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Air Force veteran still serving her community after retirement

Local vet with MS, helps others with condition
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You may have heard her voice if you have been to a Tampa Bay Lightning game or maybe an event around town. Retired U.S. Air Force Technical Sgt. Sonya Bryson-Kirksey served our country for 20 years before retiring.

She hasn’t retired from helping people though. Sonya was diagnosed with Multiple sclerosis, commonly known as (MS), just before her military career ended. Now, she has dedicated much of her life to lifting her voice for those battling the same disease. MS is described as a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system).

"Everyone knows about heart, diabetes, cancer, but MS is one of those diseases not everyone knows about. So I wanted to fill that gap with people. Even if it’s just giving someone a ride to the doctor’s office...lawn mowed...or just helpful for those day to day things," says Sonya.

Her personal struggle recently made public and with the help of the Tampa Bay Lightning in many ways, early opportunities have turned into her chance to start her own non-profit called Sonya Bryson Voices of Hope.

Now she hopes the community will get more involved with helping those with the condition and hopes the strides she has made will help them get the assistance they need.

To learn more about Sonya Bryson-Kirksey’s Voices of Hope non-profit, please visit: