Thursday, April 30, 2009
They're walking to beat MS
Good-hearted folks at Lucy Addison Middle School, who were inspired to help three staff members with multiple sclerosis, took steps to do something about it.
Amy Hanek | Special to The Roanoke Times
Almost 400 people marched down the sidewalks along Jefferson Street on Saturday, participating in the 19th annual Walk MS event.
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Christy Taylor, Lisa Evans and Renee Brooks work together at Lucy Addison Middle School in Roanoke. And each has multiple sclerosis.
Taylor began working at the school this year. When she learned that Evans and Brooks were facing the same medical issues that she was, she decided to participate in the annual Walk MS event. Soon, the entire school got involved.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Blue Ridge Chapter, organizes the walk to raise money for medical treatment and support and to fund research toward finding a cure. The 19th annual event drew almost 400 walkers in Roanoke.
"My appeal to the staff and students was that by participating in the MS walk, they were helping everyone who suffers with MS, including three of their own," Taylor said.
Senderlie Pilorge, a 14-year-old eighth-grader at the school, stood next to Taylor on Saturday, beaming with pride. She was one of many students who helped raise money in the two months leading up to the event, selling candy and accepting donations.
Addison students and staff set a goal of $1,000 but raised $1,624.75.
Registration for the walkers began at 9 a.m. inside First Presbyterian Church in South Roanoke, but volunteers began arriving as early as 7:30 a.m.
Ten sorority sisters from Alpha Sigma Alpha at Roanoke College joined the 35 volunteers. Corri Rhodenizer, the team's captain, also provided four walkers for the event. This is Rhodenizer's third year helping with the event, but her first to captain a team. She has a family friend in Birmingham, Ala., with multiple sclerosis.
Among the 400 walkers this year was Susan Myers, who motored the three-mile route on her scooter. Following the orange arrows along the city sidewalks, Myers marked her seventh year participating in the MS walk.
"I would like to raise enough money for treatment, cures and to be able to give people that have MS the support they need," she said.
In addition to the many people walking and volunteering, 28 sponsors were involved. Petroleum Marketers Inc. and Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group have shared responsibility as the main sponsors since 2002.
Brian Mason, chief operating officer for Atlantic Bay, said one of his managers, now retired, has a son with multiple sclerosis. In addition to the $25,000 donated by Atlantic Bay, 30 employees volunteered and walked this year.
Catherine Turner, development manager for the Blue Ridge Chapter of the National MS Society, said the walk was moved from last year's location at Patrick Henry High School. Turner said that she was still trying to find a home for the event, and that the area around First Presbyterian Church was chosen for its neighborhood quality.
Although money will continue to roll in over the next month, Turner said the Blue Ridge Chapter has raised $60,943 so far.
