American Woman Becomes First Person With Diagnosed Multiple Sclerosis To Reach The Top Of MT Everest

Main Category: Multiple Sclerosis
Article Date: 27 May 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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American climber Lori Schneider of the US State of Wisconsin has become what is believed to be the first person with diagnosed multiple sclerosis to get to the top of Mt Everest. Lori Schneider, aged 52, reached the top of the world in the early hours of Saturday morning London time, carrying with her a banner celebrating the upcoming World MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Day on Wednesday 27 May (http://www.worldmsday.org). The banner reads: "Join the Global Movement. End MS!" (Note to picture editors: photo will be available as soon as Lori Schneider descends).

Lori Schneider has carried the World MS Day banner in her backpack every step of the way. Leaving Base Camp at Everest earlier this week, she said "I am climbing this mountain for all of us with MS, and all those who need to be reminded to live their dreams," she says.

"Climbing a mountain is similar to having MS - you concentrate on taking one step at a time and congratulate yourself with each step. At first I saw my MS diagnosis as devastating. Now I see that it has been a positive catalyst in my life which has moved me closer to living my dreams. My mission is to give hope to others who are living with this condition."

"The MS community around the world is celebrating Lori's achievement," said the CEO of the London-based Multiple Sclerosis International Federation Peer Baneke. "Lori is an inspiration to everyone who has MS or who knows someone with MS. It is a fantastic way to mark our very first World MS Day," he said.

World MS Day aims to be a day of unity, strength and solidarity for people affected by MS across the world. The goal is to mobilise and expand the global MS movement by encouraging people to talk about their MS experiences, donate to MS charities, join MS organisations and encourage politicians to take action. It has been organised by the London-based Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (http://www.msif.org) and by MS Societies in 54 countries around the world.

World MS Day will be marked by the release of a special Global Campaign short film made with support from rock group U2 showing the "1000 faces of Multiple Sclerosis" to the music of U2's "A Beautiful Day". For more details, see below.

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World MS Day