By Staff Writer, Royze Adolfo

Take a tight elastic band and wrap it around your midsection. The resulting sensation should be a simulated tightening of the gut.
Wear excessively tight rubber gloves and imagine the numbness and subtle tingles down your fingers.
Put on some ankle and wrist weights and feel the heaviness.

 Envision the fatigue.
Now, tie a tight stretch cord from your wrists to your waist and feel the tightness in your muscles as you lift your arms to do a task.
And finally, wear inline skates on one foot and high heels on the other and take a stroll.
How’s the balance?
Surprisingly, this is life for many people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
 Nearly one million Americans suffer from this disorder, but only about 400,000 acknowledge

 that they have it and receive treatment.
On Sunday, Apr. 22, Hoover’s American Cancer Society Youth group will be participating in the annual Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Walk at the Pasadena Rose Bowl to spread awareness about this disorder.

“I feel like I am serving a greater purpose and I like getting involved,” Madlena Nalbandian (’08) said.

Multiple Sclerosis is a disorder that affects the central nervous system, which controls the body’s functions and activities. Some of the symptoms include blurred vision, loss of muscle strength and coordination, numbness, and tremors—all of which inhibit many from living a normal life.

            According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, every mile walked at this event means more money fund-raised for MS awareness. Collected funds will be allocated to various research, local and national programs, support groups and other events advocating MS awareness in communities.

            The American Cancer Society Youth chapter is again enthused at partaking in yet another “momentous and meaningful event,” Renee Isagholian (’07) said.

            This community service activity and fundraising event is one of the new annual events ACS Youth is involved in. It is open to all students and registration information can be found in Ms. Vargas’s Room (221).

            Similar to ACS Youth’s participation in Relay for Life, Daffodil Days, and protests for propositions against smoking, their mission is to spread awareness for a variety of causes and promote school-wide collaboration through service learning.