Family and friends of Madison resident Darren Kramer, WTNH News 8 anchor, center, are joined by Lisa Gerrol, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Connecticut Chapter President, back row sixth from left, at 2015 Walk MS, presented by Travelers, which was held Saturday, April 18, in Madison at Hammonasset Beach State Park. Kramer has served as the event’s grand marshal since 2006 and has walked in support of his mother-in-law, Barbara Fratamico, of Smithtown, New York, pictured seated.
Middletown resident Evan Walker plants an orange flag in the MS Field Of Hope with the help of his father, Brad, after participating in the 2015 Walk MS, presented by Travelers, which was held Saturday, April 18, in Madison at Hammonasset Beach State Park. Each Walk MS participant received a flag upon completion of their walk to plant in the field in honor of all those living with multiple sclerosis. The two walked as members of the ‘Dew Bew Crew’ fundraising team, named for their family members who are battling multiple sclerosis
The Branford Hills Health Care Center’s Walk MS fundraising team poses at the finish line of the 2015 Walk MS, presented by Travelers, which was held Saturday, April 18, in Madison at Hammonasset Beach State Park. Team Branford Hills, captained by Ellen Leslie, director of social services for the facility, consisted of friends, family, staff and two Branford Hills residents living with multiple sclerosis, Carol Runlett and Art Gallagher. In addition to making the special outing with the residents, the team has also been raising funds to support the fight against MS
Southington resident Caitlin Spinnato holds her 12-week-old son, TJ, while planting an orange flag in the MS Field of Hope at the 2015 Walk MS, presented by Travelers, which was held Saturday, April 18, in Madison at Hammonasset Beach State Park. Each Walk MS participant received a flag upon completion of their walk to plant in the field in honor of all those living with multiple sclerosis. As captain of Team Spinnato, which consisted of 21 friends and family of the team’s namesake, she led the group in raising more than $1,300 in support of the fight against MS.
Storrs residents Stuart and Joan Sidney pose proudly next to their ‘Top Fundraiser’ signage at the 2015 Walk MS, presented by Travelers, which was held Saturday, April 18, in Madison at Hammonasset Beach State Park. The Joanie’s Ponies fundraising team, which consisted of friends and family of the team’s namesake, has to date raised more than $4,000 in support of the fight against MS. Joan, the team’s captain, has been battling the potentially debilitating disease for many years, and has been participating in the Walk MS fundraiser since the mid-90s.
Guilford resident Kim Hodge mans a volunteer check-in table at the 2015 Walk MS, presented by Travelers, which was held Saturday, April 18, in Madison at Hammonsset Beach State Park. Hodge, who has been living with multiple sclerosis for 22 years shared that her symptoms began with numbness and problems walking, but really flared up after the birth of her third child. Hodge stated that despite her constant battle with the potentially debilitating disease, she feels lucky to still be able to stay active and has served for 17 years on the Walk MS planning committee.
The town of Madison doesn’t usually play host to reptiles, but this year the Lively Lizards chose Hammonasset Beach State Park as their premiere stomping ground.
“Our team has transformed over the years, and in 2013 we changed our colors completely,” explained Guilford resident Cheryl Link, captain of the Lively Lizards Walk MS fundraising team. “We are a smaller, slower moving team, but we have a lot of character. At last year’s walk, we used all of those characteristics to come up with a team name, the Lively Lizards.”
Link, who lives with her partner of 35 years, Mary, began experiencing numbness and tingling in her legs in the late ’80s. In November of 1991, she suffered an attack of optic neuritis. Confused but determined to find an answer, Link visited her doctor. One month later, she was officially diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
Armed with an answer, Link looked for ways to fight the disease. She discovered the National MS Society, and in 1993 began participating in their annual Walk MS.
“A friend and I were already walking together regularly,” remembered Link. “I jumped right onboard when I learned about Walk MS and formed a team of four friends. Two of those walkers, Mary Rose and Esther D’Albero, are still walking with me today.”
This year, the Lively Lizards stepped out at the 2015 Walk MS, presented by Travelers, on Saturday, April 18, in Madison. To date, the team has raised $360 for the fight against MS and still has a month to go until the fundraising deadline is reached.
More than 500 people stepped out in Madison, one of 11 walk sites for the 2015 Walk MS fundraiser organized by the National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter. Thus far, more than $900,000 has been handed in for the event which has a $1.4 million fundraising goal with five more walks scheduled for the weekend of April 25 and 26.
Money raised through events such as Walk MS, presented by Travelers, ensure ongoing scientific research to find a cure and provide for the continuation of vital programs and services offered by the chapter to the more than 6,300 Connecticut residents affected by MS. The cause is unknown and there is currently no cure. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot be predicted. Funds raised ensure ongoing scientific research to find a cure and provide for the continuation of vital programs and services offered by the chapter to Connecticut residents affected by MS.
