Wicomico Middle School raises MS awareness
According to the CDC, more than 2.3 million people around the world are living with multiple sclerosis.
On Monday, more than 250 eighth graders from Wicomico Middle raised orange posters and walked for one cause… to increase awareness about multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis is a central nervous system disease that affects someone near and dear to these students. Jennifer Campbell, a math coach at Wicomico Middle was diagnosed with MS in 2000.
“I woke up one morning at the age of 22 one Saturday and my leg had gone completely numb. From my belly button over and down. It was numb.” says Campbell.
Campbell’s symptoms started in her leg and affected her ability to walk long distances, eventually it started affecting other areas too.
“After that I had tingling in my feet and blurry vision which turns out was optic neuritis,” says Campbell.
During Monday’s walk, Campbell handed out sunglasses with painted lenses and elastic bands to wrap around their legs,so students could get a sense of what MS is like. About a month ago, Campbell challenged her students to raise $2,000 for MS research. By Monday, they had more than doubled that amount.
“I’m extremely proud of our students who have raised so much money and it’s really good bringing everyone together and the awareness that has just come about in our school building has been really phenomenal.” say Campbell.
They plan to donate the money to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to fund research in the hope of creating more treatment options.
“When I was first diagnosed there was a total of three treatments available to slow the progression of MS and all of them them are injectable and now there are over 13 treatments available ,” say Campbell.
While there is no cure for MS Campbell tells us treatment has helped her suppress the progression of the disease. Campbell tells us she plans on continuing raising awareness by teaming up with local MS chapters and creating more community outreach events.
Whitney Pogwist, the Eastern Shore Community Development Coordinator for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society says, “By touching each of these students you touch their family members as well so the awareness broadens tremendously in the community and i think that’s the most beautiful thing about it.”
The next opportunity to raise awareness about MS will be this weekend. Ocean City will be having their MS walk on Saturday, April 9th and Salisbury’s will be this Sunday, April 10th. For more information on the walks or how to donate click here.
