Walk MS to Take Place May 4 at 11 Illinois Location, Please join us!

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Annual Walk Raises Money for Research and Support of People Affected by Multiple Sclerosis

Chicago, April 22, 2014 — Walk MS, the largest annual fundraiser of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Greater Illinois Chapter, is less than two weeks away. The event takes place on May 4 at 11 locations statewide, including Bloomington, Chicago Lakefront, McHenry County (Lake in the Hills), North Shore (Glenview), Northwest Suburbs (Palatine), Rockford, St. Charles, South Suburbs (Orland Park), Southwest Suburbs (Lockport), Springfield and West Suburbs (Naperville). Walk MS brings people together across the country to celebrate the progress and powerful connections made in the movement to end MS.

“Walk MS is truly an amazing event,” said Deb Ibarra, who participates in the Southwest Suburbs Walk. “As a person newly diagnosed with MS, it really was the best experience. We got to meet people at all different stages and the support from the volunteers who came up, asked about my story, provided hugs and words of encouragement was just incredible.”

Event participants have the option of walking 1–6 miles (depending on the site) on one of the fully accessible routes. Registration and start times vary based on location, with registrations ranging from 7:30 a.m.–noon and start times from 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

“For many people living with MS, this is one of the best and most important days of the year,” said John Blazek, Greater Illinois Chapter President. “Whether it’s through participating at one of our Walk sites, volunteering, fundraising or recruiting a friend or family member to be part of the movement, the amazing turnout of thousands of supporters for this signature event helps bring us that much closer to our ultimate goal of a world free of MS.”

Last year, more than 20,000 people participated in Walk MS throughout Illinois, raising over $2.7 million to fund MS research, programs and services, making it one of the largest MS fundraisers in the nation.

Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable, often disabling disease that interrupts the flow of information in the central nervous system, which includes the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve. The Greater Illinois Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society mobilizes people and resources to drive research for a cure and to address the challenges of more than 20,000 individuals in Illinois and 2.3 million worldwide affected by MS.

To find out more or to register or make a donation, contact Samantha Edidin at 312.423.1156 or at samantha.edidin@nmss.org, or visit walkMSillinois.org.

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