Wednesday, March 4, 2009

MS Awareness Week

This week is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness week. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a lifelong and often disabling disease in which the immune system attacks the central nervous system and destroys the protective sheath (myelin) around the nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. As a result, scar tissue (sclerosis) forms and disrupts messages from the brain to other parts of the body. Ms is a “prime of life” disease-striking people between the ages of 20 and 50. It comes and goes unpredictably, leaving people to wonder, “Will I become paralyzed, blind, or have trouble walking? Will I be able to continue my career?”

Symptoms of MS are
Abnormal fatigue
Tingling and numbness in extremities
Slurred Speech
Blurred or double vision
Poor balance and coordination
Cognitive problems
Spasticity
Vertigo and dizziness
Paralysis

For the past 6 years or so I have participated in the MS walk here in Salt Lake City. This year, a few of my friends and I have decided to do it again. Our team “Walk On” is currently only 4 people strong. But we are committed to make our team bigger and better than ever. We are inviting you to join us. You can also invite your friends and family. The walk is on April 11th at the Gateway Center in Salt Lake City. It is really a lot of fun. I hope you will consider joining our team, or making a donation to support this worthy cause.

This year my goal is to raise $600. (Although I am really shooting for $1000!) My teams goal is to raise $2500. Anything you could give to help reach that goal is most appreciated. All donations are tax deductible. Of every dollar we raise, 83 cents goes towards programs, services and research to help thousands of Utah families statewide and 400,000 families nationwide touched by multiple sclerosis. If you would like more information about the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, how proceeds from Walk MS are used, or the other ways you can get involved, please visit www.curemsutah.org

Click here to visit my team’s page to join us, or help us with a donation, Walk On.

Click here if you would like to find a walk location in your area, Walk MS. Grab a few friends and have some fun!

2 comments:

Kris said...

Kat, you are so good to do this every year. I wish I could walk with you. Good luck raising money. Does KSL donate??

Sondra said...

Awesome, Katrina. I so admire you doing this again. I will click over to your site and check it out. I will do that within the next few days. I love you!