My wife, Margaret, was participating in the MS Challenge Walk from White Oak, South Carolina to Charlotte, North Carolina, where fundraisers walk 50 miles in 3 days. I thought I could help show my support to her and the rest of the walkers by going to the candlelight vigil and performing an inspirational song. I emailed the local chapter president, Anne Marie McDermott, and asked if I could participate, suggesting that I play "Superman" by Five for Fighting, which became an anthem for the rescue workers after the tragedies of 9/11. She welcomed me, though she’d never met me, and had never heard me sing.

The night before the vigil, I was practicing the Superman song, and thinking about Margaret walking 20 miles earlier that day, and the 16 miles she’d walk the next day. I thought about why she was doing it, and about the people she was selflessly sacrificing to help. And I thought about those folks fighting MS that were walking by her side...about how difficult the Challenge Walk must be for them, and about the enduring challenges they face every day.

Who knows what brings thoughts and music together? But whatever does—well it did. I began to piece together this song, "Take A Step." I just played and wrote and played and wrote, sensing the whole time that what I was doing had real purpose...that it would matter. I opened myself up emotionally and this mingling of words and music poured out.

Writing this song, meeting the incredible walkers and volunteers and staff, listening to their stories of inspiration, and performing this for them was truly one of the most moving, most meaningful, and most beautiful experiences of my life.

The afternoon prior to the vigil, I printed out the lyrics, brought them to White Oak, and handed them to Margaret as I walked up to the microphone. This is my Love Note to her.

Since then, Margaret and I have donated cd singles of "Take A Step" to thousands of MS Challenge walkers and volunteers throughout the United States.

I hope it encourages you on your journey.

Grandon Gray

To learn more about how you can help the fight against Multiple Sclerosis, please visit their web site.