Morganville Resident Gets Mucky to Help Create a World Free of MS

Shana Mecchi of Morganville understands all too well the pain and fear of being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. But she doesn't understand giving up.

Mecchi, who was diagnosed with MS in 2008, is raising awareness of the disease by participating in MuckRuckus Run on Aug. 18, where she will slip and slide through a muddy obstacle course to benefit the National MS Society.

"Shana was experiencing numbness in her extremities and went immediately for an MRIs and blood work," a news release said. "She was told that she could possibly have MS but she definitely had had a Vitamin B12 deficiency. As soon as she started injections of Vitamin B12 her symptoms went away and MS was never mentioned again."

Mecchi was diagnosed with a relapse of MS in 2011. Two months after giving birth to her baby boy in 2010, the left side of Mecchi's body went numb. 

“I am still capable of living my life how I used to, with a more caution to things like the sun and heat,” Mecchi said.  “My husband is a huge part of my positivity. He is always encouraging me and telling me I can do certain things, like the MuckRuckus run.”

Mecchi's team, Shan's Sharks, is hoping to raise $4,000 this year. For more information about or to register for MuckRuckus MS Northeast visit to MuckRuckusMS.org/Northeast.

This year's run is in West Orange.