The event aimed to educate people about the disease and give insight into the lives of people living with multiple sclerosis.
On Feb. 1, MU organization Rockin’ Against Multiple Sclerosis hosted its annual speaker night at the Missouri Theatre, where featured speakers Dr. Brian Lane, Bill Sinak and Leonard Rutledge shared their experiences with the disease.
RAMS raises money for the MS Institute of Mid-Missouri and offers services — such as helping with housework — to people living with multiple sclerosis while spreading awareness about the illness.
The MS Institute of Mid-Missouri, which joined the MU hospital in 1992, provides free services to people living with MS. These services include seminars, support groups and assistance purchasing medical equipment.
“Speaker night is super important and significant because it allows us to host an event where a ton of different Mizzou students get to come and learn about not only the disease, but what RAMS does and how we make an impact in the community,” Luke Davis, the campus special events and sponsorship director of RAMS, said.
Dr. Brian Lane, who teaches biological science at MU, opened the night with an explanation of what causes MS, and how it affects people living with the disease.
“It’s a very complex disease,” Lane said. “And when you try to understand that, just about every question that you ask, the answer is like, ‘Well, that’s complicated.’”
MS occurs when the immune system attacks the protective covering of the nervous system, causing lesions in the brain known as sclera. The cause of MS is unknown, but many scientists believe it is a combination of genetics and environmental triggers.
Symptoms vary across individuals but can include vision loss, discoordination and depression, and can appear over time or flare up intermittently. Currently, there are treatment options but no cure.
Bill Sinak, who spoke next, described his own experience with MS since his diagnosis in 1993.
“I had a really cool doctor at the time, who just basically took me aside and said, ‘Look, you’re young and you’re active — you’re healthy. Do everything you’re doing now, just keep trying to stay as strong as you can because MS is going to try and knock you down and make you weak,’” Sinak said.
Sinak began participating in Bike MS, an annual bike ride organized to benefit people with MS.
“In 2000, my older brother Mike had the bright idea of training for a marathon, and he talked me into it,” Sinak said. “Why I thought we could do this, I have no idea. But we did, and I just kind of loved the feeling of being part of a running community. I got totally hooked.”
Sinak kept running even after he started taking medication for MS in 2002, and totaled 24 marathons by 2017. In 2013, Sinak participated in a 14-person relay across the country over a six-month period to gain support for people living with MS, where he totaled 209 miles across Colorado in just nine days.
“It made me feel like I didn’t have MS when I was out doing something active like running. So I mean, why not just keep doing it?” Sinak said.
RAMS will host a Runnin’ Against Multiple Sclerosis 5K race on Feb. 11, with an entry fee of $25. Signups are open through its website.
The final speaker, Leonard Rutledge, described his role as a partner and caretaker to his wife, Quinetta, after she was diagnosed with MS. The two married after Leonard returned from service in Vietnam. Quinetta began facing health problems shortly after. At the time, the sole treatment option was expensive and difficult to find.
“The doctor had to submit your name to the drug company, and there was a lottery to see when and how we got the drug,” Rutledge said. “The cost of treatment was $1,000 a month.”
Even with treatment, Quinetta’s condition continued to decline. Rutledge described how over time, exacerbations of MS would cause blindness in one of her eyes, back pain or forgetfulness.
“You may recover, but never 100% of what you lost,” Rutledge said. “And you always hope you never have another exacerbation.”
Both Sinak and Rutledge thanked RAMS for its continued support and advocacy for people living with MS. Sinak’s daughters and Rutledge’s granddaughter have all participated in RAMS.
“We’ve received gift baskets, participated in several holiday parties, pizza parties and service days,” Rutledge said. “You haven’t lived until you’ve played charades, and you’ve seen a bunch of RAMS at a holiday party pantomiming ‘Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.’”
Davis said RAMS events are open to anyone looking to get involved.
“RAMS as a whole tries to get everyone in Mizzou involved, whether you are in a house, a business fraternity, Marching Mizzou or club sports — anybody can help make a difference,” Davis said.
RAMS has events scheduled throughout February to raise money and awareness, such as a cornhole tournament and trivia night. On Feb. 18, the first ever RAMS Gala will be held at the Tiger Hotel, featuring a silent auction. The proceeds are donated to the MS Institute of Mid-Missouri, and tickets and more information about the events can be found on its website.
“Everyone on RAMS wants to contribute to the big picture, and bringing a group like that together is really special,” Davis said.
Edited by Mercy Austin | maustin@themaneater.com
Copy Edited by Sterling Sewell and Mary Philip