Delta State University, through its Center for Community and Economic Development, and in cooperation with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, is sponsoring the 2006 TEVA Neuroscience MS Walk, Saturday, April 1 at 10 a.m.
With a laudable goal of 500 walkers, Delta State, in cooperation with the MS Planning Committee, has begun a strong recruitment push for participants. Already, 15 teams have committed to the event. Delta State’s Administrative Staff Council has also agreed to sponsor a team in the event, with University Archivist, Emily E. Weaver serving as team captain.
Having been designated an official “Year of Cleveland” event; this year’s route will incorporate both parts of the Cleveland community and Delta State campus, celebrating that over eight-decade long relationship between the town and the University.
Slated to begin in the grassy area along the Library Depot, the route will cover approximately 3.5 miles. Walkers will walk down the Crossties trail from the Depot towards College/Lee Street and then back towards Court Street. At Court Street, they will leave the trail and walk down Court St. to the Roberts-LaForge Library on the Delta State campus. The route will wind through Delta State’s campus, exiting past the President’s home. Walkers will the proceed a short distance down Fifth Ave. to College St., continuing down College past Fireman’s Park back to the end of the Crossties Walking Trail, returning to the Library Depot for the finish line.
“The early support from the community and the University has been overwhelming and exciting,” offered Deborah Moore, Director of Delta State’s CCED and co-chair of the walk. “We must keep that going, now. We’re determined to make this the most successful walk Cleveland has hosted.”
Now in its third year, Cleveland’s MS Walk has raised over $10,000 to benefit multiple sclerosis research and local client programs, as over 80% of the funds raised during the event stay specifically in the state of Mississippi.
The MS Walk was founded as a means of reaffirming the Society’s commitment to the 400,000 Americans who have MS and assist them in taking a pro-active role in the fight to end the devastating effects of MS while educating the public to its challenges.
Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable, chronic and often disabling disease of the central nervous system. Symptoms vary dramatically from person to person and in the same person over time. They may be mild such as numbness or tingling in the limbs or severe such as loss of vision or paralysis.
Someone is newly diagnosed with MS virtually each hour, most are between the ages of 20 and 50. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but, spearheaded by the work of the Society; advances in research and treatment are giving hope to those affected by the disease.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, founded in l946, supports more MS-related research, provides more services for people with MS, offers more professional education programs and furthers more MS advocacy efforts than any other MS organization in the world. Through its home office and 50-state network of chapters, the Society serves more than a million people each year.
“We are rallying for a good cause, as over 3,000 fellow Mississippians are afflicted with MS,” Moore continued. “We’re asking for everyone’s support, as no effort is too small.”
For more information on the Walk, please contact Delta State’s Center for Community and Economic Development at (662) 846-4842.
