Walkers raise money to fight multiple sclerosis

Despite Sunday's drizzly weather, dozens of people turned out for the 26th annual Walk MS 2014, held in Capaha Park. The event raises funds to support programs for people living with multiple sclerosis and drives research, according to the organization's website.

Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body, the website said.

Walk participants Sunday included people with MS and those supporting friends or loved ones with the illness. While Aleisha Ray couldn't take part herself, she had a team backing her, sporting black T-shirts with hot pink writing saying "Team Bitty B."

Misdiagnosed several times and suffering from symptoms all her life, Ray found out she had multiple sclerosis 14 years ago. Now awareness of the disease is much greater.

"If you watch the news, different documentaries or TV shows, someone could have MS. MS is not one-dimensional. Almost everybody you talk to that has MS has different major symptoms. If you think about it, everything in your body is run around muscle," Ray said.

Ray urged people who have MS, or have just been diagnosed, to fight it and not give up.

"They are not by themselves," she said. There are support groups that may be found by searching online or in the newspaper that are "very informative."

A team of about 47 called Teeta's Tuffies took part in the walk to raise funds for MS and support Teresa Thompson, sister of Cape Girardeau County Public Administrator Lisa Reitzel. The squad included family, former classmates, church members, friends and Thompson herself, who took part in a wheelchair.

All sported bright yellow T-shirts with the outline of a flexed arm with an orange ribbon with the squad's name around it and "Multiple Sclerosis" in black writing and "We're Fighting Back!" in bold black capital letters emblazoned on it.

Reitzel, who was giving out the T-shirts from the back of her SUV, said this is the first year they've done the walk. Thompson was diagnosed late last summer and still plays the piano and holds down a full-time job, Reitzel said.

"We're excited to see what our total is that we raised, and, like I said, I just think it's a true sign to help show her we're supporting her because that is a life-changing event," Reitzel said.

"There's good days and bad days," she added. "Some days [Thompson] does really well, and then there's other days that she can hardly go at all. It's hard ... not to get emotional about it because I don't know what that's like. I'm busy all the time, constantly going and that's the way she was. She was always such a go-getter. Her life was so busy; her husband's a minister. She works full time. She goes to work every day with a walker. That takes a lot to be able to do that. She takes such pride in what she does. She's just a true hero to me and I look up to her."

Thompson, who lives in Union, Miss., said she's had symptoms for some time, but trying to find out what illness those symptoms went with was "really scary," because she just kept getting worse.

She is thankful MS mainly affects her legs and balance, because with others, it affects their eyesight, use of their hands or ability to swallow, for example. As for the support shown to her Sunday, Thompson said it was "awesome."

"Some of these people I haven't seen since I graduated from high school in 1981. One of my friends, the last time I saw her she served at my wedding in 1984. ... It's just been a tremendous thing. Some of our friends from Mississippi came up and surprised me today. It's just been amazing," Thompson said.

Sharon Hileman, development manager for the Gateway Area Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, said typical turnout for the walks is 400 to 500 people, depending on weather, with all proceeds going to the MS Society. Participants walk 1 to 2 miles.

Sunday's turnout was down because of the weather, but Hileman said people still dropped off donations and took time to have a hot dog and some chips, have their faces painted, buy some merchandise or socialize. The goal for the walk was $49,800, but Hileman said she won't know the amount raised or the crowd estimate until the figures are processed in St. Louis.

The MS walk in Carbondale, Ill., which attracted more than 400 walkers Saturday, likely met its goal of $37,000, Hileman said.

Crawlin' for a Cause also took place Saturday at Outlaw Offroad Park in Jackson and all funds from it go toward the walk, Hileman said. Last year, the event raised more than $20,000, she said.

This year, the event attracted 1,738 people. An orange 1971 Chevy pickup truck, offered in a raffle, was won by Josh Buessink of Jackson, said Ashley Koerber, a Crawlin' for a Cause organizer. The other main organizer, she said, is her sister-in-law, Becky Muench.

An estimated $17,000 was raised, which goes to the walk, Koerber said. Social media helped spread the word. The Crawlin' Facebook page has more than 4,000 friends, she said.

Hileman said funds also are expected from other local events.

A committee of about seven people organize the walk and there are about 15 "day-of" volunteers, Hileman said. Planning starts six to seven months out, she said.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

388-3639

Pertinent address:

Capaha Park, Cape Girardeau, Mo.