Robin Dyer

Living with multiple sclerosis can be a daily struggle, but that has not stopped Hanceville resident Robin Dyer from fighting the disease and raising money for a cure.

Dyer, who was diagnosed with MS in 2013, has raised money for the past two years with a yard sale that that brings in donations for Cullman neurologist Chris LaGanke’s MS Walk team.

The MS Walk is an annual event in Cullman’s Heritage Park that raises money for MS awareness and treatment, and local teams compete with each other to raise the most money.

LaGanke lost his mother to the disease, and founded the Joanne P. LaGanke MS Center in her honor. Dyer is one of LaGanke’s patients, and she participates on his team in the annual MS Walk to support the work that he and his staff do for people with MS.

“I just wanted to make some money for Team LaGanke,” she said.

Dyer raised $665 for Team LaGanke in a yard sale in 2017, but this year’s yard sale almost didn’t happen.

After having shoulder surgery in December, her doctor told her that she shouldn’t lift anything that weighed more than two pounds, and that meant she couldn’t have her yard sale. Dyer tried to follow that advice, but she couldn’t resist the need to raise money for the MS Walk.

“I just decided, ‘I’m going to do it,’” she said.

Dyer spent a full week in preparation for the yard sale, which was held on March 3, and she did most of the work on her own, despite her doctor’s orders.

“It was a rough week leading up to it, but it was worth it,” she said.

Dyer said she got donations from her family, friends and several people who she had never met before who wanted to support the cause.

The day did not go without its share of problems, but one of the worst issues turned into a blessing for Dyer’s fundraising effort.

A rack of clothes turned over during the sale, and Dyer while she was there, a woman came to the door with a $200 donation from Hanceville’s Faith Restoration Church.

That woman prayed with Dyer, and asked God to bless the sale, and the day passed without more major incidents.

With that donation and funds raised from the yard sale, she had a total of $925 at the end of the day, which exceeded her expectations for the day.

“It just blew me away,” she said. “I give all glory to God. It’s not me.”

Dyer may have set up for the sale on her own, but she has had support from her friends and family on the day of the sale and during her continued fight against MS.

“If they hadn’t have helped on that Saturday, I don’t know what I could have done,” she said. “I have love and support from my family and my church family.”

Part of the reason why Dyer supports organizations like Walk MS is to bring more awareness to the disease.

MS is a disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body.

Because MS affects people internally, they can look fine on the outside while they are suffering on the inside, Dyer said.

There is no cure for the disease, and the symptoms manifest differently with everyone.

“It’s different with every person,” Dyer said.

Dyer said she has a lot of fatigue and headaches that can be unbearable, along with muscle weakness and balance issues that can flare up at any time without warning.

She said she can wake up in the morning and feel good, but two hours later can feel like she can’t do anything. That uncertainty means that she has had to cancel multiple doctors’ appointments, and is unable to go to her granddaughter’s tee-ball games.

“You never know if you’re going to have a good day, a good week,” she said. “You can’t make plans.”

Living with MS is a fight, but Dyer said she has a lot of support from her husband Danny, the rest of her family and her church.

She said she does not want the credit for any money that is raised by the yard sale or other fundraising efforts, because she is working for someone greater.

“I just want to sure all the glory goes to God,” she said. “He’s my strength, He’s my everything.”

Cullman’s MS Walk will be held in Heritage Park on April 12. It features several walking options, including a one mile, a two mile and a three mile walk. All funds raised in the event go to help support those who are diagnosed with MS.

If people want to donate or participate in Cullman Walk MS, they can visit WalkMS.org and find the Cullman event, and anyone who wants to contribute to Dyer’s effort to raise money can contact her at rjhitt@hotmail.com.