This is Irene’s 27th year living with MS,
and every year is different
Why walkms?
I joined Walk MS, a truly inspiring event where friends, family, loved ones, and the entire MS community unite to offer unwavering support and solidarity to those living with MS — because no one should ever face this battle alone. Did you know that nearly 1 million people in the U.S. are living with MS? That’s about 30 new cases every single day in the United States. We all hold the power to make a meaningful impact for them and their loved ones, and I humbly ask for your support. I’ve set an ambitious fundraising goal because I believe that every dollar we raise propels groundbreaking research and delivers essential services, empowering those affected by MS to lead their fullest lives
Irene's story
2Steppers captain, Irene Unger, was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1999 at the age of 22, while in grad school and student teaching. It started when she woke up one day with double vision.
It was the first of what would become a lifetime of living with a chronic, unpredictable, devastating disease. One where "episodes" or false ups could happen at any time.
Since her diagnosis, Irene has done her best to remain her best self; however, the worst part of having
MS was when the disease progression forced her to leave her teaching career in 2014.
In 2016, Irene joined the Westchester Walk Volunteer Committee, a group created to help
make each year's walk even better than the walk before. Ten years later, the effects of her ideas are still being used every year.
We hope this event is going to be even bigger in 2026!
In addition to focusing on WalkMS, Irene does advocacy work for disabled people, specifically at concert venues and hotels. After having horrible and harrowing experiences with noncompliant ADA issues and seeing a complete lack of understanding what a person with MS goes through to see live music or travel, Irene started conversations with Live Nation and Marriott so she could make these essential parts of life happy and safe again.
Since seeing live music, especially the Dave Matthews Band, and travel are two of Irene's favorite pastimes, this led to epic wins.
MS makes every part of Irene's days extremely challenging, specifically with balance, cognitive imbalance, fatigue, and pain. Unfortunately, in the past year, many of these symptoms have gotten worse.
While it is too late for Irene for full restoration of lost functions, it is not too late for the 300 people diagnosed with MS worldwide a day, and Irene and her team is working tirelessly to make sure no one has to ever hear "you have MS" again.
Irene lives in Pleasantville, New York, with her husband Geoff, her 20 year-old son Ben, when he is not away at Emerson College,
and their dog, Jesse.
She welcomes all correspondence and can be emailed here.
what is a 2stepper?
The name 2Steppers came to me in 1999, when the lyrics of “Two Step” suddenly felt like they were speaking directly to what it might mean to live with a debilitating MS. The name became my license plate that same year, and in 2001 it became our wedding song. After all these years, it’s still the song that moves me most — especially live.
The line from "Two Step" that has stayed with me: “Celebrate we will, because life is short but sweet for certain… we climb on two by two… to be sure these days continue.” Those words captured both the uncertainty and the determination I felt then — and still feel today. They’ve carried me through 27 years of walking, hoping, and celebrating with the 2Steppers.
Geoff and I have done our best to keep our tradition of seeing Dave Matthews Band at least once every summer — and again in November when they play Mohegan Sun or MSG. As my MS has progressed, concert venues have become harder to navigate, and the days of lawn seats and six or seven shows a summer are behind us. Now we stick to the three venues we know best. Thanks to the DMB fan club helping me secure Warehouse ADA seats, I know that once I’m settled, I can block out the pain, the exhaustion, and everything my body is fighting. For a couple of hours, I get to just be there — with Geoff, fully present, taking in the music that has carried us through so much since 1999.
The line from "Two Step" that has stayed with me: “Celebrate we will, because life is short but sweet for certain… we climb on two by two… to be sure these days continue.” Those words captured both the uncertainty and the determination I felt then — and still feel today. They’ve carried me through 27 years of walking, hoping, and celebrating with the 2Steppers.
Geoff and I have done our best to keep our tradition of seeing Dave Matthews Band at least once every summer — and again in November when they play Mohegan Sun or MSG. As my MS has progressed, concert venues have become harder to navigate, and the days of lawn seats and six or seven shows a summer are behind us. Now we stick to the three venues we know best. Thanks to the DMB fan club helping me secure Warehouse ADA seats, I know that once I’m settled, I can block out the pain, the exhaustion, and everything my body is fighting. For a couple of hours, I get to just be there — with Geoff, fully present, taking in the music that has carried us through so much since 1999.
My license plate since 1999! Been on five different cars, but I will never let it go!