Lady Bobcats doing their part to raise awareness for Multiple Sclerosis

A cause near and dear to the heart of the Georgia Northwestern athletic family was the theme of the Lady Bobcats’ recent volleyball trimatch in Rossville as Monday, Oct. 3 served as the college’s annual Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Night.

Among the many in attendance were members of Team Cheribeth, who were doing their part to raise awareness of the debilitating disease and to raise money to help fight it.

Team Cheribeth’s is named for Cheribeth Swanson, the adult daughter of Bobcat Cheer Coach Karen Stoker. The family sold Team Cheribeth T-shirts, sold raffle tickets and took donations as they did their part to get the word out about the disease, which affects more than 400,000 people in the United States and approximately 2.5 million people around the world.

“This night means a lot to us,” Stoker said. “All of the money we raised here tonight will go to the MS Society and hopefully toward one day finding a cure. It means a lot that this college would emphasize MS and it’s a joy to see these folks come out to support this.”

Swanson, her husband Bob, and several other family members greeted spectators at the door during the evening.

“I think this night is amazing,” Cheribeth said. “I’m so thankful that the college is willing to do something like this and support something that not too many people know about. (MS) may not affect any of these fans, but it’s wonderful that they are willing to come out and show their support for the cause.”

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, inflammatory disease in which the body’s immune system eats away at the protective covering of nerves, also known as the myelin.

“MS affects the nerves that carry the signals from your brain to your spinal cord,” explained Swanson, an RN by trade, who is currently confined to a wheelchair by the disease. “It’s kind of like a light switch. The wires go from your light switch to the lights. With MS, the myelin is broken down. Like with the lights, if the covering on the wires is stripped and you flip the switch, the lights may come on or they may flicker or they may not come on at all.”

The resulting nerve damage disrupts communication between the brain and the body and the disease can last for years or be lifelong. Symptoms include vision loss, pain, fatigue, and impaired coordination. The symptoms, severity, and duration can vary from person to person.

Swanson said she was finally diagnosed with the disease after several weeks of unsuucessful treatment with a chiropractor for what she thought might have been a pinched nerve in her neck.

“Some people have it and it doesn’t affect them,” she explained. “Some people it affects only part of the time and some, like me, it affects a lot.”

Stoker said caring for her daughter’s needs is a family effort.

“Bob is a wonderful husband to her,” she said. “He’s just magnificent, but he also has to work so we stay with her during the day. If it was possible, this has all brought our family closer together. My mom and dad are here tonight to support her and I’m glad Cheribeth could be here

tonight too and be a part of this.”

Studies have shown that physical therapy and medications that suppress the immune system can help with

symptoms and slow disease progression.

While there is currently no cure for MS, there have been some published reports about some positive findings in research that MS might be able to be treated with aggressive chemotherapy and stem cell transplants in

attempts to “reboot” the body’s immune system.

“We’re just trying to get the word out about what (MS) is and what effects it has on folks,” Stoker added. “Although there isn’t a cure right now, research is continuing and we’re hoping for the best.”