Completing a 10k endurance event last year wasn’t enough for Team MSAA participant Tiffany McCahill. She’s doing it again, but this time raising the bar and taking on the half marathon!
Tiffany’s previous 2024 MSAA fundraising page features a picture during last year’s Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend and shows Tiffany running toward the bright lights of Magic Kingdom, with a yellow sign on her back reading “ATHLETE WITH DISABILITY.”
When Team MSAA participant Tiffany McCahill was first diagnosed with MS in 2017, she assumed it marked the end of her participation in endurance events. However, her desire to continue doing what she loved led her to research more about endurance athletes with MS, and she decided that she wanted to continue participating in the events she had always enjoyed, while also raising funds and awareness for MS.
So, how did Tiffany’s journey lead her to joining Team MSAA?
“When I was first diagnosed in 2017, I wanted to get more information about MS. I didn’t know much about multiple sclerosis and what the impact would be on my everyday life. While exploring social media, I came across different resources with MSAA being one of the main sources of information. MSAA provided me with information about the disease and I was also able to learn about different experiences, helping me to understand that everyone’s experience with MS is different. I was happy to see the resources provided by MSAA, like cooling vests.
I had participated in endurance events in the past and thought that I was not going to be able to continue. I read about many endurance athletes with MS, and it gave me hope that it was at least possible. MSAA had an opportunity to participate in the Disney Marathon events and I jumped at the chance to be able to explore what I was able to do physically while raising funds and awareness. The experience was amazing! I was as serious about training as I was about fundraising, and the result was great. I elected to return the next year and step up from the 10K to the half marathon. I plan to continue participating for as long as I am able to. MSAA has supported me with hope that so much more is attainable despite the MS diagnosis.”
All fundraisers, big or small, play a vital role in raising awareness and funds to help support MSAA’s free programs and services. You don’t need to be a fundraising expert or endurance runner to raise money for the MS community – MSAA even has a DIY Toolkit to help you learn more, get inspired, and create your own fundraiser! Please visit MyMSAA.org/DIY for more information.
Have you created a unique fundraiser for MSAA in the past? We would love to hear about it!
