Walk to help treat multiple Sclerosis in Scarborough

5 to 10 Km walk to raise funds to assist families of patients and research programmes
by GEORGE KAGAME


The Multiple Sclerosis calls upon all residents of Pickering, Scarborough and Etobicoke to participate in the annual MS Walk taking place on Sunday April 19th.

The walk will raise funds to ensure support to people who live with the disease. This support includes national research programs to fund possible causes and cure of the disease, as well as family assistance for those affected by the disease. For 2009, 60,000 people are expected to walk while $6.7 million is targeted to be raised from the participants and sponsors. The walk is held annually in all parts of the country on the same day.

According to MS Canada, the disease refers to a complex system whereby the immune system of the body attacks the central nervous system causing scars or plaques. Symptoms and effects include: vision disturbances such as double or blurred vision, extreme fatigue, loss of balance, stiffness of muscles speech problems, bladder and bowel problems, and short-term memory problems.

The MS Canada web page states that the causes of the disease are so far unknown and there’s no cure yet but researchers are close to finding the answers to these questions. They add that Canda has some of the highest cases of Multiple Sclerosis with an average of three news cases everyday.
Commenting on the walk, Mark Holland the Member of Parliament for Ajax-Pickering said: “Ajax-Pickering is a community that cares. Even during these challenging times, I am confident that our community will raise record support at this year’s MS Walk that will help give people who live with great challenges like MS a brighter future.”


The 5km to 10km MS Walk will start at 9.30 am on Sunday 19th April in the following places: Pickering at Pine Ridge Secondary School-Address: 2155 Liverpool Rd.
Etobicoke: at St. Mark Catholic School-Address: 45 Cloverhill Road.
Scarborough: at Cedarbrae CI- Address: 550 Markham Road, Toronto