When Susan Durner was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 1988 she decided to “focus on the positive rather than let the disease get the best of me,” she says. Her daughter describes her as a strong-willed personality who tries to focus on the positive. Because of this, the National MS Society, Maryland Chapter has appointed Durner as the Walk MS Ambassador in Cambridge to give a voice and a face to all those affected by MS. Durner will address attendees and thank them for their hard work and crucial fundraising.
“I have been blessed with a very supportive friends and family,” Durner is quick to say. “Each day I tell myself to take every day, every symptom as they come. Some days will be more challenging than others” she continues, “but who truly doesn’t enjoy a challenge? Laughter, keeping a positive outlook and having a support network, whether it’s family, friends, church groups, any associates are important in the fight against MS.”
Durner has lived on Maryland’s Eastern Shore for more than 30 years. She is the proud parent of two adult children and six grandchildren. When asked what motivates her to participate in Walk MS she says, “Keep a positive and strong core. We will one day find a cure.”
The National MS Society, Maryland Chapter will host Walk MS in Cambridge on Saturday, April 24th. Sailwinds Park will be the start and finish point for the 5k (3.1 mile) walk along the neighboring community. Registration opens at 9:00AM and the walk starts promptly at 10:00AM. All participants who raise more than $125 will receive a commemorative T-shirt at the event. The annual 5k walk helps raise funds for research, programs and services provided by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. To register or find out more visit www.walkMSmaryland.org or call (800) 344-4867.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society helps people affected by MS by funding cutting-edge research, driving change through advocacy, facilitating professional education, and providing programs and services designed to help people with MS and their families move their lives forward.
About Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis interrupts the flow of information between the brain and the body and it stops people from moving. Every hour in the United States, someone is newly diagnosed with MS, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis.
The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with more than twice as many women as men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 400,000 people in the U.S., and 2.5 million worldwide.
About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
MS stops people from moving. The National MS Society exists to make sure it doesn’t. We help each person address the challenges of living with MS. Each year, through our home office and 50 state network of chapters, we devote nearly $130 million to programs that enhance more than one million lives to move us closer to a world free of MS. In 2009 alone, the Society also invested more than $33.5 million to support 340 research projects around the world. We are people who want to do something about MS NOW. Join the movement at nationalMSsociety.org.
Early and ongoing treatment with an FDA-approved therapy can make a difference for people with multiple sclerosis. Learn about your options by talking to your health care professional and contacting the National MS Society at www.nationalMSsociety.org or 1-800-344-4867.