Bainbridge Island still has a long ways to go when it comes to raising money for the ninth annual Walk MS event set for April 11.
But if last year’s success of exceeding the fundraising goal is any indicator, it shouldn’t be a problem, coordinators believe.
After raising more than $83,000 at last year’s Walk MS: Bainbridge Island event, coordinators chose to set the 2015 walk goal even higher at $84,000.
With the help of islanders, event organizers think it can be done again, even though only 33 percent of that goal has been raised as of Thursday, and the walk is days away.
“I know that Bainbridge Island can get there — everyone always brings such a sense of community,” said Sarah Sweeney, spokeswoman for the National MS Society, Greater Northwest Chapter. “Fundraising for Walk MS is encouraged, but not required, and helps provide a wide variety of programs and services for people affected by MS and funds cutting-edge MS research.”
Multiple sclerosis — most commonly known as MS — is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. It disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society website.
The cause of the disease is still unknown, but some scientists think it could be triggered by “as-yet-unidentified environmental factor(s) in a person who is genetically predisposed to respond,” states the site.
The 2.5-mile walking event starts at Bainbridge High School at 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and goes through downtown with two rest stops along the way. A 1-mile route option is available, though.
Opening ceremonies begin at 9:45 a.m.
Participants who make a donation will receive an orange wristband that indicates they are eligible for special discounts available only on the day of the event, including $5 of market bucks to use at the farmers market.
While one of the largest goals of the walks — which occur nationwide — is to raise money to help those living with MS in surrounding communities, it is also about the support those with MS will feel the day of the event.
Locally, the event was started in 2006 by Bainbridge Island residents Trude and Mike Lisagor. Eighteen years ago, Trude was diagnosed with MS after losing all feeling below her waist. She eventually learned to walk again and even returned to teaching part-time. In 1998, she participated in her first walk.
“Everyone cried when Trude crossed the finish line,” her husband Mike Lisagor said.
The couple came to the island in 2004 for the cooler climate and discovered that there were more than 85 people on the island who also had MS.
With the help of the local chapter of the National MS Society, volunteers and business owners, the annual walk was born on the island.
“We weren’t quite sure what to expect, but the response has been consistently fantastic,” he said. “While a tremendous challenge, MS has also been the impetus for personal growth. We joke that the whole family has MS. Coordinating the walk is my way of expressing my support and love to my wife of 45 years and to all the other families in our area who are struggling to make the best of a difficult situation.”
Sweeney added, “Walk MS is about more than fundraising — it connects people living with MS and those who care about them. It’s a day unlike any other — a day to come together with others in our community, to celebrate the progress we’ve made toward a world free of MS and to show the power of our connections. It’s a day that gives hope to the more than 2.3 million people living with MS worldwide.”
Only about half of the people expected to walk have signed up for the event so far, according to Sweeney.
But once registration for the Saturday race is completed, she said more than 400 participants are expected to sign up.
“The most inspirational part of Walk MS is probably different for every person in attendance. For teams, it might be the energy they experience as they gather together in the morning and see their friends and family rally in this united cause. For volunteers, it might be seeing all the ‘I walk for…’ bibs on each participant. For event sponsors, it may be seeing their community come together and knowing that they are helping to make that possible,” Sweeney said. “For me, it’s cheering at the finish line and looking forward to the day we get to the ultimate finish line: a world free of MS.”
For the last 26 years, communities have gathered for Walk MS events to raise more than $870 million to support cutting-edge MS research and support life-changing programs, according to the Walk MS website.
Contact Jessica Kurtz at jessica.kurtz@nmss.org or call 206-515-4562.
