Three years ago, April Hester became obsessed with hiking in a most unusual way—by barely finishing a five-mile hike near Cherokee, NC. "It was a tough trail, and I thought, 'I'm never going to make it,'" says April, 45, who has relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). But by stopping periodically to rest and transferring the weight of her pack to her husband, Bernie, she trekked through to the end. And to her surprise, as soon as she finished, she exclaimed, "Let's do that again!"

She discovered that she craved the challenge and the accomplishment—and wanted more, a lot more. Just a few weeks later, the couple, who live in Beaufort, SC, decided to traverse the Palmetto Trail, which spans nearly 500 miles in the mountains of their home state. "Our plan was to hike it in sections, using three-day weekends, until we finished it," says Bernie, a 51-year-old entrepreneur. They parked their cars at different trailheads in case they needed to stop or turn back. Ultimately, though, the couple tackled the whole trail in one go, completing their journey in 66 days, averaging nine miles of walking every day.

"We did everything wrong," Bernie admits. In addition to buying the wrong equipment (such as too-small shoes and cheap water-filtration systems), their pace took a toll on April. "We had some days where just walking one mile would take us an hour and a half, between fatigue and April losing her balance and needing to rest," Bernie says. "But every time I wanted to quit, April was adamant. She was like, 'We're doing this thing.'"

Given April's attitude, it's not surprising that Bernie describes her as tenacious. And it's that tenacity, he thinks, that will get them through their most daunting challenge yet: a nearly 2,200-mile, six-month trek across the Appalachian Trail, the longest footpath in the world, stretching from Georgia to Maine.

Scheduled to start walking in May in Harper's Ferry, WV, the Hesters hope to raise money for the National MS Society through its DIY fundraising program. When they arrive in Mount Katahdin, ME, they'll fly back to Springer Mountain, GA, to complete the southernmost leg of the trail, in what Appalachian Trail hikers call a "flip-flop."

Diagnosed with MS at age 20, April often experiences fatigue, numbness, and foot drop, a symptom related to nerve damage that weakens the muscles in the foot, making it difficult to lift. She remembers one hike in the North Carolina wilderness that was especially grueling. "Bernie and I were climbing a trail that had lots of elevation and rock scrambles," she says. "The first day we climbed more than 2,800 feet over a two-mile period. The next day was even worse. I ended up crawling over rougher terrain on my hands and knees to make it to where we could camp."

Still, the Hesters have now logged more than 2,000 miles on various hiking trails in the Appalachian region. They train nearly every morning at the gym, where they use the stair machine to mimic climbing over hilly terrain. April also works with resistance bands to improve her range of motion. "I've gotten to the point where I don't need to take breaks as often," April says, and she falls much less frequently.

The Hesters are nervous but excited about their upcoming adventure. "We've always had this fantasy of backpacking in the woods and getting into nature, but as you grow up and have kids and a career, that all kind of goes out the window," says Bernie. "With April having MS, we weren't sure we'd be able to get out and do long-distance hiking. But when the last kid moved out, we decided to try."

The Hesters don't have a specific fundraising goal, but they encourage anyone following their journey on Instagram or their blog to donate to the National MS Society in their names.

April has cleared the trip with her doctor (who is wholly supportive, she says) and will pack an ankle brace and walking sticks for extra support. She and Bernie will also carry a satellite phone and GPS for emergencies. For food and water, they'll start out with a three-day supply and buy more each time the trail gets close to a town. To ensure that April doesn't get overheated, Bernie will shoulder most of the weight in his backpack.

The Hesters can't predict what the trail will bring. But not knowing, they say, is part of the fun. In anticipation of their monthslong journey, the Hesters sold their house and cars and found new homes for their pets. It's worth it, April says, to help raise awareness and possibly inspire someone else.

"I want to prove to myself that just because I have MS doesn't mean I can't do anything anymore," she says. "I'm sure other people are having a hard time with MS, too, and I want to encourage them. Talking to people we meet on the trail and inspiring them—that's our idea of trail magic."

Raising Money for Multiple Sclerosis

Fundraising efforts like the one April and Bernie Hester have embarked on—hiking the nearly 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail to increase awareness of multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease April was diagnosed with in 1995—are inspiring, says Christina Carro, senior director of DIY fundraising and special events at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. "It shows people that maybe MS is not as limiting as they think," says Carro.

Money the Hesters raise will fund research and provide education and financial assistance for people with MS and their caregivers. "After a diagnosis, some people sit back and feel sorry for themselves. Others want to do something to battle the disease in their own way," says Carro. "Fighting back can be super motivational and empowering for everyone."

During April's six-month journey, she'll have an opportunity to dispel some of the misinformation about MS, which causes the body's immune system to attack the central nervous system, often resulting in muscle weakness, balance problems, fatigue, vertigo, or chronic incontinence.

"There are many variations in disease progression, but it is definitely not a death sentence," says Susan P. Anzalone, MD, FAAN, a neurologist with the Colorado MS Center in Denver.

Because the condition affects everyone differently, it makes sense to discuss a long trek like this with your doctor, Dr. Anzalone says. High temperatures, stress, and inadequate rest can exacerbate symptoms, she says. Hikers like April should recognize and respect their limits and make every effort to be safe by staying hydrated, getting enough sleep, and avoiding exhaustion and overheating, which can increase the risk of falls, says Dr. Anzalone.

Despite the risks, April can take comfort in knowing that her daily physical exertion may improve her symptoms in the long term. A 2017 study of MS patients, published in the Multiple Sclerosis Journal, showed that those who completed two sessions of resistance training each week for 24 weeks had a significantly thicker cortex (the outermost layer of the brain) than subjects who didn't do resistance training. This result, researchers say, suggests that exercise may confer neuroprotective benefits. Consistent physical exercise also has been shown to improve muscle strength and balance and ease spasticity in people who have MS, thus lowering their risk of falling.