“We may have changed our name, but my current team is just as determined as I was my first year,” said Link. “I know we have many years of walking ahead of us.”
To make a donation to support the Lively Lizards, or learn more about the 2013 Walk MS, presented by Travelers, please visit www.ctfightsms.org.
Members of the ‘Team Lana’ fundraising team gather at the start of the 2015 Walk MS, presented by Travelers, which was held Saturday, April 18, in Madison at Hammonsset Beach State Park. Team Lana, which consisted of friends and family of the team’s namesake, has to date raised nearly $1,000 in support of the fight against MS said team captain Carol Thibeault, of Branford, pictured in the brown jacket.
Members of the ‘Team Richards’ fundraising team gather at the start of the 2015 Walk MS, presented by Travelers, which was held Saturday, April 18, in Madison at Hammonsset Beach State Park. Team Richards, which consisted of friends and family of the team’s namesake, has to date raised more than $1,700 in support of the fight against MS said team captain Mary Richards, of Kensington.
Members of the ‘Mike Kish Family and Friends’ fundraising team gather at the start of the 2015 Walk MS, presented by Travelers, which was held Saturday, April 18, in Madison at Hammonasset Beach State Park. To date, ‘Mike Kish Family and Friends’ has raised nearly $1,000 in support of the fight against MS. The Zupan family of Haddam, pictured here from left to right, Allison, Lisa, Alex and Tom, walked in support of their friend, Mike Kish, and all those suffering from the debilitating effects of multiple sclerosis.
South Windsor resident Wendy Files and her service dog, Grace, attend the 2015 Walk MS, presented by Travelers, held Saturday, April 25 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford. Files, who is living with multiple sclerosis, has been an active member of the National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter, for many years and has served a chapter advocate, volunteer and fundraiser. This year, her Walk MS team ‘Files And Friends’ was successful in raising $350 for the fight against MS. The dog, who Files has had for six years, may not have helped raise money, but she does help with tasks such as switching laundry, closing cabinets, picking dropped items up off of the floor and much more.
Team Subway lines up in front of the Walk MS arch at Rentschler Field on Saturday, April 25, where the team took part in the 2015 Walk MS, presented by Travelers. Each year, Subway Restaurants donates 10,000 sandwiches to feed all the people who step out for Walk MS. In addition, Team Subway has been successful in raising over $2,000 for the walk.
Members of the Team Hope Walk MS fundraising team gather at the 2015 Walk MS, presented by Travelers, help Saturday, April 25 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford. Salem’s Mary Moore, first from the right, said she and her family walk in honor of her mother.
Members of Manchester’s Illing Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society had out orange flags at the 2015 Walk MS, presented by Travelers, in East Hartford on Saturday, April 25. Each Walk MS participant received a flag upon completion of their walk to plant in the field in honor of all those living with multiple sclerosis.
Members of the Team Target Walk MS team pose after completing the 2015 Walk MS, presented by Travelers, at East Hartford’s Rentschler Field in Saturday, April 25. The team, captained by Yomayra Year-Zube(left), of Meriden, came together in support of a friend who is living with MS. The staff came from Target’s 475 Hartford Road location in New Britain, and the store’s manager, Matt Groves (right), of Killingly, said that he was proud to have such great enthusiasm for a good cause in his store.
Winsted’s Candy Dietlin and Bristol’s Anais ‘Muffett’ Woodard meet before the start of the 2015 Walk MS, presented by Travelers, which was held Sunday, April 26 at the Litchfield Town Green.
“We’re friends on Facebook but haven’t seen each other in over 20 years,” said Woodward. “Then, we saw that we were both going to participate in the walk with two separate teams and finally met up again right here!”
As secretary of NCCC’s medical professionals group, Dietlin walked as a part of Northwestern Connecticut Community College’s Team Holly. Woodward was a member of the United We Walk And Roll fundraising team.
Members of the Litchfield High School National Honor Society volunteer at the 2015 Walk MS, presented by Travelers, in Litchfield on Sunday, April 26.
More than 20 ‘Waves of Hope’ teammates surround Canton’s Debbie Gilson (center with blue t-shirt over white sweatshirt) at the 2015 Walk MS, presented by Travelers, which took place Sunday, April 26, at Litchfield’s Town Green. Organized by team captain Lorna Weingart, of Watertown, the Waves of Hope Walk MS team has been successful in raising $4,550 toward a $5,000 goal to support those living with MS, like Gilson. The team has been walking for more than 10 years, and collectively has raised more than $30,000 in that time.