Lesley Hegland

Multiple sclerosis (MS), in a nutshell, is a chronic and unpredictable disease that attacks the central nervous system.

Anywhere from 55,000 to 75,000 Canadians are currently living with this puzzling disease, which can occur at any age and is still in the theoretical stages as far as the medical community understanding the causes of this debilitating illness.It is not unlikely that someone you know suffers from MS.

If this is the case, you can understand the frustration this loved one endures on a daily basis on which direction to turn to for treatment in order to help cope with such common symptoms as fatigue, visual disturbances, loss of co-ordination or balance, cognitive changes, unmanageable pain, weakening and even paralysis of parts of the body.

One such Cochrane resident who has struggled with MS since her official 1992 diagnosis is Lesley Hegland, who has found a possible light at the end of her tunnel:  hope that a new treatment, known as MS Liberation Treatment, can alleviate some of her symptoms and give her a new lease on life.

CCSVI (Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency) is a condition discovered by Dr. Paolo Zamboni and his team, which is found in a startling number of MS patients.

Through extensive research, Dr. Zamboni developed a way to treat CCSVI, known as MS Liberation Treatment, which MS supporters have described as “potentially ground-breaking.”

The only hitch? This treatment, which is a type of angioplasty to the veins located in the neck, is not available in Canada, due to the Canadian government’s belief that there’s not enough current research to prove the treatment safe and effective enough for the Canadian medical community to begin practicing.

The result? Hundreds of MS sufferers are scrambling to raise funds to receive the treatment in countries such as Costa Rica and Poland.

Lesley Hegland, centre, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, sits with her granddaughters Kennedy and Kayley. Photo submitted

In order to help raise the $9,000 to send Hegland to Poland for MS Liberation Treatment, the community of Cochrane has stepped up to the plate, and is hosting a music-filled fundraiser, in conjunction with a silent auction, to be held at the Texas Gate on Oct. 24 from 2-6 p.m.

“It’s unbelievable. I didn’t think people would do this for me,” says a grateful Hegland.

“I’m overwhelmed with how many good people are in this community.”

Music will be provided by the Phantoms Blues Band, the rockin’-bluesy Cochrane five-piece band, during the afternoon and into the evening.

While tickets for the prime rib buffet dinner are long sold out, people are encouraged to stop by for the entertainment and silent auction during the afternoon.

For more information, contact the Texas Gate at 403-932-6666.

Donations for Lesley Hegland’s MS Liberation Treatment can also be made at any Scotia Bank location:  Transit # 51169 and account # 0057525.

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