Between the ages of 20 and 40 is when the disorder most commonly begins — though it can be seen at any age — and that’s Brittiney Norman’s growing fear: Multiple sclerosis is affecting people at younger and younger ages. As the community development manager at the local chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, she “wants to make sure children can lead happy, healthy lives,” Norman says.
The dream isn’t easy to achieve. Multiple sclerosis, a chronic disease, attacks the nervous system, harming the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. The symptoms are mild — such as numbness in the limbs — or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. The cause is unknown, and so is the cure. In the United States, an average of 200 people are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis every week.
For 11 years, the Multiple Sclerosis Society has led a walk Downtown to support services for 8,500 Hoosier residents living with the disease. Last year, 287 people participated in the one- and five-mile walks. The goal for the 2010 event on April 17 at the Civic Center Courtyard is 400 participants, says Norman.
Funds raised aid researchers working toward a cure. The walk’s final contribution helps the society fund social events — such as an Evansville Otters baseball game — for families with a member diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Those types of activities aren’t as affordable for families paying the high healthcare costs of the disease, says Norman. That social dynamic is apparent at the annual walk, too, she says: “It’s always nice to see families come together to support one another.”
