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Walking at Eastwood Field for MS
By ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK
NILES
Eastwood Field was filled with people, but they weren’t there to watch a baseball game. Instead, they were walking to raise money and awareness.
Walk MS is an annual event hosted by the Ohio Buckeye Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Walks take place throughout the state every spring, said Scott Sherwood, event coordinator. The Mahoning Valley Walk has taken place for about 10 years, he added. “Everyone brings out their friends and family,” Sherwood said.
“People get excited for it.” About 400 people participated in Saturday’s event, which included a walk around the stadium, team photos and a snack at the finish line.
“It looks like it’s going to be a pretty successful year,” Sherwood said.
He expected the event to raise $30,000.
MS is a chronic disease that damages the spinal cord and brain nerves as well as the optic nerves. The Ohio Buckeye Chapter works to improve the quality of life for the more than 14,000 Ohioans and their families who are affected by MS.
Debbie Claybourne of Cortland was diagnosed with the disease 91/2 years ago. A group of supporters calling themselves “Team Debbie” raised money and spent Saturday walking with her.
“I want to try to help all of the people that have MS,” Claybourne said.
“The MS Society does a great thing with all of their donations. They not only contribute it to research, but they also help all of the people in the community that have MS.”
Before event day, Claybourne’s team raised $667.73. More was collected Saturday.
“I’m excited,” said Dana Petry of Cortland, a Team Debbie member. “The turnout is fabulous. I didn’t think it was going to be this amazing and this moving. It’s very moving to me, just seeing families bringing their children for such a great cause.”
Petry brought her daughter, Carmen Kennedy, 10, to the event. Claybourne baby-sits Carmen.
“Carmen is actually amazing,” Claybourne said. “She went door-to-door to get donations. She brought to me last night, in a bag, $67.73 that she raised strictly by herself.”
With tears in her eyes, Claybourne added, “I am so proud of her.”
“You did a great thing,” she told Carmen.
It was important to raise the money, Carmen said. She didn’t think she could raise that much by herself. However, she found people to be willing to help out when she explained what she was collecting for.
The day is about more than raising money and awareness, though, Claybourne said.
“It’s about the love that everybody has, and the compassion and the knowledge they have,” she said.