MS supports walk for those who can’t
More than 600 participants in Sunday’s 2008 Christopher and Banks Walk MS filled Bettendorf’s Veterans Park with their desire to end the debilitating disease that affects 400,000 Americans.
Due to a record number of walkers, the local committee expected to meet or exceed its goal to raise more than $50,000, committee member Amy Igou said. All proceeds go to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
“All of us on the committee have a connection to multiple sclerosis; we all have a passionate reason why we’re doing this,” she said.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system, according to nationalmssociety.org.
Symptoms range anywhere from mild numbness to paralysis and can include slurred speech, loss of vision and muscle weakness. Its unpredictability makes it difficult to diagnose.
“The key is to slow down the progression of the disease until we can find a cure,” Igou said.
To kick off the walk, cheerleaders joined Jazzercise leaders on the park’s bandshell stage, and Tambrey Laine of WHBF-Channel 4 served as master of ceremonies.
“We want to support our community and make people aware of the MS Walk,” Pleasant Valley cheerleader Brenna O’Neill said. She and fellow cheerleaders volunteer at many community events.
Many walk participants came in identical T-shirts to support friends affected by MS. One such group was there with Bettendorf Middle School teacher Stephanie Cleveland.
Cleveland was diagnosed in the summer of 2006 after complaining of a leg going numb and manages her MS with injections every 48 hours.
“The doctors say I have an excellent prognosis because it was caught early and I’m young,” she said.
Cleveland was surrounded by family, friends and coworkers wearing yellow and black.
“Some of my students are walking, too,” she said. “They’re really supportive.” Even the Mark Twain Elementary School therapy dog, Nip, was registered as a walker.
A large group of family and Bible study friends were there in lime green shirts to support Mark McDermott, of DeWitt, Iowa.
“We used to go out for two-mile walks,” McDermott said, “but then a few blocks from home, my left leg would start to drag.”
His older sister has been diagnosed as well, but she shows no symptoms at this time.
McDermott said his MS is “primary progressive,” which means that he does not get breaks from symptoms, as do some affected by the disease.
“We just pray for a slow progression,” his wife Deb McDermott said. “It’s also unbelievable how many of our friends have MS,” she added.
Playground equipment, games, face painting and a clown helped create a fun family atmosphere with picnic food offered after the three-mile walk was completed.
Although the walk is over, contributions still can be made to specific walkers or by general donation by visiting mymswalk.org.
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