SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Betsy Mueller is running more than 3,000 miles across America to prove that life with multiple sclerosis doesn’t have to come to a stop.
Diagnosed in August 2021 with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), Mueller is on a mission to raise awareness for the disease while becoming the first person with MS to run across the United States. She began her journey March 9 in Santa Monica, California, and expects to finish in New York City on June 22, though she's aiming for an earlier finish on June 14.
She will pass through Hutchinson this weekend.
“I'm really excited about Hutchinson,” Mueller said. “I grew up in West Allis, Wisconsin, where the Wisconsin State Fair is, so I love towns with state fairs. They’re just such cool places.”
Her cross-country route spans more than 3,000 miles and climbs a total of 112,745 feet in elevation, a physical and mental test for any runner, let alone someone managing a chronic neurological condition. But for Mueller, the run is not just about mileage. It's about reclaiming her life.
“In 2021 I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and that first six months was really hard,” she said. “When the feeling finally came back on the left side of my face, it gave me hope again — that maybe this disease isn’t in control of me.”
RRMS affects everyone differently. Symptoms can include fatigue, mobility issues, cognitive challenges and sensory disturbances. Mueller’s initial treatment, high-dose steroids, failed to ease her symptoms. Only after undergoing plasma exchange therapy did her condition improve.
Even now, she continues to deal with “pseudo flares,” symptoms that mimic true relapses and can be psychologically difficult to navigate.
She credits her progress to a strong support system, a plant-based diet and the therapeutic power of running.
“I've always enjoyed running,” Mueller said. “Eventually, when we moved to Flagstaff, Arizona, I’d see people running across America and thought, ‘That’s what I want to do.’ I wanted to show people MS isn’t a death sentence, you can still do the things you’ve always dreamed of doing.”
Mueller aims to run roughly 30 miles a day, often starting around 6:30 a.m. She is accompanied by rotating support drivers, including family and friends who’ve helped guide her journey across multiple states.
“The support has been amazing,” she said. “I’m usually the helper, so at first it was hard to accept help. But now I’ve learned it’s OK. It’s actually been great.”
Mueller has faced intense conditions — from heat in California to snow and hail in New Mexico — but said the mindset shift has been key.
“While people are rushing to work or the store, I get to experience nature — even if it’s snowing and hailing,” she said. “It was fun to me.”
Her advice to others with MS is to connect with others, and don’t lose hope.
“Joining a support group really helped me early on,” she said. “You feel like you're with your people. Everyone’s MS is different, but knowing you’re not alone matters. Life doesn’t have to stop. It’s part of you, but it doesn’t have to control you.”
Mueller hopes her story helps foster empathy and understanding while encouraging others with MS to keep moving forward — one step at a time.
You can find out more information about Betsy's journey by clicking here.