Mom's multiple sclerosis journey an inspiration for Vancouver Goldeneyes goalie

Vancouver Goldeneyes goalie Kristen Campbell has long idolized her mom.

Like many hockey parents, Janet Campbell spent countless hours in freezing arenas, ferrying kids to and from seemingly endless practices, and cheering every play from behind the glass.

As Kristen battled on the ice, Janet waged her own fight against multiple sclerosis. She was diagnosed with the neurological disease in 1999 when her daughter was about two years old.

"It's been pretty inspiring for me to grow up watching her navigate the disease and all the challenges that have come with it," Kristen Campbell said.

"She's always put her family first, her kids first, and she'd show up to every single hockey practice for me, every single game, come to every tournament. She was just always there for me, even though she was going through a battle of her own.

"She's my best friend and my biggest role model in life."

Campbell, from Brandon, Man., is sharing her family's story as part of A&W's annual Burgers to Beat MS campaign.

On Aug. 20, A&W will give $2 from every Teen Burger purchased across the country to MS Canada to help support people living with the disease and fund treatment research.

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"My mom's just one of 90,000 Canadians living with MS, so it's just a meaningful way for me to support a cause that's obviously personal to me and personal to Canadians," Campbell said.

"I just want to be able to show up for all the individuals fighting with MS and help raise more awareness and find more treatments and ultimately find that cure one day."

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MS affects the central nervous system and can cause a