FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHESHIRE, Conn. More than 6,000 Connecticut residents battle the effects of multiple sclerosis (MS) daily. In a show of support, each year hundreds of loved ones, friends, neighbors and co-workers throughout Cheshire and surrounding communities — including Waterbury and Wallingford — lace up and step out in solidarity for a single cause: to end the devastating effects of MS.

Cheshire High School will, for a 12th year, host the Travelers Walk MS Sunday, May 4. Check-in and registration begin at 8 a.m., and participants will step out at 9 a.m. Lunch will be provided compliments of Subway and Coca-Cola.

Last year 1,800 Cheshire participants helped to raise $226,534 toward the 2007 $1.1 million goal. In particular, Robyn and John LeBlanc of Wallingford participated for the first time with their 12-member team, Creative Captures, raising $3,660 to help in the fight against multiple sclerosis.

"Each year Cheshire-area residents come out in large numbers to demonstrate support for those in their community battling multiple sclerosis," said Karen E. Butler, National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter vice president of communications. "Our Cheshire walk site planning committee members do an exceptional job rallying the troops, bringing people together from all walks of life in a single effort to raise funds to find a cure."

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. In New Haven County 1,351 people, live with the baffling and unpredictable effects of multiple sclerosis. There are 65 Cheshire residents living with MS. More than 400,000 Americans nationwide are diagnosed with this disease.

The National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter expects the 2008 Travelers Walk MS, to raise more than $1.5 million. Additional partners stepping out in support include: Acorda & Serono. For more information or to register, please call (860) 714-WALK. To learn more, listen to 96.5 TIC, 95.9 The FOX and 97.7 WCTY Country favorites or watch WTNH News Channel 8 and My TV 9.

3/14/08

Contact: Karen Butler

Vice President, Communications

Phone: 860.714.2300, ext. 230

E-mail: kbutler@ctfightsMS.org

Cell Phone: 860.997.4487