Curley Finishes 11th In Race Up Hancock For National MS Society

A release from the National MS Society:

LYNNFIELD – On March 2nd, Lynnfield resident Patrick Curley completed his 10th straight annual “MS Climb to the Top” race up Boston’s John Hancock Tower (now known as 200 Clarendon Street). The Race is one of the biggest fundraisers for the National MS Society.

Patrick climbed 61 floors in just 10 minutes, 8 seconds, which earned him 11th place out of roughly 500 climbers.

The National MS Society launched the race in 2010 with just 143 climbers participating. “It requires a unique mindset to race up 1,200 steps in ten minutes or less,” said Patrick. “But it takes a passion for a cause to do that race ten years in a row, and for me, that cause is raising money to fight MS.”

Patrick said, “the first few floors, you are running on adrenaline, but by the 7th floor, your legs and your lungs are hurting and your brain is screaming at you to stop. It is the same feeling I felt during my days on the Dartmouth College lightweight crew team. Over the last few years, I recruited two of my old teammates to climb with me. We use that rowing experience today to climb stairs fast and raise money for the National MS Society. As an Elder Law Attorney, many of my clients have chronic illnesses, including MS, so no matter how miserable it feels climbing those stairs, I am privileged to race for this vital cause.”

Over the last decade, Patrick has helped raise thousands of dollars for the National MS Society. The five-person race team he captained this year was the fastest team up the Hancock with 3rd, 4th, 5th, 9th and 11th place finishes.

In addition to racing up the Hancock and other athletic fundraising events for MS research, Patrick volunteers his time on the Board of Directors of the Accelerated Cure Project, which is a national non-profit committed to accelerating better treatments and a cure for those living with MS.

Multiple Sclerosis is an unpredictable, chronic illness that impacts the central nervous system. In February 2019, scientists published a study in the journal Neurology establishing for the first time that the number of adults living with MS in the United States is 1 million, more than twice the previously reported number from a national study in 1975 and subsequent updates.

“This study tells us many things, but one thing in particular -- twice as many people need a cure,” said Cyndi Zagieboylo, President and CEO of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. “We must do more. We need to raise more money to fund more research; we need to fund the programs and services that help people with MS live their best lives; and we need to make sure the voices of people living with MS are heard and their rights to have quality, affordable health care are protected.”