The National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s San Diego-based Pacific South Coast Chapter reported that 4,215 people walked a 1.5-mile route through the theme park in Carlsbad at its 2012 San Diego County Credit Union Walk MS fun walk on Sunday morning, April 22.
National MS Society officials said $425,519 in donations was raised to benefit research and services and programs for people with MS, a chronic, unpredictable and disabling neurological disease of the central nervous system with no known cause, cure or prevention.
“It was a very inspirational Sunday morning to celebrate the power of a community coming together in a movement toward a world free of multiple sclerosis,” said Rich Israel, president of the National MS Society’s Pacific South Coast Chapter.
For the 11th consecutive year, San Diego County Credit, San Diego’s largest locally-owned financial institution, was the title sponsor for Walk MS at Legoland. Presenting sponsors of the 2012 Walk MS included NBC 7 San Diego, KyXy 96.5, Energy 103.7, Legoland California, Pepsi and Sycuan Casino. Emcee at the event was Steven Luke, anchor with NBC 7 San Diego.
As in previous years, Walk MS 2012 drew a large number of teams representing businesses, neighborhoods, clubs, community groups, churches and family members and friends of a person with MS. Many teams had a team name and outfitted their members with costumes, including T-shirts and hats. Walkers were treated to free muffins from Souplantation and pizza from Papa John’s. Admission was free to attend Walk MS. There was no cost to be a walker.
Walkers can earn prizes, including t-shirts, movie tickets and gift cards, based on the amount of donations they collect through May 31, the National MS Society said. Online donations can be made at mswalk.com to individual walkers by clicking “Donate to a Walker,” and typing in a participant’s name or team name.
The National MS Society presented a number of awards to top teams that participated at Walk MS 2012 at Legoland.
The largest team with 417 walkers was a group of employees and their family members and friends from Prescription Solutions by OptumRX, a San Diego-based company specializes in the delivery, clinical management and affordability of prescription medications and consumer health products.
The top rookie team was from Receptos, Inc., a San Diego-based molecule drug discover and development company. Team Receptos had 88 walkers who helped raise about $14,000 in donations.
The most inspirational team was Live Life to the Max, a friends-and-family team of about 30 walkers who were walking for 10-year-old Max Ankrom of San Clement. Max, a fifth grader, was diagnosed with MS at age 7 in 2008.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society in San Diego will host a second 2012 San Diego County Credit Union Walk MS this Saturday, April 28, at its at NTC Park at Liberty Station, 2750 Womble Road in Point Loma. National MS Society officials are expecting more than 4,000 people will raise more than $400,000 in donations for MS research on April 28. Admission to attend Walk MS is free. There is no cost to be a walker. Onsite registration is available. Event information is available at MSWalk.com.
In comparison, in 2011, drew 3,413 walkers and generated $325,060 in donations. At the 2010 Walk MS event at Legoland, 2,903 walkers raised $216,733 in donations.
MS is the most common neurological disease affecting young‑ to middle‑aged adults. Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50. More than twice as many women as men have MS. There is no known cause, cure or prevention. Symptoms cannot be predicted and can vary greatly, ranging from numbness in the limbs and extreme fatigue to loss of balance and muscle coordination or paralysis.
–Press release by The MS Society
