The MS South Canterbury field officer thinks she has a few more years in her yet, but her dream would be to see herself out of a job — for there to be no more need for the role.
Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week runs from September 9-15 this year, with the theme for 2024 "Time Matters in MS" — which aims to educate people about possible early symptoms of the disease in order that they should take prompt action to get a timely diagnosis.
Studies have shown that treatments for MS are more effective the earlier they are initiated.
Delayed access to treatment can lead to disease progression, making it harder to manage symptoms in the long run.
Early diagnosis enables patients to start therapies that can slow the progression of the disease, reduce the frequency of relapses, and maintain a higher quality of life.
Mrs Pierce has 165 clients on her books, aged from 21 to 90, and far more women than men.
She is often the first port of call when someone has been diagnosed with MS, providing support and education to the client and their family, referrals to the likes of occupational therapists and physiotherapists, and workplace support as well.
With significant improvements in available treatments over the past 20 years, she says that now, most of her working-age clients are still working despite the diagnosis.
"People are keeping so much better on these [the new] drugs.
"I kind of hope that one day I will be out of a job."
MS South Canterbury has established a coffee group and a lunch group, and is looking at establishing a group for younger clients as well.
The number of clients has grown over the years, which she attributes to earlier and easier diagnosis, and a growing awareness of the support that is available through the organisation.
"There’s no commitment, you don’t have to join anything. It’s just having someone they can talk to and get some guidance from.
"For clients, it can be someone they can vent to apart from their family.
"It’s all confidential, and we’re in Community House, so it’s discreet. They could be coming to see anybody in here."
Mrs Pierce said MS South Canterbury now had an office administrator, allowing her to get out and about to see clients more frequently.
Government funding had not changed significantly over the years, so fundraising was always important to ensure the service continued to be available to people with MS.
