GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado - Kolocanta Darling loved long walks in the Glenwood Canyon.

"It's such a beautiful location," she said.

That's why she enjoys the MS Lifelines Walk for Multiple Sclerosis presented by Wells Fargo. In its 10th year, the walk has become a welcomed event for Darling. But it means even more since she's become a person living with MS for nearly the past five years.

"It's pretty ironic," Darling said. "I participated in MS walks when I was younger."

Now, the 49-year-old Glenwood resident has participated in the MS walk using a Segway personal transporter.

"The biggest misconception people have is (about) MS (being) a one-size-fits-all disease," Darling said. "It affects each person differently. It's a life-altering experience, but there are other ways of doing things."

One local organizer for the event, Penny Donelan, said that stories like Darling's are the main reason for the event; it shows those living with the ailment that the community they live in supports them.

"The main goal is fundraising," Donelan said. "We try to make it educational and fun, too."

This year's event hosted a new option to educate people about the affects of the disease with the introduction of the "Experience Tent," where participants got to feel firsthand what living with MS would be like.

"MS involves the central nervous system and has any number of symptoms," Donelan said. "The experience tent allows people to try on goggles that mimic blurred vision, or special shoes that disables a person's balance when they walk."

This year's event had 26 teams registered for the event and close to 400 people that participated. That is a pretty typical number for the walk through the years. Donelan and Darling both would like to see more people come out each year, but they are just thankful for the people that do.

"It's like a mini-reunion every year," Donelan said. "That's my favorite aspect. The camaraderie and all the people that have helped over the years."

For Darling, she doesn't think that "thanks" is enough for the community support.

"I would like to say thank you to all those that come out and support it," Darling said. "But It doesn't seem like it's enough. It's comforting to know that people are out supporting this."

Contact John Gardner: 384-9114jgardner@postindependent.com