The inaugural Middle School Multiple Sclerosis Walk was held on March 15 at Bennett’s Mill Middle School. Students from all over Fayette County participated in fund-raising events at their schools and joined forces to end the devastating effects of MS.

Fayette Middle School received a trophy for raising the most money while Bennett’s Mill received a trophy for having the most walkers. Following a brief presentation including skits simulating MS symptoms, students began the two mile walk down Lester Road.

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system. Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from one person to another.

In the United States today, there are approximately 400,000 people with multiple sclerosis and 200 more people are diagnosed every week. Today, new treatments and advances in research are giving new hope to people affected by the disease. The $6,500 raised by the middle school students from Fayette County will go toward research for a cure.