'For those who can't walk'

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Participants begin their walk Saturday at the Grand Traverse County Civic Center. Keith King/Record-Eagle
Drew Leazier, 9, of Bellaire, puts tape on a paper heart after writing "Mom I love you from Drew" on it. Paper hearts are offered so that people could write why they're participating in the event and/or who inspired them to walk. Afterward, the hearts are placed on the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Michigan Chapter Wall of Hope. Keith King/Record-Eagle
Ruth Jarvis, right, alongside her sister, Mikala Coyne, both of Traverse City, places a paper heart on the Wall of Hope. The paper heart was for their mother who has had multiple sclerosis for the last eight years. Keith King/Record-Eagle
Volunteer Doni Barrett, of Kalkaska, guides participants during the event. Barrett has had multiple sclerosis for the last 20 years and has been volunteering at the MS Walk for the last 10 years. " I can still sit on this corner and tell people where to go," she said. Keith King/Record-Eagle

June 27, 2010

Helping to raise awareness for multiple sclerosis

BY SHERI McWHIRTER smcwhirter@record-eagle.com The Record Eagle Wed Jun 30, 2010, 06:19 AM EDT

Traverse City — Robin Ward walked around the Grand Traverse County Civic Center, a cane in her right hand to help her keep her balance.

Doctors diagnosed Ward, 39, of Grawn, with multiple sclerosis six years ago, a condition that sometimes brings her balance problems, pain and muscle spasms. Despite that, she walked a three-mile route on Saturday as part of the Traverse City Walk MS 2010 event.

It's not easy for her.

"I'm committed. I'm going to do it," she said.

Ward said she attended the walking event to help raise both awareness of the disease and money to find a cure and support all other MS patients.

"I'm here for support and for those who can't walk," said her sister, Toni Chilson, who walked by her side.

The annual fundraiser in Traverse City brought in $90,000 last year, and this year's goal is $100,000, said Elana Sullivan, Michigan Chapter president for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

"Raising awareness of MS is really important because Michigan has a very high incidence rate," she said.

More than a dozen MS walks will happen across Michigan this year, and the statewide goal is to raise $1.2 million for research and patient assistance, Sullivan said.

Local MS patients receive help with expenses related to their medical care and other things, like utilities and transportation. There are about 550 MS patients in northwestern Michigan who are registered with the society, Sullivan said.

Among them is Michelle Honer, 52, of Traverse City.

"My first symptom was in 1979, but I wasn't diagnosed until 1989," Honer said.

Early symptoms for Honer included vision and hearing problems, and eventually the loss of balance. She used a cane or a three-wheeled walker for several years, but then discovered she prefers using walking poles to keep her balance.

Nearby, Ruth Jarvis walked among the crowd in honor of her mother, whom doctors diagnosed with MS eight years ago.

"We've got to fix her. Just because it doesn't take you like that" — Jarvis said as she snapped her fingers — "doesn't mean it doesn't deserve attention."

The walking route took participants around the Civic Center, then along Garfield Avenue, Webster Street, Railroad Avenue and then Washington Street.

Brenda Bygden volunteered at the rest stop area at F&M Park. She is a clinical research coordinator at Northern Michigan Neurology in Traverse City.

"We deal with MS patients and do clinical trials with MS patients," she said.

Bygden wants to recruit MS patients to participate in a clinical trial trying to develop a pill form for MS medicine. Patients currently must take needle injections.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, frequently disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. Symptoms range from mild numbness to total paralysis.

Additionally, the disease progresses differently in each patient, often unpredictably and at varying degrees of severity.

Visit www.nationalmssociety.org for more information.