Every year more than 40,000 Canadians in more than 160 communities across Canada support the MS Walk and raise vital funds for people living with MS.

May is MS Awareness Month and Manitoba will be holding ten walks over two weekends to support the work of the MS Society of Canada.

Community Engagement and Sponsorship Manager Barb Pettitt explained they are doing things a little different this year.

"Because there are so many different events out there we want to be sure that we are going into communities, we can get the support of the community and we are not competing with additional events."

Pettitt noted the walks are a major fundraiser for the organization and a time to look to community to come together to help support MS.

10 walks will take place in Manitoba next month including stops in Clear Lake, Morden, Steinbach, Brandon, and Portage La Prairie.

"The family support is terrific," stated Pettitt.  "It is more fun to walk in a group so put a team together, get family and friends.  Some people will do their own t-shirts and they get dressed up and they really make it a fun day. It is really great for the community because it just brings that awareness to MS."

Pettitt added Canada has the highest incident rates of MS in the world; with over 3,500 people in Manitoba living with the disease.

Meanwhile, she shared where the funds from the Manitoba Walks will be going towards.

Pettitt said the MS Society of Canada funds the best researchers in the country; adding in this case Winnipeg came out on top to be chosen as the research site.