Get out your walking shoes, because on Sunday, April 21, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Long Island Chapter will proudly host its annual MS Walk on the grounds of the beautiful Old Westbury Gardens. This idyllic site is just one of five being offered this year in Nassau and Suffolk counties, and is open to individuals of all ages who want to help make a difference in the fight against multiple sclerosis (MS), a devastating neurological disease that typically strikes young adults between 20 and 40 years of age.

The MS Walk is the signature fundraising event of the National MS Society and takes place in more than 700 cities across the country. Funds raised through the MS Walk help to support ongoing MS research as well as a multitude of quality-of-life programs and services for people with MS and their families. Here on Long Island, the National MS Society offers upwards of 60 programs throughout Nassau and Suffolk that help people with MS lead productive and fulfilling lives.

"Taking part in the MS Walk is easy and you can register as an individual walker or, better yet, rally together friends, family, and co-workers to form your own MS Walk Team", stated a spokesperson for the MS Society. "TeamMS is the most popular way to join the MS Walk because it allows you to experience this unforgettable day with others. Last year, more than half of all MS Walk participants came out as part of TeamMS!" To learn more about the MS Walk, or to register, call the Long Island Chapter at 631-864-8337 or log onto www.nationalmssociety.org.

Multiple sclerosis is diagnosed in almost 200 people each week and can cause unpredictable symptoms such as blurred vision, loss of balance, poor coordination, slurred speech, tremors, numbness, extreme fatigue, cognitive difficulty, paralysis and even blindness. The National MS Society spends more money on MS research and serves more people affected by MS than any other national voluntary MS organization in the world.