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 Chairperson Dr. Ron Pierce welcomed everyone to the walk and
thanked previous chairperson Nancy Ireland for all her help in
planning the walk. With Ireland leading the way, walkers headed past
the chapel and made their way around the north part of the campus
before returning to the Laughlin Center.
At the Laughlin Center, participants were able to enjoy music and
face painting with snacks provided by Domino’s, Thorton’s, Kroger's,
and Nabisco (Darrell Vermiere). There was also a silent auction with
handcrafted items and donations from several businesses.
Ben Vogel shared several facts about Multiple Sclerosis, a chronic
and often disabling disease of the central nervous system that
affects the brain and spinal cord. An estimated 400,000 people in
the U.S. have MS, and worldwide there are 2.1 million who have the
disease. Since 1947, the national MS Society has spent over $700
million on MS research.
 Vogel said at this time, there are "more potential therapies in the
pipeline for MS" than there ever has been.
People who helped to make the Walk happen
Committee members were Ron Pierce, Nancy Ireland, Brenda Ireland,
Daryl Davis, Connie Hoyle, Cathy Hardy, Donna Miles, Donita Biggs,
Marsha Grigg, Crystal Huff, Janice Sexton, Dr. Laura Borgerson, Abby
Ingram, and Amy Vannoy. Dr. Pierce said many other volunteers also
pitched in to help with whatever else needed to be done.
Dr. Pierce said all the volunteers are great. He said at a recent
pork chop and bake sale, volunteers served from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
without a break. He said, "It helps me see how good people are. It
warms my heart."
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Teams participating in the walk were Sun Glow Challenge, Lil'
Koozie Boos, Muscle Control, Team Without a Name, The Neighborhood,
Cinderellas, and Ingram Farms. Many participants have friends or
family members with MS, and a few have MS themselves. Major sponsors for the event were Abraham
Lincoln Memorial Hospital, Eaton Electrical, Edward Jones'
Christine Short, Farmer's Bank of Mt. Pulaski,
Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Homes, 3rd Wire Security,
Lincoln Christian University, Lincoln IGA, Lincoln Printers,
Ardagh Group, Lincoln Daily News, and Thrivent Financial.
Mile Marker sponsors were Apple Dental with Lee Gurga DDS,
Investment Center with Doug Demay, State Farm agent Deron
Powell, New Herald News, Holland, Barry, and Bennett Funeral
Home; Stuart Solutions; CEFCU, Lincoln Animal Hospital, Todd
Walker D.M.D., Peasley Funeral Home, and ME Realty's Seth
Goodman.
The money raised from the walk will help bring the world closer
to curing MS. As Dr. Pierce said, "We hope through fundraising
to put a stop to this disease."
[Angela Reiners]
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