Man with MS has run 10 half marathons since diagnosis, raises awareness of condition
SMITHS GROVE, Ky.- This week is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week.
“I got diagnosed about 12-13 years ago.”
Meet Gary Grinstead from Smiths Grove. He suffers from multiple sclerosis.
“My daughter and I were training for our first half marathon. We were running the Derby City. And about two weeks before the race, I went totally numb from just above my waist all the way down to my foot on my right side,” he said.
Today, Grinstead says he is fine. He has relapsing and remitting MS, which is the mildest form.
MS is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system. Symptoms may be mild such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, even causing paralysis.
Across town, another runner, Logan Locke, is preparing to run a 141-mile relay race over five days this summer to raise money for MS.
“At the end of the day I want to spread awareness for MS. And help people understand how the disease impacts people differently and how it varies in so many different ways. But it’s something that I’ve learned early in is to not take for granted your abilities,” said Locke.
Grinstead said his diagnosis isn’t slowing him down but he has learned to take it easy at times.
“Since I’ve been diagnosed, I think I’ve ran 10 half marathons and seven 200-mile relay races. But like I said I’ve learned, if you go out to run today if it feels bad, you quit. You don’t push yourself,” said Grinstead.
He hopes his story is an inspiration to others with MS.
“You’ve got two choices when you get something like this. You either sit around and feel sorry for yourself or you get on with your life and live it to the fullest. That’s what I choose to do,” said Grinstead.
