapologetically living life on his terms, and it is a beautiful life.

Then my thoughts turned to so many of us with multiple sclerosis living similar lives. Suddenly, I felt empowered. All of us live with MS. We are on the same team, working every day against a monster that does not want us to succeed, yet we are still succeeding. Where were people like this at the beginning of my MS journey?

Sure, there were TV, radio, and written interviews of people who were successfully putting MS in its place, but that did not foster an atmosphere of open dialogue. That is something the MS community could really benefit from. Then I thought, what if I made it happen and started a major MS movement?

Within three days, I had assembled an entire panel of seven truly amazing MS warriors for MS Rising. We were all deeply motivated not only to move forward in our own lives, but also to reach out a hand to others in the MS community. Maybe we could illuminate details they had not realized, helping them truly live life even with this monster. Maybe someone is newly diagnosed and does not know where to start, feeling as if the weight of the world has just dropped on their shoulders. They do not need a doctor who has not lived with MS to tell them the best practices. Those of us living with the disease have the most valuable, lived experience to share. And maybe there is someone who has had MS for years and handled it well, but is now having a tough season. Within the MS community, we are the best resources for one another, helping each other find joy and purpose as we live with MS.

That is why I developed a platform where we can connect, network, and support each other, and the entire MS community, for the long haul ahead. Our panel is a powerhouse team made up of a diverse group of individuals from across the country: Merritt Island, Florida; Covington, Washington; Brunswick, Columbus, and Lancaster, Ohio; Assonet, Massachusetts; and Fenton and Owosso, Michigan. This inaugural MS Rising event is just the beginning. I hope it will be the first of many more to come.

Ultimately, the goal is to make this movement international. There are people around the world living with MS, and you might connect more deeply with someone across the globe than with someone in your own town. If your MS cheer partner is on the other side of the world, I do not want you to miss out. Let us bring ourselves together, full circle, and create waves of movement throughout the global MS community.

On World MS Day, Saturday, May 30, 2026, I cannot wait to feel the energy of our movement together. ∎

Learn more about MS Rising.
Meet the panel and register to attend (online or in-person):
https://damms411.org/ms-inaugural-panel