Medford Sun

By AUBRIE GEORGE | The Medford Sun
This spring, local residents have a chance to contribute to an effort toward a world free of multiple sclerosis.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society has chosen Medford Lakes as the newest location of the MS Walk Campaign, and residents and volunteers can begin signing up now to participate in the April 25 event.
Shannon Walsh-Bacchus, the Medford Lakes Community Coordinator for the MS Walk Campaign, said the event is a celebration for the MS Walk fund-raising campaign. Participants sign up now as individuals or as a team and begin fund-raising until Sunday, April 25 when there are a number of walks going on throughout the U.S.
In Medford Lakes, Walsh-Bacchus said there would be a 2.7-mile walk that begins at Vaughan Hall and winds through the borough’s scenic trails.
Walsh-Bacchus said the major goal of the campaign and event is to raise both funds and awareness about multiple sclerosis.
Walsh-Bacchus, whose husband suffers from the disease, said all of the people who have the disease as well as their families are what drive this campaign.
Walsh-Bacchus said she hopes to create a community-wide, annual event for Medford Lakes as well as residents from surrounding communities who are encouraged to participate.
Ultimately, she said, all of the funds raised during the campaign support and increase opportunities for those currently living with multiple sclerosis. The funds also go toward research to search for a cure.
Walsh-Bacchus said her family has been participating in the MS walk for about eight years and has had to travel to other locations in order to participate.  She decided to get the MS Society to approve a walk in Medford Lakes so that it could be something that local residents could participate in.
She began by contacting the MS Society about eight months ago and met an MS Society director at a local event who helped her out as well.
“Through her connections I was able to talk to somebody else and then we just had a lot of exchanges back and forth,” Walsh-Bacchus said. “I convinced them this is a great place to have a walk, not only for us, but also for the participants because it’s a nice scenic area, it’s safe, it’s wheelchair accessible.”
From there, Walsh-Bacchus invited two directors to visit Medford Lakes to tour of the borough.
“The just fell in love with it,” she said.
The springtime event will not just be a walk, there will also be entertainment, food and other activities.
Walsh-Bacchus said no matter what capacity a person has, there would be something at the event for everyone to participate in.
“Whether you have MS, whether you don’t have MS, whatever your abilities are, whatever your age is, you can come and you can participate,” Walsh-Bacchus said. “If there are folks who can’t do the whole walk, it doesn’t matter.  They can still come and there are still activities. It’s still a fun day for everybody.”
To make the event possible, Walsh-Bacchus is encouraging and promoting volunteerism, because, she said, the event relies heavily on volunteers.
“The nice part about the walk is that it’s completely supported by volunteers,” Walsh-Bacchus said. “Not only volunteers to help the day of the walk, but volunteers to help with financially supporting the walk.”
Local businesses, she said, have the opportunity to donate funds or services and in return will be recognized by the National MS Society with mention on its Web site.
“Each and every person can make a difference whether it’s volunteering your time, volunteering your energy, volunteering financial support,” She said. “Every single contribution makes a difference.”
Residents and businesses interested in volunteering to help with the event or donating services can contact Shannon Walsh-Bacchus at (609) 668-2247 or e-mail her at  dannyzm@verizon.net.
Residents can also check out the walk’s Facebook page, MS Walk 2010 Medford Lakes, for updates, discussion and meeting dates.  On the Facebook page, there is a link leading to the Medford Lakes Walk Web site.
Residents can also visit,              www.walkpae.nationalmssociety.org or  www.nationalmssociety.org for more information about registering as a team and participating in the fund-raising campaign.

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