Making strides against multiple sclerosis

Jennifer K Mahal

Both walk for family members -- one for a sister now in a wheelchair from

multiple sclerosis, one for a father who died from its complications. The

neurological disease invaded the lives of Tracy Zuber and Lisa Karos.

Now both women hope to help in the search for a cure by participating

Sunday in MS Walk 2000, a walkathon fund-raiser in Huntington Beach for

the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Zuber can remember when her sister, Spring, was a vibrantly healthy

woman. Five years ago, after the birth of her son, Spring was diagnosed

with multiple sclerosis. Now 29, her health has changed drastically. She

is wheelchair-bound and losing her eyesight, Zuber said.

“This is the little sister who used to run after me,” said the Fountain

Valley resident. “It’s a heartbreaker. I hate the thought that she’s like

this.”

With Spring living in Ohio, Zuber does little things to help her. It is

hard for Spring to go shopping because of her disability, so her big

sister pitches in.

“I have her send me lists of makeup and stuff,” Zuber said. “Her husband

can just do so much.”

This is the first year Zuber plans to walk in the event. It’s not easy

for her. The 38-year-old woman has pins in her heels from an accident in

1995 that severed her Achilles tendon and had her in a wheelchair for

nearly a year.

“Mine compared to hers is nothing,” said Zuber, who admires her sister’s

independence and grit.

Zuber plans to do the walk with her husband, Rick.

Karos has not participated in a multiple sclerosis walk since her father

died two years ago from complications stemming from the disease.

Diagnosed in 1970, Karos’ father had to give up a thriving career at Ford

Motor Co. because of the disease.

“He knew in his early 20s that something was wrong,” Karos said. “He had

little symptoms.”

Karos spent her childhood with her father at home, watching the disease

slowly progress.

“Dad was one of the most wonderful people. Everyone loved him,” said

Karos, 40. “It just destroyed his life.”

At the end, Karos’ father was in a nursing home, unable to walk.

“His quality of life was not what it was supposed to be,” she said.

Karos, a Huntington Beach real estate agent, hopes the money raised by

the event will not only help find a cure for multiple sclerosis but will

also give families more information on the mysterious disease.

“I would have done anything for my father’s life to be better,” Karos

said.

Most of the money raised by the walk, 60%, will go to programs at the

Orange County chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, said

Laura Houston, chapter programs coordinator. The other 40% will go toward

national research. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society spent $22.5

million on research in 1999, said Carolina Cormac, chapter communications

manager. Walks are also being held over the weekend in Laguna Niguel and

Orange.

The Orange County chapter offers support groups, exercise programs,

information referral, medical and equipment assistance, and family events

for people dealing with the disease. An estimated 3,000 people in Orange

County live with multiple sclerosis.

FYI

MS WALK 2000

WHERE: Bolsa Chica State Beach, Pacific Coast Highway and Warner Avenue,

Huntington Beach

WHAT: Fund-raiser walkathon for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

There will be a 5K and a 15K walk.

WHEN: Sunday. Registration starts at 7 a.m. The walk starts at 8:30 a.m.

MISC.: Parking at the state beach is $7. There is no entry fee, but a

minimum donation of $25 is suggested. Donations of $75 or more earn a

T-shirt.

CALL: (800) FIGHT-MS or (949) 752-1680