This local shares about her life with MS to make positive changes—how to get involved

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“But you don’t look sick.” 

This is a common refrain for Montgomery’s Amber Battison and many others with autoimmune disorders like Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

We spoke with Amber about her MS journey and how she’s influencing others by doing big things for the National MS Society.

Read on for her story, plus a look at the top fundraisers of the 2024 MS Leadership Challenge Birmingham.

Meet Amber Battison

After more than a decade of experiencing a variety of symptoms like fatigue, insomnia, blurry vision and muscle stiffness, Amber Battison was diagnosed with MS in 2015 at the age of 27. 

“From the age of 13 until my diagnosis, I spent my time trying to figure out what was going on.

I’m one of the anomalies in the MS community, I have come to find out. I have really low-level symptoms.”

Amber Battison, participant, 2024 MS Leadership Challenge

What finally led to her diagnosis?

“I was treated for optic neuritis, which causes blurry vision and is highly correlated with MS.

My ophthalmologist took the time to go through all of the symptoms I had been having over the years and helped me figure out what was really going on.”

Amber Battison, participant, 2024 MS Leadership Challenge

What is the 2024 MS Leadership Challenge?

If you’re not familiar with MS, here’s what you should know:

• Nearly one million people in the US are living with MS.
• It’s an autoimmune disease which causes the body’s immune system to attack its own tissues.
• It usually, or often begins between the ages of 20-40.
• It mainly affects the central nervous system.
• It affects women more than men.
• It can cause visual disturbances, muscle weakness, trouble with coordination + balance, thinking and memory problems, etc.

Something else you may not know about MS is that it affects each person differently.

“You’d look at me and say ‘She walks, she talks, she’s fine.’ But I’m not fine.

What I wish more people understood about MS is that it’s it has a broad range of symptoms and plays a role in affecting how you function and the decisions you have to make.”

Amber Battison, participant, 2024 MS Leadership Challenge

For Amber, MS has affected many things, like job opportunities, driving and socializing.

“Driving long distances is my biggest burden right now.

I can still drive, but if I do it for too long, I end up in tears because my hands hurt from holding the steering wheel.”

Amber Battison, participant, 2024 MS Leadership Challenge

The 2024 MS Leadership Challenge

Despite the obstacles of having MS, Amber hasn’t let it stop her from living her life.

One example is that she joined the 2024 MS Leadership Challenge Birmingham even though she lives an hour and a half away in Montgomery.

The Challenge helps the National MS Society in its mission to create a world without MS.

This exceptional group of professionals works together by networking with respected members of the local business community through special events, community service projects and fundraising activities.

“The MS Leadership Challenge is an awesome opportunity for people to get involved and begin to grasp what MS really is.

This year, by visiting UAB’s Research Center and hearing from people in the MS community, participants were able to make an impact.”

Amber Battison, participant, 2024 MS Leadership Challenge

Top 2024 MS Leadership Challenge fundraisers

Each year, MS Leadership Challenge participants help raise funds for the MS Society. 

Fun fact: This year’s top three fundraisers all work for Birmingham-based Hoar Construction.

Crawford Burton

• Raised: $5,000
• Why involved: “I chose to take part in the Leadership Challenge to network and meet great people, but also because the disease runs in my family. My mother and sister have both been diagnosed with MS, so we have seen how confusing the disease can be. The symptoms are wide-ranging, which makes diagnosis difficult. Raising awareness is crucial because the quicker a person can be diagnosed, the faster that person can be treated and begin to see improvements in quality of life.”

Jeff Brasher

• Raised: $2,535
• Why involved: “The MS Leadership Challenge was a great experience! The community of people that represent and assist with the Challenge are awesome and you get to meet folks in your city and work together to raise funds to continue MS research.” 

John Lee

• Raised: $2,000
• Why involved: “Our organization, Hoar Construction, has a long-standing relationship with the MS Foundation, and I wanted to continue to foster that relationship. I was also interested in learning more about MS, the research being performed to find a cure and sharing what I learned with members of my community.”

Will Terry

• Raised: $3,125
• Why involved: “I didn’t realize how close I was to people who are dealing with MS. I learned through the MS Leadership Challenge that it is much more prevalent than I thought making this cause something I wanted to support.”

So far, MS Leadership Challenge participants have raised $50,000 to contribute to a world without MS, but it doesn’t have to end there.

Help the National MS Society create a world without MS by donating now.