Meet the new face of multiple sclerosis. Buff. Fit. Adventurous. Strong. Michelle Theall, editor-in-chief and founder of the only women's adventure and outdoor sports magazine, Dandelion, has become an unlikely hero for those battling chronic disease, and the positive response has given her a new calling.

As a former collegiate athlete with a career built around fitness and health, Theall found it ironic to be hit with a potentially disabling disease.

"When I was diagnosed in 2003, the only photos I saw of women with MS showed them confined to wheelchairs or using adaptive equipment for mobility. I'm seeking to change this perception on a national level. I'm the face of MS too ... a woman who runs a sports magazine and rock climbs, runs and travels all over the world. And, while I might not always be this way, I am now, and my story provides hope."

Theall will use her life and the lives of others as inspiration for a new KRT Lifestyle column slugged HEALTH-KICK:KRT , which will move every Friday as part of KRT's Lifestyle package.

See the latest columns from Michelle Theall.