FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STORRS, Conn. Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects thousands of Connecticut residents, forever changing lives and threatening mobility and independence. In a show of support for a second consecutive year, University of Connecticut (UConn) students, professors and residents from surrounding towns are officially prepared to lace up and step out in solidarity for a single cause to end the devastating effects of MS.

The University of Connecticut in Storrs, Conn., in collaboration with campus fraternities, will host the Travelers Walk MS Sunday, April 13. Check-in and registration takes place 10 to 11 a.m. in the Student Union North Lobby. Participants can choose from a 1.5-mile or 3-mile route. Lunch is provided by Subway and Coca-Cola.

To date more than 50 participants and 10 teams have registered to walk. The walk is being held in continued support of Jessica Lund, who graduated from the University of Connecticut last year, and Kim Everson, who is currently enrolled at the university. Both are battling the effects of multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis has definitely impacted my life," said 22-year-old Lund. "Knowing that Kappa Kappa Psi is hosting the Travelers Walk MS on campus means a great deal to me. When I was diagnosed and still in school, a fellow brother of mine decided to change our service project to participating in the Travelers Walk MS, making the cause personal to us all. Every Brother has contributed something to this cause to demonstrate tremendous support. The response from students has been amazing."

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system. The cause is unknown and, as a result, there currently is no cure. Symptoms can include, among other things, numbness and tingling in the limbs, difficulties with vision and speech, stiffness and, in some severe cases, total paralysis. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot be predicted. Approximately 6,000 Connecticut residents, like Lund and Everson, live with the baffling and unpredictable effects of multiple sclerosis. More than 400,000 Americans are diagnosed with MS.

Travelers Walk MS 2008 in Storrs is hosted by Kappa Kappa Psi, a national honorary band fraternity, and the Sisters of Tau Beta Sigma, another co-ed organization dedicated to serving university bands and local music. The National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter expects the walk event to raise more than $1.555 million. Last year, Walk MS raised approximately $1.12 million. Travelers Walk MS 2008 will also be held at 11 other sites across Connecticut on Sunday, May 4. Partners stepping out in support include: Acorda and Serono. For more information, to register or locate additional walk sites, please go to www.ctfightsMS.org or call (860) 714 WALK. To learn more, listen to 96.5 TIC and 97.7 WCTY Country Favorites or watch WTNH News Channel 8 and My TV 9 and local Comcast channels.

2/5/08