Letter to Editor

March 2, 2009

I live in the Carrollton, OH area and I am raising awareness for multiple sclerosis. No one has chosen to live with MS, it has chosen us and we do choose to fight it. I am asking that you join me in the fight against MS, now during MS Awareness Month, and throughout the year to make sure the voices of everyone connected to MS are being heard.

March 2, I took the initiative to attend the Carroll County Commissioners meeting and made them aware of this. In their return they have chosen to accept the proclamation I constructed and recognized Carroll County, being one of the 88 counties in Ohio, that March is MS Awareness Month in the State of Ohio as signed into law by former Governor Robert Taft on March 2, 2006.

Our bodies are in constant motion - moving information from the brain to the body. MS stops people from moving by attacking the myelin that protects normal nerve tissue. The damage keeps people from moving smoothly, both inside and out. Many have trouble imagining what their lives would be without the ability to move, but I know the effects of MS as I have MS.

If you have multiple sclerosis, if you know someone who has MS, or if you want to help the 18,000 Ohioans who battle the disease every day, I ask for your help in raising awareness. We fight MS because this is a battle we can, and should win. We fight MS right now so that future generations won't have to.

If you know someone who has MS call them on the phone or just stop by for a visit and see how they are doing and show your support. To borrow a famous old company slogan from AT&T "Reach out and touch someone", you may just make a difference in their life.

Information on MS and awareness events can be located at the National Multiple Sclerosis, Ohio Buckeye Chapter, website at http://www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/OH.

Signed,

Edward L. Hale

Carrollton, OH