A colorful view of Coca Cola Field about 30 minutes before the start of Walk MS 2012. The sunshine and warm, spring temperatures meant it was going to be a very good day. Western New York has one of the highest rates of MS in the country. In Erie County alone, some 2,000 people live with multiple sclerosis, a chronic disease of the central nervous symptoms with unpredictable symptoms.

The National MS Society had predicted a turnout of about 1600 walkers signing in, but the fine weather brought an encouraging sign there might be more. Money raised goes to support local patient services and funds research into treatments and, ultimately, a cure for MS.

As soon as I arrived I was re-acquainted with a dynamic wife and mother I have talked to previously at the MS Walks. As you can see from her shirt, she was diagnosed with MS in August of 2008. There have been many ups and downs since then, but she told me this past year has been a good, stable year for her.

Many of the walking teams gather around the tent area at the rear of Coca Cola Field, waiting for the announcements before we kickoff Walk MS. Guy and Sue Berberich's team, "Paving the Way to a Cure," raised an astounding $21,075!

It is a tradition for teams to gather on the hill next to the stadium for group photos. Note the back of the shirt in the foreground of this photo. Almost everybody walks with a special person in mind and they write it on their shirt.

I walk for Joey Marra of Niagara County. Joey, diagnosed with MS at age 8, is believed to by the youngest person to receive this diagnosis in WNY. He is now 15 and works extremely hard to maintain his schoolwork and activities, even in the face of painful, unpredictable symptoms.

The first time this team, the Motley Crew, has walked together -- and theirs is a bittersweet story. They are walking in memory of wife, mother, daughter, and friend, Patricia Amato of North Tonawanda. Patricia lived with MS for many years, but was killed in a car accident near the UB campus on February 11, 2012.

Wendy Cannon and the Medina MS'keteers are enthusiastic supporters each year of Walk MS.

Gina Bienko of Buffalo has lived with MS for seven years. I interviewed her for News 4 and she told me she is optimistic researchers will find a cure for MS and she is grateful for all the Walk MS support that provides dollars for research.

Sandy LaSpada of Lockport lives with MS and maintains a sunny outlook, as you can see by the fun hat. Sandy's team, "Smurfs," raised the second highest total of the day - $10,839!

I was pleased to offer words of encouragement, and some last-minute instructions, to the walkers as they were ready to hit the streets at 10 AM. I believe it's always important to say 'thank you,' because we don't seem to do that enough!

State Sen. Mark Grisanti (R-60th Dist.), spoke to the crowd about joining a statewide alliance of legislators who are working on MS-related issues. Grisanti's brother, Richard, has lived with MS for more than 25 years.

An uplifting view of the crowd as we were ready to start Walk MS 2012. In more than 25 years of volunteering with the National MS Society, I've seen MS treatments go from almost nothing, to several choices today, and there are more in the pipeline. Every donation has meaning in this fight to find a cure.

Walk MS 2012 gets underway as teams follow the specially marked routes that will take them down to the waterfront and back.

Leah Sarzyniak of Wheatfield, and Arianna Warriner of North Tonawanda, are starting early in learning more about multiple sclerosis.

One of our most reliable teams comes from Silver Creek. Warden's Walkers participate each year in support of Rich Warden, a former race car driver, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 15 years ago.

Two dynamic volunteers for the MS Society, Irene Ponce of Buffalo, and Kimberly Gervase of Depew.

It's become a recent tradition to sign Savannah Negron's shirt. She's only 8, but this young volunteer from Cheektowaga has turned out for the past four years at Walk MS.

Jayne Spell is a volunteer who welcomed walkers as they arrived at Coca Cola Field and told me she wants to do more and more to support the MS Society. She hosted a spaghetti dinner at her church and raised $800. Her husband was diagnosed with MS in 2004.

All participants were invited to sign the MS banner with their individual messages about fighting MS.

Students from the New York Institute of Massage were providing relief to volunteers as they completed Walk MS.

I met my name twin. I'm Jacquie Walker of News Four Buffalo and she is Jackie Walker of Buffalo!

