Irene Unger

25 Years with this Disease and I’m Hoping you can help me with a donation!

What has your money done?

It’s allowed me to switch meditations until I found one three years ago that seems to have helped reduce new flareups tremendously! When I was first diagnosed, there were only four medication’s and now there are 27! Young people first hearing the dreaded words, “You have MS,” no longer have to picture them themselves in a wheelchair! Some of the new treatments are proving to keep MS totally dormant! 

However, since this is Irene’s 25th year living with MS, her story is more about the “restore” part of the current research. That’s why we need your help!

2Steppers captain, Irene Unger, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1999 at the age of 22 while in grad school and student teaching. She woke up one day with double vision.

It was the first of what would become a lifetime of living with a chronic, unpredictable, devastating disease. One where "episodes" or false ups could happen at any time.

Since her diagnosis, Irene has done her best to remain her best self, however the worst part of having
MS was when the disease progression forced her to leave her teaching career in 2014.

In addition to focusing on WalkMS Irene does advocacy work for disabled people, specifically at concert venues and hotels. After having horrible and harrowing experiences with non compliant ADA issues, and seeing a complete lack of understanding what a person with MS goes though to see live music, or travel, Irene started conversations with Live Nation and Marriott so she could make these essential parts of life happy and safe again.

Since seeing live music, especially the Dave Matthews Band, and travel are two of Irene's favorite pastimes, this led to epic wins.

MS makes every part of Irene's days extremely challenging, specifically with balance, cognitive imbalance, fatigue and pain.

While it is too late for Irene for full restoration of lost functions, it is not too late for the 300 people diagnosed with MS a day
and Irene is working tirelessly to make sure no one has to ever hear "you have MS" again.

Irene lives in Briarcliff Manor, New York with her husband Geoff, her 18 year old son Ben, and her dog Jesse.

She welcomes all correspondence and can would love you to go to www.2Steppers.org to see all things 2Steppers!

Will you join in the Circles of Support by making a donation to help me reach my goal? It's quick, easy and all donations are tax-deductible.