Multiple Sclerosis runner will pass through Gallup
By Steven Hughes
Sun Correspondent
Activeness without fear was normalcy for Betsy Mueller. She was an active runner, making exercise a part of her daily routine. That changed on the morning of Aug. 11, 2021, the moment a concerning level of numbness hit her face and left arm.
After multiple hospital visits and consulting with two neurologists later within the month, Mueller received a diagnosis that left her future with running blurred: Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that impacts the brain and spinal cord. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society states on its website that RRSM is a common form of the condition that has periods of flaring “attacks” with fatigue.
SEEKING A TREATMENT
Betsy kept details about her condition private, only confiding in her husband as she said she felt embarrassed over not having control over the disease. She said sometimes she would be sedentary as she was “so afraid that something was going to happen.”
The initial treatments, such as getting steroid shots, didn’t show immediate results, giving Betsy some fair concerns that treatment wasn’t going to work. She tried plasma exchange treatment, which helped, but still left her with uncertainty about her love of running.
After learning about her diagnosis, Betsy and her husband Dr. Chris Mueller started the 501(c)(3) non-profit, Active With MS. The nonprofit’s mission is to support activities and organizations that inspire and empower individuals with MS to pursue active and fulfilling lifestyles. Betsy serves as the organization’s Executive Director and Chris is a board member.
In an article published on the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s website titled “Exercise minimizes MS symptoms, preserves brainpower,” Alon Kalron, PhD, senior lecturer at the Sackler Faculty of Medicine at Tel-Aviv University, explains the benefits of exercise for someone diagnosed with MS.
“For many years, we’ve known that on a symptom level, exercise helps with reducing fatigue, easing mobility and improving cognition,” he said. “Today, we see that from a disease perspective, exercise preserves an important part of the neural system.”
With this in mind, Active With MS helps people with MS stay active by supporting them financially when it comes to race fees, gym memberships, and/or running gear.
GETTING BACK IN THE RACE
As someone who had a passion for running even before her diagnosis, Betsy knows the importance of exercise. Going into year three of her MS journey, Betsy set a new goal for herself: running across America.
Her run across the U.S. is also powered by Active with MS, being the organization’s first endeavor and a fundraiser opportunity. She said that this run is a way for her to show people not to give up on themselves.
“I’m feeling excited,” Betsy said in an interview with the Sun a couple days before the start of her run. “I’m feeling excited to start and feeling overwhelmed, but overall, I’m just excited to start.”
Chris said his wife’s path came together after asking questions from past runners in a Facebook group who did similar challenges. They gave the Muellers plenty of ideas for easy and safe routes.
Besides getting advice from other people, Betsy already had some locations she wanted to hit during her run in mind. Specifically, Flagstaff, Ariz., where the Muellers live now, and in Wisconsin, where they used to live.
Betsy’s run will take her through Gallup near the end of March as she plans to hit Espanola, N.M. by April 4, according to her website’s My Route webpage. Betsy used to work for Henry Schein, a dental equipment supply distribution company, as a sales representative that would take her near Gallup and northern Arizona.
Her run across the U.S. will take approximately three months to complete, starting on March 9 in Santa Monica, Calif., and ending on May 31 in Bloomberg, Pa. Of course, Active with MS is ensuring their executive director’s safety during the run.
Chris said his wife will run primarily during the daytime, wear high visibility clothing and accessories, run against the flow of traffic, and have some mace in case of feral stray dogs, to name a few precautions and safety measures. There will also be a support vehicle on the road that’ll provide Betsy with food. The vehicle will also have a sign warning other vehicles of her approach.
When asked if her progress will be tracked in real time, Betsy said they will not be tracking her exact progress as another level of safety. However, she will be updating supporters via social media and on her run website, betsyrunswithms.com.
“If they see this lady in bright colors and want to come up and talk to me, I’m more than happy to take a break, or even a honk of a horn,” Betsy said. “I just believe in connection because a little ‘Hello’ can make a difference.”
If Betsy completes her run successfully, she will become the first person with MS to run across the country.
REASONS FOR THE RUN
Although many friends, family, and the general public have donated towards Active with MS’ idea, the team tried to get sponsorships for Betsy’s run from larger athletic and nutrition-related businesses with no luck. Even some of Chris’ patients have donated — he’s a working cardiologist.
However, the Muellers are hoping that’ll change as the executive director performs her role and updates her progress to prove her and the organization’s commitment to spreading awareness of MS.
Active with MS is also partnering with the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America, who provide resources to those living with the condition.
“Hopefully, with the run, we can drum up enough interest for the foundation to help build some finances,” Chris said. “Then, we can start to potentially offer scholarships or partial reimbursement for gym shoes or race fees for people that have [MS]. Hopefully we can take down some of those barriers people may have to become or stay active.”
For more information about the foundation, email contact@activewithms.org. For more information on supporting Betsy’s run, email contact@betsyrunsuswithms.com.
