Riverdale resident with MS runs relay across America
BY KYLE VUILLE
Running 28 miles a day for
fi ve days straight would be
feat for most people, let alone
someone with an autoimmune
disease.
On July 13, a Bronx woman
will be running 141 miles over
the course of fi ve days to raise
$10,000 to spread awareness
for multiple sclerosis.
Wilmien Blake, 41, of Riverdale,
has always been an
avid runner, but her whole
life changed when she was diagnosed
with MS in 2013.
“I remember I started feeling
this tingling and numbness
on my right side of my
body,” Blake said. “It felt like
someone drew a line right
down the middle of me.”
Blake’s initial concerns
were about the disease’s progression
and how it would
affect her life in the years to
come.
After she started taking
medication and treatment for
MS, she said she wanted to
block out the side effects because
she didn’t want her diagnosis
to be the center of her
“I decided if MS was going
to be a passenger in my life
then I’m going to give it one
hell of a ride,” Blake said.
MS is an autoimmune disease,
which affects the immune
system so patients
often get sick a lot, Blake explained.
However, Blake noted her
new infusion treatment minimizes
those effects.
“I realized how fortunate
I was with my doctor,
the medication and the treatment,”
Blake said. “I felt the
obligation to help those who
aren’t as fortunate as I am, I
wanted to show people that
MS doesn’t need to be this big,
scary thing.”
As an avid runner, Blake
has ran marathons and other
long distance races, but said
she learned of the MS Runs
the US at another event to
raise money for MS.
“Last year, I was at this
event, ‘MS Climbs to the Top’
and at that event, I learned
about the relay race,” Blake
said.
MS Runs the US is an ultra
relay race consisting of
19 runners starting from
Santa Monica, CA and ends in
New York City covering 3,100
miles.
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life.
Wilmien Blake gives the camera the thumbs up during The North Face
Endurance Challenge this past June on Wachusett Mountain in Massachusetts.
The 50 mile race was the longest race Blake has done since she
has committed to the 141 mile 5 day MS Runs the US ultra relay race.
Photo courtesy of Ultra Race Photos
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Donations from the race
will go towards MS research
and help those with MS.
Blake has segment 15 of
the relay assigned to her. Her
fi ve-day 141-mile journey will
start in Valparaiso, IN and
end in Van Wert, OH, averaging
28 miles a day.
In preparation of the race,
Blake has found herself involved
in all sorts of training
besides running every day.
Her six month training
program includes kickboxing,
kettle ball training, rowing,
swimming and other
forms of cross training.
However, Blake still fi nds
time for her family and her
job in advertising.
Blake said she starts her
day at 4 a.m. and hits the
pavement before she gets her
kids ready for school and out
the door herself for work.
“It’s the only time I have
for myself,” Blake joked.
Her two children, Zander,
12, and Lucy, 8, join in on her
runs, trailing her on a scooter
or bicycle while she teaches
them about MS.
Blake said she fi nds herself
very grateful for the support
and love she receives
from family and friends.
“I’d like to thank my husband,
Phil, for his support,
encouragement and for picking
up my slack while I indulge
my love for running,”
Blake said. “Also, my kids
and parents for being my biggest
cheerleaders.”
For more information and
to make donations, please visit
https://www.msruntheus.
/www.msruntheus
/myNYCB.com
/www.msruntheus