Norcross Business Celebrates 21 Years for Walk MS

Local Norcross business has invited members of the community to walk with them Saturday, April 14, in the 22nd annual Walk MS: Georgia 2012 to raise funds for multiple sclerosis.

Run by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the walk aims to financially assist MS research of understanding the disease, developing treatment and finding new rehabilitation methods, according to a press release.

For those unfamiliar with MS, it's a disease of the central nervous system that is unpredictable and oftentimes disabling. Symptoms can lead to numbness, blindness and paralysis. 

Chuck Paul, president of A Closer look, is asking the community to walk with him and to donate funds for the great cause. This year marks A Closer Look's 21st year in the walk, and its goal is to raise $21,000.

"There are so many others that live and deal with this disease day in and day out," he wrote on his team's Walk MS page.

Paul and his team were actually the top fundraiser for the entire state in last year's walk. He estimates that his team of walkers and donors have raised more than $150,000 for the MS cause.

Paul explained that he initially started walking for MS because he had been diagnosed with it. It turned out, though, that he was actually misdiagnosed.

"I thought I had MS for five years," said Paul. He explained that he went to another neurologist who believed Paul had had a small stroke instead.

Paul still walks for a personal cause, though: His fraternity brother is battling MS and is now a quadriplegic.

The walk is about 2 to 3 miles at Piedmont Park and will take place 10 a.m. Saturday, April 14. To donate or sign up for the walk, check out A Closer Look's Walk MS page or call 1-800-344-4867. For more information, see the FAQ page for Walk MS.