Walk MS brings hope and support to Puget Sound Sunday at the UW

More than 10,000 people are expected to turn out for Walk MS in eight cities across Western and Central Washington on April 13 and 14. They walk to raise funds for research, services and programs for people whose lives are affected by multiple sclerosis, with a shared goal of one day bringing about a world free of MS.

The National MS Society, Greater Northwest Chapter has set a total fundraising goal of $1.6 million for Walk MS Washington, presented by Haggen Northwest Fresh and TOP Food / Drug. Together with a dozen other Walk MS events in Alaska and Montana, the Chapter hopes to raise $2 million during its largest annual event.

Local Washington Walk MS sites includes:

Sunday, April 14, at the University of Washington, 3870 Montlake Boulevard NE, from 9:00am – 1:00pm. Thousands of walkers are expected at this event, which raises money to fight multiple sclerosis, including supporting programs and services for people living with MS and their families, as well as research into prevention, treatments and a cure.

“Every Walk MS team member has a different story and motivation for participating. Some rally around a friend or relative living with MS. Others walk in memory of one who is with them in spirit. And many deal with the ups and downs of MS in their own lives,” said Chapter President Patty Shepherd-Barnes. 

To start a team, make a donation or learn more, call the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Greater Northwest Chapter, at 800-344-4867 and press 2, or visit the webpage. 

About Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system, interrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with at least two to three times more women than men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 2.1 million people worldwide.

About the National MS Society, Greater Northwest Chapter

Headquartered in Seattle, the Greater Northwest Chapter was founded in 1946. The organization serves 12,000 people living with MS and more than 72,000 others who are affected by the disease, including families, friends, caregivers and health care professionals, in Alaska, Montana, and Western and Central Washington.