Group Offers Support for Locals Affected by MS

Scott Shindledecker

Scott Shindledecker

Published October 29, 2017 4:24 am
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CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — The Clarion Area Multiple Sclerosis Support Group is back up and running, thanks to the efforts of Brenda Hilliard.

“I have been involved with MS efforts in the area for nearly 20 years and wanted to get the support group back to where it was,” Hilliard said.

Hilliard was instrumental in bringing the MS Walk to the Clarion area.

The group is for anyone with MS, as well as family members and caregivers, who need more information about MS.

The group meets the fourth Tuesday of every month at the First Presbyterian Church from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Meetings are confidential and free to attend.

The guest speaker at the November 28 meeting will be Andrea Paulden-Kroh, who will share information for people to protect themselves from identiy theft.

There will be no meeting in December due to Christmas, but meetings will resume in January.

The First Presbyterian Church is located at 700 Wood Street in Clarion.

The church is handicap accessible.

For more information, call Hilliard at 814-856-2611.

About Multiple Sclerosis

According to multiplesclerosis.net, the number of people with MS in the U.S. is estimated to be about 400,000, with approximately 10,000 new cases diagnosed every year.

MS is a disease that affects the central nervous system, which is comprised of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves.

Developing MS is not like catching a cold.  MS is a lifelong, incurable disease which affects people in many different ways. MS is a serious chronic, progressive disease which can vary in intensity from mild to severely disabling.

MS is much more common in females than males, about two to three times more common in relapsing-remitting MS.

MS can affect people of any age. However, it’s most commonly diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 50 years.

The average age when MS symptoms first appear is between the ages of 30 and 35 years. Researchers have found that MS affects different age groups differently. For instance, people who are diagnosed when they are 50 years or older typically have a more progressive disease course.

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