Orland Park MS walk draws 1000 – Chicago Tribune

Research and treatment for people with multiple sclerosis has come a long way since the 1980s and many credit that success to annual fundraising events, such as the one held in Orland Park on Sunday.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society started its Walk MS fundraising events nationwide in 1988, and Sunday's was Lori Carroll's 11th year organizing the event in Orland Park.

It included a three-mile walk around Centennial Park followed by lunch and live music entertainment by the band Audiomatic, which also performed walking themed songs at the starting line such as Johnny Cash's "Walk the Line" and Aerosmith's "Walk this Way."

"I call it an MS walk party," she said.

The Tinley Park resident was inspired to get involved after her own experience with MS.

Carroll said she knew something was wrong in the 1980s when she started feeling tingling and numbness in her limbs, muscle weakness and short-term memory loss. She said five neurologists over the years couldn't come up with a diagnosis, and some suggested nothing was wrong and that she should see a psychologist.

"But I knew I had all these symptoms," Carroll said.

She finally received an MRI brain scan that led to a diagnosis of MS in 2000.

The neurological disease affects the central nervous system, disrupting the flow of information within the brain, and can lead to blindness and paralysis.

Carroll said treatment and medication has greatly improved through the years thanks to research funded largely by MS walk events.

Sunday's Orland Park walk was expected to meet its goal of raising $167,631 after organizers reach a final tally from raffle, shirt and other merchandise sales at the event.

Dozens of fundraising teams and individuals contributed to that goal, with the largest being the South Cook MS Self-Help Group out of Tinley Park. The group raised about $36,000 as of Sunday morning and its founder, Yolanda Treiguts, expected to raise a few thousand dollars more through shirt sales and other donations.

Treiguts has MS and started the group 33 years ago as a way for others with the disease to support each other. The group meets the second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church in Tinley Park.

"We are totally dedicated to ending MS," she said.

Ken Mauge, a member of the group, said the group and the walk events help keep his spirits high in dealing with the disease. He said there were no prescription drug treatments available for MS when he was diagnosed in 1983.

But, since then, Mauge said the treatment now available has allowed him to hold a full-time job with the Cook County Court's adult probation department and "live a normal life."

Sunday marked the Southside Stompers team's ninth year being involved in the walk.

Eileen Bauml of Palos Hills said her family started the fundraising team after her son, Kevin, was diagnosed with MS at the age of 21.

She said the team used to participate in the Chicago MS walk at Soldier Field before moving to the one closer to home.

Kevin Bauml, now 29, of Homer Glen, said the event is an inspiration to him and he hopes that a cure will be found in the near future.

Carroll said Sunday's event drew about 1,000 participants, up from last year's 800.

Frank Vaisvilas is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.

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Orland Park MS walk draws 1000 - Chicago Tribune