Multiple Sclerosis Society Walk MS receives $1 million from San Diego County Credit Union

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s San Diego-based Pacific South Coast Chapter will present two 2013 San Diego County Credit Union Walk MS events over the next two weekends.

San Diego County Credit Union (SDCCU), San Diego’s largest locally-owned financial institution, will return as title sponsor of the two Walk MS events. 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.

The two 2013 Walk MS events in San Diego, to be held on Sunday, April 21 and Saturday, April 27, will raise 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.

The first San Diego County Credit Union Walk MS will be held on Sunday morning, April 21 at the Legoland California Resort in Carlsbad. About 3,500 people are expected to walk a 1.5-mile route through Legoland, and help raise about $400,000 in donations. Check-in begins at 7 a.m. and the walk begins at 8 a.m. Legoland will be open only to Walk MS walkers during the fundraiser. At the conclusion of Walk MS, Legoland will open at its regularly scheduled time of 10 a.m., and all walkers will be invited to re-enter the theme park at a discounted admission price.

A second San Diego County Credit Union Walk MS will be held on Saturday morning, April 27, at NTC Park at Liberty Station in San Diego’s Point Loma. More than 4,000 people are expected to walk a three-mile route along San Diego Bay, and help raise about $475,000 in donations. Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. and the walk begins at 8:30 a.m.

Admission is free to attend both Walk MS events. There is no cost to be a walker. Registration information is available at www.MSWalk.com.

“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 Legoland drew 4,215 people and generated $425,519 in donations. Last year’s Walk MS at NTC Park 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.