Kathy and Don Pfeifer of Lancaster walked in honor of their son, Drew, who has MS. The Pfeifers are on the Executive Committee of familiestouchedbyms.org, a local charitable group which works to provide equipment and other needs to those with MS.

This is how some participants finished Walk MS 2012 -- being cheered on by Pharmacy student volunteers from D'Youville College. Cheers to all who joined the effort!

About 550 people turned out at the Adam's Mark Hotel Saturday night for the 20th Annual Make-A-Wish Gala. Over the past 20 years, the organization has granted the wishes of 2,000 children with life-changing medical conditions.

I was pleased to serve as emcee, filling in for Larry Norton, for the 20th Annual Make-A-Wish Gala which raised an astounding $345,000 to grant the wishes of sick children.

A highlight of the 20th Annual Make-A-Wish Gala on Saturday night saw members of the Wendelville Fire Company escort Wish Kids Jonathan and Connor onto the stage at the Adam's Mark Hotel. It was Jonathan and Connor's wish to ride a firetruck -- and their wish was granted!

Wish Kids Jonathan and Connor love to dress as Buzz Lightyear and a Firefighter, as you can see.

Larry Norton of 97Rock was honored during the Gala for his 17 years of steadfast support for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He is credited with helping raise more than 2 million dollars for Make-A-Wish over the past 17 years.

Larry Norton of 97Rock was conducting an auction to raise money for Make-A-Wish during the cocktail hour before dinner. He never stops!

I interviewed Anthony Habib, chair of the Gala, for News 4 on Saturday night. He told me he hoped the event raised $300,000 dollars. By the end of the night, he happily told the crowd they had raised $345,000 to grant the wishes of sick children in WNY! Habib is President of Petri Bakery products and announced that beginning June 1st Petri and Tops Markets will donate $1.50 from every specially marked box of Petri cookies to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

I ran into Bills kicker Rian Lindell as he was meeting Javier. We learned that Javier has had his wish granted to see Alaska.

Bills kicker Rian Lindell and I enjoyed meeting 18 year old Javier who wanted to talk about his Make-A-Wish experience in the Alaskan wilderness.

It was a successful evening for Make-A-Wish raising $345,000, honoring Larry Norton, and celebrating children with magical dreams. And the event was capped with music from the "Boys of Summer," native WNYers who've been playing together for 20 years.

Even though he works until midnight, Chief Meteorologist Don Paul has been coming in at 9:30am each day this week to prepare for News 4's conversion to a new computer system for displaying weather graphics. Keith Cavey, from Weather Central in Madison, Wisconsin, is a meteorologist who trains other meteorologists around the country on the 'Fusion' system.

Chief Meteorologist Don Paul and Weather Central trainer Keith Cavey tell me the 'Fusion' system will provide News 4 viewers with the most advanced weather graphics in Western New York. It has the ability to show viewers the weather where they live.

Meteorologist Bryan Shaw has spent many, many days working to convert the Fusion graphics into appropriate use for Western New York weather. We'll all see it tonight at 5 for the first time with Meteorologist Don Paul. I don't mind telling you, he's a little nervous about this, but we are cheering him on!

You should be seeing a Public Service Announcement on Channel 4 that this happy crew recorded last week in the News 4 studios. We want you to join Walk MS 2012 to help raise money for Multiple Sclerosis research and local patient programs.

I will be walking again this year on behalf Joey Marra, seen here on the left. Joey -- who is inspirational! -- is with his brother, Jacob, and his mother Carole. Joey, now age 15, was diagnosed at age 8. He is believed to be the youngest person in Western New York to be diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

Sandy Laspada of Lockport, was diagnosed with MS in 2002. She leads a large team of walkers in Walk MS called Team Smurfs!

Maria Torres, fluent in Spanish, has become an outspoken advocate working to raise awareness of MS in the local Hispanic community. Maria was diagnosed with MS just two years ago. She has plans to host a neighborhood cook-out to get the word out about MS on the day before Walk MS 2012.

Christy Missico (in the coat) was on hand for the recording session representing the National MS Society. Christy is organizing the big Walk MS 2012 in Buffalo on May 6th at Coca Cola Field.