Paige Gray is a CCAA Torchbearer

Paige Gray, a first-year soccer player at Université St-Boniface, has been awarded the Torchbearer Scholarship for her outstanding community leadership and dedication to the fight against Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Paige's remarkable contributions to the MS Walk Winnipeg event have earned her this prestigious honour.

The MS Walk is a vital community-driven fundraising event that aims to support Canadians affected by MS while spreading awareness and knowledge about the condition. Paige's inspiration stems from her Auntie Kerra, who battles MS. This drove her to participate in the MS Walk for over 15 years and fundraise independently for a decade. Her deep commitment to the cause led her to seek opportunities for greater involvement.

“Paige took the initiative to think outside of the box to offer solutions and take action to overcome barriers during the planning stages,” said Marielle Dacquel the 2023 MS Walk Winnipeg Coordinator. “Paige naturally exhibits MS Canada’s values, and she is a team player who thinks big and is impact-driven, compassionate, and resilient.”

“I am an MS Canada employee and also a person living with MS – it was truly an honour to work alongside her as we connected and empowered our community to create positive change,” added Dacquel.

As the emcee for the 2023 MS Walk Winnipeg event, Paige played a pivotal role in orchestrating and promoting it, ensuring its success despite the challenges similar charitable events have faced since the pandemic. Her hope for a large turnout was significantly exceeded as the event drew double its participation goal. The event also generated a remarkable fundraising total of $204,066.59, surpassing its target by $50,000.

Tonya Derkson, Head Coach of the Les Rouges Soccer team, commented, “Her commitment to problem-solving and garnering community support is remarkable. Alongside her dedication to the community, Paige is a valued teammate and a strong student-athlete at Université de Saint-Boniface, always ensuring everyone has someone in their corner.”

Paige's involvement in the MS Walk and her unwavering dedication to the cause have not only raised vital funds but also spread awareness and provided hope to individuals and families affected by MS. Her remarkable achievements underscore her exceptional leadership and commitment to making a difference in her community.

“The most important thing to me is being able to spread awareness about Multiple Sclerosis and feeling as though my involvement in this worthy cause is making a difference,” stated Gray. “I am truly honored to have been recognized as one of this year’s CCAA Torchbearers!”