Walk MS 2012 – Sunny and Hopeful!

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.

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.

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.

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!




























































