MANCHESTER, 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 Manchester and surrounding communities — including Vernon and Glastonbury — lace up and step out in solidarity for a single cause: to end the devastating effects of MS.

Manchester Community College (MCC) will, for a 15th 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 884 Manchester participants helped raise $108,247 toward the 2007 $1.1 million goal.

"Year after year Manchester 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 Manchester walk site planning committee, under the leadership of Manchester resident and MCC professor Peter LaPlaca, does 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. More than 100 Manchester-area residents live with the baffling and unpredictable effects of multiple sclerosis. More than 400,000 Americans nationwide are diagnosed with MS.

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 and Serono. For more information or to register, please go to www.ctfightsMS.org or 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 E. Butler
Vice President, Communications
Phone: 860.714.2300, ext. 230
E-mail: kbutler@ctfightsMS.org
Cell Phone: 860.997.4487