b'Charles Harris By Tony DiGerolamoCharles Harris is a professional football around. I didnt go out partying. I was alwaysplayer for the Miami Dolphins. Charles mother, thinkingaboutmymomathome.ThatsDeborah Clark, was diagnosed with progressive what motivated me.MS when Charles was young. For the NFLs After he was drafted, Charles had a bit ofMy Cause, My Cleats campaign, Charles a viral moment when a video was shared ofhas chosen MS Focus as his charity of choice, him presenting his mom with a brand newin honor of his mother, and to raise awareness car, complete with hand controls, and a newof MS and how it aects families. home in Georgia. He explained his plan, TheI remember the rst time seeing a glimpse whole rst year I was in the league, my momof her MS was after we went to the store, wasinanapartment.Duringtheseason,Charles said. In the parking lot, my mom when I had some downtime, I would hopsaidIcantstopthecar.Herfootwasnt online and look through real estate sites. Iworking, so we had to pull the emergency walkedthroughthehouseonetimeandbreak before we hit a pole in the parking lot. thought this is it. The car gives her suchEven though Charles was young when his freedom. Being able to hop in the car and justmother was diagnosed, he remembers the go get groceries is so important.eects of chronic fatigue were challenging. Throughouthislife,CharleshasdoneMom would go to work and, at the end of the everything he could to help his motherday, we could just see the exhaustion on her overcome her MS. Now, as he continues aface. Because her symptoms were starting to promising NFL career, he is using his platformbe debilitating, Charles and his sister took on to advocate for the greater MS community asa lot of responsibility around the house. My well. Everyone at MS Focus looks forward tosister and I had to manage the home. We seeing Charles make big plays on and o thecleaned up and cooked. I would get up at ve eld in the coming years.in the morning and help mom out to the car.While Charles was drafted 22nd overall in This excerpt only scratches the surfacethe 2017 NFL draft, he started his athletic of our interview with Charles Harris. To hearcareerplayinghighschoolbasketball.He the full interview, tune into MS Focus Radio,transitioned to football, eventually playing for or visit the Multiple Sclerosis Foundationsthe University of Missouri. He elaborated on YouTube or Soundcloud pages to watch andhis time there, I wasnt at college messing listen on-demand.msfocusmagazine.org 36'