RealTalk MS – Episode 447: Walking with Many Sisters Toward a Cure with Brigitte Delaney

Date: March 23, 2026
Host: Jon Strum
Guest: Brigitte Delaney, Team Captain, Many Sisters Walk MS

Episode Overview

This episode of RealTalk MS centers on the inspiring story behind the “Many Sisters” Walk MS team, led by Brigitte Delaney. Host Jon Strum also briefly covers newsworthy MS research updates and the impact of recent studies, before diving into a personal and hopeful interview with Brigitte about building community, the evolution of her team, creative fundraising, and the real sense of optimism about the future of MS treatment and advocacy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

MS News & Recent Advances

[00:01–13:19]

• Diet and Brain Aging: The MIND Diet

  • Jon discusses how the MIND Diet (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) may be helpful in slowing loss of gray matter in the brain, which is significant as people with MS tend to experience brain aging at an accelerated rate.
  • Recent studies (on mostly white, middle-aged adults) show a positive correlation with better brain health, though further research specific to MS populations is needed.
  • Quote: “So the results of this study indicate that adopting and sticking with the MIND Diet could be particularly helpful in slowing that loss of gray matter for people living with MS.” [05:20]

• Breakthrough in Cell Therapy: NG001

  • Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Regenerative Medicine Advanced Therapy designation to NG001, a remyelinating autologous cell therapy, based on promising phase 2 trial data.
  • NG001 aims to restore myelin and function lost to MS by bypassing the blood-brain barrier and acting directly at lesion sites.
  • Quote: “This is an encouraging step in the development of a treatment that's designed to repair myelin and restore function that's been lost to MS... All of which means that the development cycle for this therapy has just been accelerated.” [08:13]

• AI Health Chatbots and MS

  • Microsoft launches CoPilot Health, a secure chatbot service aimed at improving patient education and clinical preparation, though Jon cautions listeners about over-relying on AI for medical decisions.
  • Quote: “Don’t forget to apply your own real intelligence in evaluating their responses.” [11:45]

• Late-Onset MS

  • Recent registry research reveals people diagnosed with MS after age 50 (late onset) or after age 60 (very late onset) tend to develop more severe disability and have a higher probability of the primary progressive form.
  • The need for tailored interventions and greater research for aging MS populations is emphasized.
  • Quote: “The disease course seems to be less forgiving and more intense, so understanding what the best interventions are becomes more important than ever.” [12:25]

Walk MS Spotlight: Brigitte Delaney & Many Sisters

Guest segment begins at [13:20]

Origins and Motivation

• Why Walk MS?

  • Brigitte, living with MS for 23–24 years, walks “because I’m able to walk, and I’m really grateful for that.” [13:35]
  • Initial diagnosis at 37 spurred her to join the community and, after moving, inspired her friends to continue walking with her in new cities each year.

• Team Growth & Mission

  • “Walk LA will be our 23rd consecutive walk. We join from all over the country. We're as few as seven and as many as 20, and usually representing between five and seven states.” [14:03]
  • Each teammate raises funds in their own communities to donate wherever the walk is held.

The Power of Sisterhood

• Team Name Origins

  • “Many Sisters” emerged because the team includes “real sisters, sisters-in-law, and friends who’ve become sisters,” reflecting a positive shift from diagnosis to meaningful collective action. [14:37]

• Supporting Others

  • The team has “adopted” four “little sisters”—younger women with MS, supporting them through job networking and even helping purchase mobility aids, making intergenerational community central to their mission. [15:45]
  • Quote: “They are in our hearts and minds with us all the time, especially on walk days.” [16:24]

Fundraising & Community Building

• Creative Fundraising

  • Brigitte prefers community events over direct asks, e.g., her annual wreath workshop has become a major fundraiser, growing to 92 wreaths and raising $11,300 last year. [17:32]
  • Quote: “I don’t feel comfortable asking outright for funding. My current big fundraiser is an annual wreath workshop…We’ve tried a bit of everything.” [17:32]

• Recruiting & Team Dynamics

  • Recruitment leverages personal connections and the team’s joyful, inclusive ethos: “Let’s invite them to come join the fun... It’s a joyful day and people often ask, you know, how far is the walk? And I say it’s really not a challenge walk, it’s community.” [18:13]

Advice and Encouragement

• On Fundraising for the Reluctant

  • Shift the focus: “It can just be a bit uncomfortable for me. So I encourage people to find a way to connect with your community… Bring people in to share that joy with you and while you're at it, have a conversation about MS.” [19:09]

• Perspective on Progress & Hope

  • Brigitte is upbeat about advancements and a cure: “I used to tell our little sisters that I’m not going to cure this thing in your lifetime, but I think we're going to cure it in my lifetime. I'm 61 years old and I'm very optimistic.” [20:13]
  • Cites improvements in diagnosis, research, and international collaboration as reasons for hope.

• Invitation to Newcomers

  • Quote: “I would say come out and enjoy a special experience. Talk to people... there's a lot of joy and a lot of hope and I think people will come away feeling fulfilled.” [21:33]

Memorable Quotes & Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------|-------| | 05:20 | Jon | “So the results of this study indicate that adopting and sticking with the MIND Diet could be particularly helpful in slowing that loss of gray matter for people living with MS.” | | 13:35 | Brigitte | “I participate in Walk MS because I’m able to walk. And I’m really grateful for that.” | | 14:37 | Brigitte | “The M and S now stand for a sisterhood that’s become really, really special to me and flipped the overall feeling of living with a chronic disease…” | | 17:32 | Brigitte | “I don’t feel comfortable asking outright for funding. My current big fundraiser is an annual wreath workshop…We raised $11,300.” | | 18:13 | Brigitte | “It’s a joyful day…It’s really not a challenge walk, it’s community.” | | 20:13 | Brigitte | “I think we’re going to cure it in my lifetime. I’m 61 years old and I’m very optimistic.” | | 21:33 | Brigitte | “I would say come out and enjoy a special experience... there's a lot of joy and a lot of hope.” |

Timeline & Timestamps for Notable Segments

• 00:01–13:19: Jon Strum’s MS news: MIND Diet, NG001, AI chatbots, and late-onset MS research.
• 13:20: Guest interview with Brigitte Delaney begins—her MS journey, team origin story.
• 14:32: Why “Many Sisters”? The significance of team identity and bonds.
• 15:21: Growth of the team, taking Walk MS across the nation.
• 15:45: Team’s intergenerational support and “adopting” younger women with MS.
• 17:19: Fundraising creativity and impact, e.g., wreath workshop.
• 18:05: Strategies for recruiting new team members—building fun and inclusivity.
• 19:09: Advice for those hesitant to fundraise or participate.
• 20:13: Brigitte’s optimism and reflection on research progress.
• 21:33: A call to new participants on why Walk MS is worth joining.

Tone & Style

Warm, accessible, optimistic, and community-focused—Jon Strum guides with clarity, while Brigitte Delaney exemplifies heartfelt leadership, resourcefulness, and hope.

Conclusion

In this episode, Jon spotlights both the latest developments in MS science and advocacy, and the personal activism that gives grassroots movements their power. Brigitte’s story demonstrates how long-term commitment, creative fundraising, and true sisterhood can turn adversity into a force for change—while holding fast to the belief that a world without MS is within reach.

For more details, visit realtalkms.com/walkms.