MS walk planned for April 21 in Midland

The Michigan Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and those living with MS in Michigan have been working to build awareness about multiple sclerosis this week during Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week.

The organization also is promoting a Walk MS event planned for 10 a.m. April 21 at Central Middle School. People can visit http://www.walkMSmi.org to find out more about the three mile walk.

Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system which interrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. Symptoms range from reduced or lost mobility to numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. Other symptoms include cognitive difficulty, fatigue and weakness. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS cannot be predicted. Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with at least two to three times more women than men having the disease. MS affects more than 18,000 individuals in Michigan, 400,000 people in the U.S., and more than 2 million worldwide.

"Advances in research are moving us closer to stopping the disease, restoring function and ending MS forever," a spokesperson said. "MS has moved from an untreatable disease in 1993 to a treatable one today for the vast majority of people now diagnosed, thanks to the growing public support spurring exciting research and treatment breakthroughs that improve people's quality of life."

For more information, visit http://www.nationalMSsociety.org/mig and click on the MS Awareness Week tab.

Other ways to get involved include:

* Check out http://www.orangeyacurious.com

* Sign up for Walk MS at http://www.walkMSmi.org or Bike MS at http://www.bikeMSmi.org

* Sign up to volunteer at an upcoming event

* E-mail a legislator about an issue important to people with MS

Original post:
MS walk planned for April 21 in Midland