A WASLEYS woman has raised $14,500 for multiple sclerosis (MS) research by walking 40km in honour of her late mum.

Ainslee Ey, along with 16 other participants, walked from Gawler’s Clonlea Park, 20km up the Barossa Trail to Rowland Flat, and back, on Saturday after months of fundraising.

Ms Ey said she was proud of everyone who got involved in the charity initiative, which was named the ‘Walk for Barbs’ in honour of her late mum, Barbara.

“There was many people with many blisters, but I’m actually feeling pretty good considering I didn’t get to do as much training as I would’ve liked,” she said.

“It was a wonderful opportunity for everyone and their personal development to say ‘wow, I’ve walked 40km’.

“To know the team together has raised $14,000 for MS research is just incredible.

“It was such a good group atmosphere too, my sister didn’t walk, but she stopped every 5km with the car with water and food, and cheered everyone on.”

MS is a neurological condition that causes the immune system to attack the central nervous system, of which there is no known cure.

Ms Ey’s mum Barbara was diagnosed with a rare form of MS in her 40s, in 2004, and passed away in September last year after a difficult battle with the disease.

The $14,500 raised will go towards MS Research Australia to help find a cure for the disease.

Ms Ey said her mum’s wish was for a cure for MS to be found, with Barbara donating her brain and spinal cord to MS Research Australia.

“Initially, I thought $5000 would be awesome, that would still be an achievement,” she said.

“To be at $14,500 already, and for money to still be coming in, is unreal.

“It was just an idea, I got all this encouragement from people saying ‘just do it’.

“Even the night before, I didn’t think we’d be able to walk 40km, but of the 16 walkers, 12 finished and the rest walked at least 35km.

“We chose MS Research Australia because they’re trying to find a cure, my mum wanted to be the cure and that’s what they’re trying to do.”