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Why am I doing this particular walk? When I entered UMass in 1996, my mother had just been diagnosed with
MS, but probably had been undiagnosed for 10 or even 20 years before that. In the years since her diagnosis I've seen her
slowly lose some of her abilities and our whole family has modified their lifestyle to adjust to mom's changing needs.
She
wears a brace on her right leg and has trouble walking for great distances or up and down stairs. Last year, my parents built
an addition on the house to move their bedroom downstairs and with doorways and a bathroom wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair,
which is becoming more and more likely as the time goes by. Her prescription medications cost over $1000 per month.
There
is no cure for MS. It affects each person differently and researchers aren't even sure what causes it. It may be partially
genetic and partially environmental. I remember participating in the MS Read-a-thon when I was younger, getting pledges and
contributing to research for a cause I knew nothing about. I didn't think that 20 years later my mother would be benefiting
from that research.
So, in the name of my mother, and everyone else affected by MS, I've decided to do this walk.
I'm no professional athlete so this will also be a great personal accomplishment. I'm asking for your support in any way you
can provide it.
UPDATE: The 2004 Walk was a great success. I raised double the amount of money from the 2003 Walk
and those dollars help my mother and others with MS continue to have hope for a cure. Let's make 2005 our best year
ever!
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Make a Donation
In order to participate in the MS Challenge Walk I need to raise $1500. I'm hoping to do much more than that and every
little bit helps. You can make a donation to me here. Any donation you can make will make a huge difference.
What is Multiple Sclerosis?
Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness
in the limbs or severe - paralysis or loss of vision. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40, but
the unpredictable physical and emotional effects can be life long. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS in
any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are giving hope to those affected by the disease.
Every hour of every day another person in the United States is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. MS affects a third of a
million people nationwide and 10,000 individuals and their families in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, the area served by
the Central New England Chapter.
--- from msnewengland.org
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