Event slated to support MS treatment and research

Organizers of Marshall's eighth annual Multiple Sclerosis Walk meet at Mexico Lindo in preparation of the event Thursday, April 12. Pictured from left to right are: (front row) Lyle Pointer, Brenda Coffman and Leslie Coslet; and (back row) Donna Lovell, Mo Fowler, Jason Coffman, lead organizer Tracy Coffman and event chairman Brian Lovell. (Sarah Reed/Democrat-News)

In Marshall, people are ready to support research and to find better treatments for Multiple Sclerosis. In its eighth year, organizers are hoping the MS Walk sees the same community support it has in the past.

"I think everybody fights diseases in their own way, and this is the way we've all decided to help fight this ... to walk," said Donna Lovell.

Started after organizer Tracy Coffman began walking for a cure in Sedalia, the Marshall MS Team was launched to support local residents with MS.

Coffman was lucky in that she had symptoms of MS for less than a year before it was detected. Many go years without knowing.

"There are so many different degrees," she said. "Things change from day to day."

Approximately 400,000 Americans have been diagnosed with MS, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The central nervous system disease is difficult to diagnose and it's estimated 200 people are diagnosed each week.

"I enjoy the MS walk," said Leslie Coslet. "It's a good time. Everybody there feels welcome ... A lot of people with MS come and cannot participate in the walk ... It surprises you how many people in this community have MS."

MS attacks the lining of the nerve, preventing the message from the brain from traveling to where it should.

"Even though I can say 'reach up,' I can't do it," Coslet continued, noting the lack of movement on the right side of her body. "The will is there and the want is there, but I just can't do it."

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Event slated to support MS treatment and research