Press Release Archives #200-97 Ninth Annual Walk for Multiple Sclerosis

Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: April 20 1997

Release #200-97

CONTACT: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958 or Brenda Perez (212) 788-3256

MAYOR GIULIANI CUTS RIBBON AT THE NINTH ANNUAL WALK FOR MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

MS Walk Hopes to Raise One Million Dollars To Fight Multiple Sclerosis

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today helped members of the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society to kick off the Ninth Annual MS Walk in New York City. The Mayor was joined by nearly 7,000 walkers, including Zoe Koplowitz, an MS patient and nine-time finisher of the New York City Marathon, and Terri Berringer, an MS patient who raised $7,000 last year and wrote a letter inviting all past participants to walk again in 1997.

Following the ribbon cutting ceremony at the World Trade Center Plaza, Mayor Giuliani led the countdown to start the MS Walk, whose goal this year is to raise $1 million to help the fight against MS. Last year, the MS Walk raised $970,000.

"It is an honor to share this day with such heroes as Terri Berringer, who has MS and raised $7,000 in last year's MS Walk, and Zoe Koplowitz who, despite her MS, has finished the New York City Marathon nine times and has done it on crutches, taking up to 29 hours to complete the run," said Mayor Giuliani. "That kind of courage and determination should motivate all of us to keep moving forward in the quest to eradicate this devastating disease. I want to thank everyone who contributed their time and effort to make the MS Walk a success."

Participants in the MS Walk have a choice of a 12.5, 7.5, or 2.5 mile route. All walkers will travel through Greenwich Village, SoHo, Tribeca, Chinatown, Little Italy, the South Street Seaport, Battery Park, Battery Park City, and other communities. Those who choose the 12.5 mile course will cross the Brooklyn Bridge and follow the Brooklyn Heights Promenade before returning to the World Trade Center.