Feb 22, 2013
Meghan Freeman
In 2012, the Engineers Club wanted to start an event that would make a difference in the community and host it during the week-long celebration of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Engineers. Club member Jacob Brown suggested a race for charity and it took off from there. Brown, now chairman of the 5k/10k committee, introduced the club to the National MS Society because of his personal connection. His mother has MS. “Multiple sclerosis is a terrible disease that can take away one’s ability to be active. Here, we have a group of students trying to fight this disease by taking advantage of our mobility in order to fund research that will aid the fight,” said Brown.
Central Missouri is home to 830 people living with MS. More than 250 of those people live in Boone County. Money raised for the National MS Society helps fund important research for a cure, as well as fund programs and services to help all clients in the Gateway Area Chapter’s 90-county service area, including those in Central Missouri. “People should choose to register for the run to support the cause and the community they live in. Many, many people know at least one person affected by MS,” said Brown.
The first 5k/10k run brought in $1,686 for the Society. “Last year, we had 230 people register. I expect closer to 400 people this year,” said Brown. He says that although the Engineers Club is a non-profit organization, they hope to be able to cover all of the costs (timing system, post-race nourishment, t-shirts, etc.) with the help of their generous sponsors. This means that all proceeds will go straight to the National MS Society.
Registration is available online for $15 at http://engineers.missouri.edu/eweek/race/. The fee jumps to $20 the day of the race. This site is open for individuals to register as a runner, walker, or volunteer or to make a secure donation via PayPal.
For more information regarding the National MS Society or programs and services offered locally, please visit www.gatewayMSsociety.org or call the Central Missouri office at (573) 442-8822.
WHAT: 5k/10k Run for MS
WHEN: Sunday, March 10th, 2013
Check-in: 6 am – 8 am
Run time: 8 am
WHERE: MU Student Center
901 Rollins Street
Columbia, MO 65211 (map)
About Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system, interrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with at least two to three times more women than men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 2.1 million people worldwide.
About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
MS stops people from moving. The National MS Society exists to make sure it doesn’t. The Society addresses the challenges of each person affected by MS by funding cutting-edge research, driving change through advocacy, facilitating professional education, collaborating with MS organizations around the world, and providing programs and services designed to help people with MS and their families move forward with their lives. In 2011 alone, through its national office and 50-state network of chapters, the Society devoted $164 million to programs and services that assisted more than one million people. To move us closer to a world free of MS, the Society also invested $40 million to support more than 325 new and ongoing research projects around the world. The Society is dedicated to achieving a world free of MS. Join the movement at nationalMSsociety.org.
Early and ongoing treatment with an FDA-approved therapy can make a difference for people with multiple sclerosis. Learn about your options by talking to your health care professional and contacting the National MS Society at nationalMSsociety.org or 1-800-FIGHT-MS (344-4867). You may also contact your local Gateway Area Chapter at www.gatewayMSsociety.org or 314-781-9020.