National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s San Diego County Credit Union Walk MS at Liberty Station on Saturday, April 27

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s San Diego-based Pacific South Coast Chapter will present its 2013 San Diego County Credit Union Walk MS on Saturday morning, April 27, at NTC Park at Liberty Station, 2750 Womble Road in San Diego’s Point Loma community. About 4,000 people are expected to walk a three-mile route along San Diego Bay. Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. and the walk begins at 8:30 a.m. Admission is free to attend. There is no cost to be a walker. Registration information is available at MSWalk.com.

Walk MS is expected to raise $575,000 in donations to benefit research and services and programs for people with MS, a chronic, unpredictable and disabling neurological disease of the central nervous system with no known cause, cure or prevention.

San Diego County Credit Union (SDCCU), San Diego’s largest locally-owned financial institution, has returned as title sponsor of 2013 Walk MS. It will be the 12th consecutive year that SDCCU has served as title sponsor. SDCCU has supported the National MS Society’s Walk MS for the past 15 years, and has served as title sponsor since 2002. Over the years, SDCCU’s sponsorship support for Walk MS has exceeded $1 million, according to the National MS Society.

“We are proud to participate in such inspirational Walk MS events that celebrate the power of a community coming together in a movement toward a world free of multiple sclerosis,” said Teresa Halleck, SDCCU president/CEO. “Team SDCCU, a group made up of volunteer employees, customers and friends, are excited and ready to lace-up our walking shoes and step out in the fight against MS.”

Presenting sponsors of 2013 San Diego County Credit Union Walk MS will include NBC7 San Diego, KyXy 96.5, Energy 103.7 and Legoland California Resort. Platinum sponsors include Coca-Cola, Papa John’s, Souplantation, Langers Juice and Pure Protein. Gold sponsors include Clear Channel Ourdoor, CBS Outdoor, KPBS and MedMedia Healthcare Network.

Now in its 23rd year in San Diego, Walk MS is known for drawing a large number of teams representing businesses, neighborhoods, clubs, community groups, churches and family members and friends of a person with MS. Many teams come up with a team name and outfit their members with costumes, including T-shirts, hats or balloons. All it takes is four or more people to form a team. Free snacks and beverages will be provided to walkers, plus live music and a festive finish line celebration. Walkers will have the opportunity to earn prizes, including t-shirts, movie tickets and gift cards, based on the amount of donations they collect.

In 2012, Walk MS at Liberty Station drew 4,420 people who helped raise $465,725 in donations.

MS, a chronic, unpredictable and disabling neurological disease of the central nervous system with no known cause, cure or prevention, is the most common neurological disease affecting young‑ to middle‑aged adults. Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50. More than twice as many women as men have MS. There is no known cause, cure or prevention. Symptoms cannot be predicted and can vary greatly, ranging from numbness in the limbs and extreme fatigue to loss of balance and muscle coordination or paralysis.