RI Strollers making positive impact for those with MS

By Brandon Maxwell
Posted 3/29/17

By BRANDON MAXWELL Since she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in June of 2009, Cranston resident and lifelong Rhode Islander Kathleen Crudele has dedicated much of her life to servicing and volunteering for people afflicted by the disease and their

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RI Strollers making positive impact for those with MS

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Since she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in June of 2009, Cranston resident and lifelong Rhode Islander Kathleen Crudele has dedicated much of her life to servicing and volunteering for people afflicted by the disease and their friends and families.

Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic neurological disorder of the central nervous system. It disrupts the flow of information within and between the brain as well as within the body. According to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the cause of MS is still unknown, though scientists believe it is triggered by environmental factors in a person who is genetically predisposed to respond. Women are diagnosed two to three times more often than men.

March is national MS Awareness Month making this time of year very important in the fight for one day finding a cure, as well as creating more ways to help people that already have MS.

Wanting to contribute more to raise awareness and recognition, Crudele began her support group, The RI Strollers, with the help of the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation last year to create “a fun, educational and positive place to meet other people with MS.” She also became an official volunteer ambassador for the organization in the process.

On the last Tuesday of every month (excluding the summer months since people with MS oftentimes have trouble withstanding extreme heat) Kathleen holds meetings at the Corner Bakery Café in the Garden City complex in Cranston where visitors both new and returning, and young and old come by to visit.

She and her husband, Ron cover the table in the back of the room with brochures, pamphlets and other useful information before each meeting, and help attendees sign up to receive more information from MSF directly, as well as help in receiving necessities like cooling vests that help regulate body temperature when the heat in the warmer months becomes too much to handle.

Most months, Crudele brings in a speaker to teach group members useful information and ways to make living with MS easier. At the last meeting, Crudele invited her own physical therapist, Kristi Mason from OrthoCare in North Kingston to talk about the importance of body movement exercises and how their role can influence an increase in function in some parts of the body.

Crudele gives physical therapy a lot of credit with helping her navigate far better than she used to. When she was first diagnosed she was limited to a wheelchair and was overmedicated on a heavy regiment. Today she can walk.

"I have to work hard at physical therapy and I am going to do it," Crudele said. "You have to make it a priority. I said, ‘I’m not giving up.’"

Some months Kathleen may only have handful of attendees since traveling with MS can be very difficult. Other months she speaks in front of a packed room with 20-30 people coming to her meetings. Regardless, Crudele said she loves doing what she does because she enjoys helping people so much. She wants anyone that comes to her meetings to know that life goes on after MS, even if it may not seem that way.

As long as she can make a positive impact on even a single person's life, Crudele says she is happy. Whether it is helping someone get access to resources they would have otherwise never heard of or simply showing them that someone understands what they are going through, Crudele makes it a point to make sure she is leaving a good mark on the world.

"This is what I do,'" she said. "It just makes me feel so good and if I didn’t do this, I don’t know where I would be. It’s like having another family to me. It just makes me so happy to see everyone."

Earlier this month, Crudele spoke at the MS Dream Center in Cranston, which provides interactive and educational services to people with MS. She also had an information booth at the Warwick Mall, while visiting several doctors, neurologists and physical therapy centers. She does all of this while continuing her regular volunteering schedule and preparation for her support group meetings. In addition, she is also getting ready for another year participating in the MS Society walk with her team Kathy’s Kritters, on Sunday, April 9. She has been one of the top fundraisers every year she has participated.

While MS brought her and her husband's future plans to an abrupt detour, Crudele dedicates a lot of her happiness to the encouragement she receives from her many friends and family, including her husband, two daughters, Lindsay and Bethany, and her dogs.

For more information on Multiple Sclerosis and how to help those affected by it, visit MSFocus.org. Crudele can be contacted directly at Kathleen.Crudele@gmail.com or by phone at 461-4929.

With a full inbox on her email and many messages on her phone, Crudele makes time every day to talk to people that have questions or are just looking to chat. Anyone looking to participate in the MS Society Walk is also encouraged to get in touch with Crudele.

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