The kickoff event for the MS Cullman Walk will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Feb. 28, in the Col. Cullman Room at Cullman Regional Medical Center. A lasagna dinner will be served.

Guest speaker and local Cullman neurologist, Dr. Christopher LaGanke, will also be participating in Walk MS Cullman. Since 2007, Dr. LaGanke has raised more than $100,000 for the National MS Society.

“Dr. LaGanke has brought hope to many living with MS in this area,” said area coordinator of the North Alabama Region of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for the Alabama-Mississippi Chapters, Brandy B. Harm. “He created North Central Neurology Associates (in Cullman) in 1999 as a private practice clinic. Later, in an effort to better accommodate the unique needs of his MS patients, he also created the Joanne P. LaGanke MS Center, a National MS Society endorsed MS Center, as well,” said Harm.

“North Central Neurology is currently ranked number one in quality for the quantity of subjects involved in the research of MS medical trials in the Southeast. Dr. LaGanke has been, and continues to be a principal investigator in the world’s largest MS trials. He truly has a passion to find a cure for this devastating disease,” said Harm.

Dr. LaGanke and his team, the Joanne P. LaGanke MS Center Walk Team, comprised of more than 150 members, participated in the 2011 Walk MS Cullman. They will also be walking this year and will join more than 450 others in the Cullman area in an effort to raise more than $50,000 for MS Research.

“The 2012 Cullman Walk MS is sure to be tons of fun and an experience that you will never forget,” says Harm.

After the walk, the celebration continues with refreshments, announcements, awards, and entertainment, including a bounce house for the kids.

“We hope to see amazing attendance this year, so come join us to celebrate and support the 4,100+ Alabamians who are living with MS,” said Harm.

The annual Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Walk is scheduled for March 24. Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. The walk begins promptly at 10 a.m.

Registrants are asked to check in early, gather team members and warm up before the walk starts.

“People can join as individuals, join a team, or create a new team and help to support the fight against MS. Each step you take will bring us closer to fulfilling our mission — to create a world free of multiple sclerosis,” Harm explained.

This is a great way to volunteer in our community. “We are in need of volunteers to help set up, break down, serve refreshments and provide water along the route. If you would like to be a volunteer, please feel free to contact me,” urged Harm.

“We are excited about hosting our 2012 Cullman Walk MS event and bringing the rallying point of the MS movement to northern Alabama,” said Harm.

“We are setting a goal of $50,000 in total donations for 2012, which will include individual and team fundraising, paper shoe sales, and corporate sponsorship. The funds raised will be used in our chapter’s efforts to create a world free of MS through the support of ground-breaking multiple sclerosis research and local programs and services that address the needs of those living with MS,” she continued.

The nationwide annual MS Walk honors the lives of those living with multiple sclerosis by walking and becoming part of the rallying point of the MS movement.

“The money raised goes towards funding research,” explained Harm. “It also funds direct programs and services for individuals living with MS, which includes disaster relief for those affected by last spring’s devastating tornadoes, a kids’ camp for children whose families were affected and provides programs for caregivers of those with MS.”

MS, known as disseminated sclerosis or encephalomyelitis disseminata, is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of other signs and symptoms. Disease onset usually occurs in young adults, and it is more common in women.  

One such MS patient is Cullman’s Shelia M. Edwards, who was diagnosed in 2006 at the age of 43.

In a high-profile banking position, Edwards was in a stressful environment. She had suffered with migraine headaches for years, but her pain changed from one side of her head to the other. Then she began to have trouble with her eyes, or optic neuritis. She was also fatigued and had dizzy spells.

Sometimes she would fall for no reason.

“I had my suspicions,” said Edwards. “Dr. LaGanke had been treating me for migraines and he had always told me to note any change in them, so I had looked it up. Later he sent me for an MRI, which was in 3-D, and it showed the white spots which are characteristic of the disease.”

Edwards went on to describe MS. “Think of your nervous system as an electrical cord. With MS the immune system is in overdrive and it attacks the sheathing (covering) as if it were removing it and exposing the wiring.”

Depression soon followed Edward’s diagnosis. “It changes your whole life,” she said. “You can’t do most of the things you did normally.”

“It affects your cognitive thinking and you feel tired and worn out as if you had a bad backache,” she continued. “One of the hardest things about having this disease is that people don’t understand it because they can’t see it.”

Edwards is on the Joanne P. LaGanke MS Center Walk Team, and serves on the MS Walk committee.

Although much is known about the mechanisms involved in the disease process, the cause remains unknown. Theories include genetics or infections and environmental risk factors have also been found.  

Almost any neurological symptom can appear with the disease, and often progresses to physical and cognitive disability.

MS has several forms, with new symptoms occurring either in discrete attacks (relapsing forms) or slowly accumulating over time. Between attacks, symptoms may disappear completely, but permanent neurological problems often reoccur, especially as the disease advances. Treatments attempt to return function after an attack, prevent new attacks, and prevent disability.  

 

 

The Details

Walk Date: Saturday, March 24, 2012

Location: Heritage Park

Event Manager: Brandy Harm

For more information call: 256-777-3628 or email brandy.harm@nmss.org or www.walkms.org.

Support and fundraising

The Joanne P. LaGanke Support group meets at 6 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at North Central Neurology 1809 Kress NE Cullman in the conference room downstairs.

Bake Sale  

2/14/12

Time: 8 a.m.

CRMC -Ground Floor in front of Cafeteria

   

MS Walk Committee Meeting

2/17/12  

Conference Room- Dr. LaGanke office

Time: 1 p.m.

 

Support Group Meeting

2/20/12

Time: 6 p.m.

See information above for details

 

MS Walk Kick Off

2/28/12

Time: 5:30 to 7 p.m.

CRMC- Colonel Cullman Rm

RSVP to Brandy Harm at 256-232-3670