This Month’s Co-op Community Champion is Sherri Mytopher, who has been integral in spreading multiple sclerosis awareness in Northeast B.C. through the MS Society.
Co-op highlights people in Fort St. John who should be recognized for their work in the community. Anyone looking to nominate a community-minded person in need of recognition, head to Energeticcity’s website.
Mytopher has lived in Fort St. John for around 20 years and has been heavily involved in volunteering. Some of the organizations and events she has volunteered for include. the Fort St. John Huskies, the parent advisory council for her stepdaughter’s school, the Fort St. John International Air Show, and recently was a host at the 2020 BC Winter Games.
Since 2016, the brunt of Mytopher’s volunteering has been for the MS Society in the northeast.
Through her work with the Society, Mytopher was recognized as an MS Champion and received a volunteer engagement award in 2018. The following year, she received the Humanitarian Award from the City of Fort St. John.
Mytopher was diagnosed with MS in 2013 and had to step down from her full-time job due to the debilitating disease. She was looking for something to fill her time until she saw that the MS Society needed a representative in the north.
“After I was no longer able to work, I was able to volunteer a little bit. What I wanted to do was bring awareness and representation to the north,” said Mytopher.
Through the Society, Mytopher brought the organization’s annual awareness walk to the Energetic City as the closest walk prior to 2017 was in Grande Prairie.
“It gives me something to do on the days that I feel okay to do something. Because having MS, [you have to take it day by day]. ”
“The community has helped the MS Society here, locally, in Fort St. John and have been so supportive of me, so I want to give back anyway in any way I can as well.”
Aside from her with the MS Society, Mytopher said one of her most rewarding volunteer experiences was the BC Winter Games.
“It’s just special to see these up-and-coming athletes and meeting their coaches, the community coming together again, that many volunteers and, again if I can give back and do something like that, that’s what it’s all about.”
This year, Mytopher raised over $13,400 through donations, a drive-in movie night and an online silent auction during MS Awareness Month in May.
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