Will Walk 50-miles in Cape Cod at MS Challenge Walk

WINDSOR, Conn. – When Laurabeth Daly’s father, Raymond J. Steele, passed away from complications due to his multiple sclerosis in February, she knew she wanted to do something more to honor his battle against the disease.

Daly has long been active in the fight against MS, participating in the yearly MS Walk on her father’s fundraising team, the Steele Curtain, but when she heard about the MS Challenge Walk, she jumped at the chance to participate.

“I thought what better way to honor my dad,” said Daly, 33, who will participate in the MS Challenge Walk with her best friend’s sister and Meriden resident Terra Graham. “Even though he passed away a few months ago, the fight for a cure isn’t over.”

The MS Challenge Walk is a three-day event and will be held Friday, Sept. 9, through Sunday, Sept. 11 in Cape Cod, Mass. The event is a 50-mile walk spread over the course of three days. Accepting the physical challenge of the event also comes with a fundraising commitment of $1,500.

Laurabeth Daly poses with her father Raymond Steele on her wedding day. Her father lost his battle with MS in February and to honor his fight, Laurabeth will participate in the MS Challenge Walk, Friday, Sept. 9 through Sunday, Sept. 11, in Cape Cod, Mass. In support of her efforts, Daly will host a fundraiser at Chili's Windsor on Wednesday, Aug. 24. For more information on the MS Challenge Walk, please visit www.ctfightsMS.org

To spur her fundraising efforts, Daly has partnered with Chili’s Windsor for a Chili’s Give Back Night to benefit her Steele Curtain Challenge Walk MS Team on Wednesday, August 24, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. As part of the program, Chili’s will donate 10% of the total bill for anyone who mentions the Steele Curtain team or presents a flier toward Daly’s fundraising efforts.

“I’m very excited,” said Daly. “The Cape is beautiful and from what I’ve read and heard it’s a phenomenal event. Having lived with my father for the last 12 years, it was very hard on the whole family. The cause is dear to my heart. There’s still no cure; we need a cure.”

More than 6,000 Connecticut residents live with the potentially debilitating effects of MS – 450,000 nationwide. Symptoms can include numbness and tingling in the limbs, difficulty with vision and speech and in severe cases, complete paralysis. The cause is unknown and, as a result, there is no cure for MS. The progress, severity or specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot be predicted.

The 2011 MS Challenge Walk features a new recruitment program, Each One, Reach One. Each One, Reach One allows participants to invite someone who has never before participated to step out for free.  The MS Challenge Walk fundraising minimum applies, but the registration fee is waived. Connecticut residents participating for the first time should register at www.ctfightsMS.org and use FRIENDS11 discount code.

Chili’s Windsor is located at 1035 Kennedy Road, Windsor, Conn. For more information on the 2011 MS Challenge Walk or to register, visit www.ctfightsMS.com.