Litchfield Community Prepares To Lace Up and Step Out

LITCHFIELD, 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 Litchfield and surrounding communities, lace up and step out in solidarity for a single cause: to end the devastating effects of MS.

The 2008 Travelers Walk MS will take place at the Town Green 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 331 Litchfield participants helped raise $60,600 toward the 2007 $1.1 million goal. This year’s goal is for at least 400 walkers to participate in hopes of raising $68,500.

Students from Warren, Morris and Goshen, who attend Litchfield’s Wamogo Regional High School, have designated April 7 through 11 MS Week.

“MS Week is a school-wide effort,” said Kit Wright, community liaison at Wamogo Regional High School. “It is driven primarily by a group of students who have a passion to be proactive in efforts to educate others about MS, and to do something about it”.

Wamogo Regional High School will hold an assembly April 9, featuring a speaker from the National MS Society and others who can talk about the devastating effects of multiple sclerosis.

Elizabeth Ollero, of Harwinton, Conn., has also joined the 2008 Travelers Walk MS in memory of her friend Michaela Petit. Her team, Forever Michaela, was created in honor of Jennifer Hawke-Petit and daughters Hayley and Michaela, beloved members of the Connecticut Chapter family. The Petit women had been instrumental in helping raise awareness and funds in the fight against multiple sclerosis. After the tragic loss of the Petit women, Ollero formed Forever Michaela to carry on what Michaela had done for the National MS society. Ollero and her team hope to raise at least $5,000 at this year’s walk in Litchfield.

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 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 & 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.

Contact: Karen Butler
Vice President, Communications
Phone: 860.714.2300, ext. 230
E-mail: kbutler@ctfightsMS.org
Cell Phone: 860.997.4487