WHITE AIMS FOR BIG MS WALK APRIL 9

Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic, but unpredictable disease. No one knows that better than Robin White.

Chairperson of the Cape Girardeau County MS Walk to be held April 9, White today appears to be a healthy young woman with few health cares. Yet earlier this winter she was bound to a wheelchair.

"The last three years I've constantly been up and down, in and out of a wheel chair," White said. "I may go several months before I get any attacks."

White steps into the leadership of the area walk -- handled for more than a decade in Jackson by Mary Meyer. This year the walk is moving to Cape Girardeau Arena Park. White was quick to emphasize, however, that it has not become a Cape Girardeau event.

"I want to encourage everyone to come out and walk. We're making it a regional walk," she said. "I want to continue with the Jackson entrants. It's not a Cape walk. It's a regional walk."

The walk will include Mayor Paul Sander of Jackson, as well as Perryville Mayor Bob Miget and Cape Girardeau Mayor Al Spradling. Bollinger County commissioners Ken Trentham and Rod Jetton will also be walking, as well as State Rep. David Schwab and State Senator Peter Kinder.

"I'm in it for public awareness of the disease itself and funding for research. Hopefully a treatment and a cure for the disease can be discovered," White said. "I feel like I'm fighting for my life and the life of everyone who has MS."

White has big goals for the walk, which will begin at Shelter # 3 at 1 p.m., April 9. She wants to see 300 walkers -- double last year's total-- and wants to raise $16,000 from the Cape County walk. A regional goal of $360,000 from the 19 communities involved in the Gateway Area Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society has also been set.

White first suffered from MS at age 15 and again in her early twenties. The disease went undiagnosed, however. It was not until 1997 that it struck with severity against White, who ran her own daycare center.

"Three years ago I lost the ability to walk, my speech was slurred and I couldn't feed or dress myself," she said. Needless to say, she was forced to give up her business and take disability. Since then she has lived through a series of frustrating highs and lows. "Each case progresses differently," she noted.

She feels that leading MS events such as this is a calling.

"I think this is what I'm supposed to be doing," she said.

"The MS walk is a nationally recognized fund-raising campaign hosted at more than 700 sites across the country. The Gateway Area Chapter coordinators walks in 19 communities throughout Missouri and Illinois. Programs such as self-help groups, educational seminars and information and referral services are available to residents of Cape County. White, in fact, has served as a self-help group.

In addition to funding research and programs, this year's MS walks are intended to raise awareness about available drug therapies for people living with MS.

Volunteers are key to making the MS Walk successful.

"We have so many dedicated workers on our staff and an even greater number of dedicated walkers and volunteers," said Beth White, community development coordinator at the Gateway Area Chapter. "We believe that Robin has the ability to combine the talents of everyone working and to end the devastating effects of multiple sclerosis, to ensure that we host an organized and enjoyable walk, and most importantly, that we get out message out."

Robin White praised Beth White and the Gateway Chapter for being "so supportive" of the Cape County walk. She also commended her co-chairpersons, Tim and Brenda Becker.

Walkers who raise $110 of support will receive a free T-shirt. For more information, call White at 243-3913.

To learn more about multiple sclerosis and the recommended uses of the new MS drugs, call the Gateway Area chapter at (314) 781-9020 or see the chapter's web site at www.mos.nmss.org.