The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Annual Walk MS comes to Norristown Farm Park on May 6
A walk that’s been hailed by participants as an “emotional day full of friends, family, and strangers’ smiles” is expected to draw upwards of 900 walkers to Norristown Farm Park on May 6.
The Norristown Walk MS — one of hundreds taking place on different dates across the country in April and May — will likely raise more than $100,000 toward the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s goal: a world free of MS, noted MS Walk director Julianne Falgiano.
“The walk funds research and a slew of programs and resources for people living with MS until we find a cure. It’s about finding a balance between helping people now and also funding research for the cure that we need,” she said.
Since its inception in 1988, Walk MS has cumulatively raised more than $1 billion, according to the website, nationalmssociety.org.
Multiple sclerosis, or MS, attacks the brain and spinal cord, and it is the most common neurological disease leading to disability in young adults, the organization noted, adding that “The National MS Society is a gathering place for people with MS, their family and loved ones, healthcare providers, volunteers, donors, fundraisers, advocates, community leaders and all those that seek a world free of MS.”
The Norristown Farm Park fits the criteria that organizers were looking for as a walk site, offering a three-mile circuit that is easily accessible for everyone, Falgiano said.
Parking will be at Norristown Area High School across Whitehall Road.
“We’re walking from the high school across the street into the park,” Falgiano explained. All of our walks are about three miles but we also offer a one-mile option, so we’ll have a turnaround point. If someone needs to stop or turn around they’ll have that option.”
Walkers will gather and check in from 9 to 10 a.m., with the walk starting at 10 a.m.
Pre-registration isn’t mandatory, but it is recommended by visiting walkms. org.
There is no registration fee. Although individual walkers are welcome, most walkers form teams and solicit donations from friends and family to raise money.
“Walk MS is all about community — people coming together to raise money and show support for loved ones, colleagues and friends,” said Cyndi Zagieboylo, president of the National MS Society. “Funds raised have a direct impact in this community, for example, our MS Navigator program. MS Navigators are highly-skilled, compassionate professionals available to connect each person affected by MS to the resources and information they need to live their best lives.”
The website noted that MS Navigators provide emotional support resources for people living with MS, as well as for family and care partners, including support groups and ways to connect with others living with MS. Navigators also guide those with MS through the complexities of finding a healthcare provider, benefits, insurance, access to coverage, and wellness strategies.