Dear Editor,

n 2006, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). When diagnosed, I did not know what MS was. Others, along with myself, experience the various challenges of MS. No one has chosen to live with MS, it has chosen us.

Every hour, someone is diagnosed with MS, a chronic disease of the central nervous system for which there is no cure. MS interrupts the flow of information between the brain and the body. A few of the impacts of someone with MS could be one or more of these experiences however, there are numerous others. An individual may experience continuous headaches, difficulty with vision, standing or walking balance, slurred speech, and can even stop people from moving.

According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, MS affects more than one million children and adults in the United States. To this day, there is no cure; however, the National Multiple Sclerosis and other major organizations are actively working toward finding one.

Since 2006, I have been moving forward, becoming more educated regarding MS and active in MS awareness by becoming a Carroll County MS activist through the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Ohio Buckeye Chapter.

I have come to know several residents here in Carroll County with MS. Each person shared with me their different challenges. I have been advocating for others and myself by sending correspondences to state representatives regarding costly medications and financial matters involving these numerous medications and research funding. However, I have not stopped there.

Now, if this was not enough, I will be attending in person the Carroll County (March 3), Belmont and Stark County (March 5), Jefferson County (March 6), and Holmes County (March 10) Board of County Commissioners meetings this year, advocating with them to recognize the month of March as Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month in Ohio, as signed into Ohio Law in 2006. In the previous years, I have attended Carroll, Columbiana, Harrison, and Tuscarawas County Board of Commissioners advocating MS awareness.

To continue moving forward in the future, I aim to expand this by attending all eighty-eight counties in the State of Ohio throughout my life, bringing further awareness. I invite anyone with MS from these counties I am attending this year to join me and witness such an event, letting your voice be heard.

Edward L. Hale

Carrollton