Oxford hosted the Alabama-Mississippi Chapter of National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s event Walk MS at Bailey Branch Park Saturday.
Walk MS helps raise money for the more than 63,000 people living with multiple sclerosis in Alabama and Mississippi.
Tuwanna Williams, vice president of the Mississippi area of the society’s Alabama-Mississippi Chapter, said Walk MS is one of the largest annual fundraising events conducted by the society.
“It’s not just a walk for MS, it’s excitement for MS,” Williams said. “It’s hope for a cure for MS. It is just camaraderie all the way around.”
Williams said the chapter wanted to make this year’s walk unique with activities such as a pie-eating contest, a hula hoop contest and more.
“We wanted to be creative this year, and we wanted to create a new experience,” Williams said. “We are always thinking of how we can make this more creative, more fun and even more innovative.”
Kristie Schultz, a participant in the walk, has a personal connection with MS. She was diagnosed with the disease in 2009.
“I was terrified,” Shultz said. “However, I refuse to let this illness control my life.”
Schultz said it was her husband’s idea to participate in the walk. She said this will be her fourth year doing Walk MS in Oxford.
“This walk is a way to increase awareness of what MS is and how many people it actually affects,” Schultz said.
Renee Boyd, another participant, said this event allowed those with MS to come together and raise money.
“Four years ago I found out I had MS,” Boyd said. “I’ve got a great support group when we come every year.”
Williams said she hopes the Oxford walk will continue to grow in numbers, volunteer support, corporate sponsors and reach a fundraising goal of $50,000.
“We know that people living with MS and those that love and support them will continue to be an advocate for supporting activities and programs that will allow us to live in a world free of MS one day,” Williams said.
— Logan Kirkland
ltkirkla@go.olemiss.edu
