Special Ed Teacher Walks 50 Miles to End MS.

Multiple Sclerosis affects more than 400,000 Americans. But, one very special Jenkintown, PA resident plans to trek 50 miles in three days to help stop MS. The first ever National Multiple Sclerosis Society Challenge Walk will take place October 10-12. And Susan Starr, one of the more than 600 participants, has made the walk a personal mission.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society
CONTACT: Linda Smith or Kevin Wheeler    800-548-4611
         
Local Teacher Treks 50 Miles To End MS

(PRWEB) August, 2003 -- Real heroes dont fly. They just walk. Susan Starr laughs, embarrassed at the notion that she, a 49-year-old Jenkintown teacher, is a hero. This October 10-12, Starr will trek 50 miles over three days in the National Multiple Sclerosis Societys Challenge Walk. She has already raised more than $8000 to help end MS.   
Its a personal mission for this special education teacher. Her older brother Steven developed Multiple Sclerosis when he was just 20. Since then, Susan has cared for her brother and seen the effects of MS over 32 years. Hes lived in a wheel chair community for almost 20 years," she says. He has a very serious form of MS and the effects have been devestating."

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic unpredictable neurological disease affecting more than 400,000 Americans. The symptoms, which can range from fatigue and blurred vision, to paralysis and blindness, can come and go without warning. For a person with MS, even putting one foot in front of the other can be a challenge.

When Steven first got MS, he started to slur his speech and he didnt walk right," says Starr. And the medications and research available now, werent around. There really was very little for him when he got sick." Stevens struggle has been a family affair. Susan stayed at home to help her mother care for him. When her mother passed away, Susan became Stevens primary caregiver. Its been a challenging role. There are times I feel really guilty that I make all the decisions. I struggle to always doing the thing thats right for him," says Susan.

This kind of dedication is what drove Starr to participate in the MS Challenge Walk. The MS Challenge Walk will begin October 10 on the steps of The Philadelphia Museum of Art. More than 600 people, most of whom have been touched by MS, will walk from historic Philadelphia through rural Montgomery County and back. Their motivations may vary, but they all will raise awareness of MS and money needed to advance scientific research and fund support services.

When I first learned about The Challenge Walk, I thought I could never do that," she says. I didnt think I could walk 50 miles. I didnt think I could raise a lot of money and I started to cry. Its so moving to me." But Starr took that emotion and channeled it into a rigid training program that has had her walking at 5am in the rain. Why would a woman who claims she was the always the last kid picked for any kind of team game" take on such a challenge?

I am walking because my brother cant walk," she says. And I am walking so that one day there will be a cure. And I know that the money that Ive raised isnt going to help my brother personally but I know it will help someone elses brother, someone elses husband, someone elses sister."

To learn more about how you can support Susan Starr and the MS Challenge Walk, contact the National Multiple Sclerosis Society at 1-800-883-WALK . To sponsor Susan Starr in her walk to beat MS, mail donations to: 169 Greenwood Ave., Jenkintown PA 19046 or email starsu@centennial.org.

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