M’burg fourth grader raising money for multiple sclerosis research

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MECHANICSBURG – A Mechanicsburg girl walked recently to raise money for multiple sclerosis in honor of her father, who has the disease.

Ten-year-old Libby Scheiderer of Mechanicsburg walked in the Columbus Walk MS event April 9. She participated despite grueling wintry weather, with a proud smile as she displayed her “MS Sucks” team name. Libby is a fourth grader at Catholic Central, her mother, Julie, said.

Libby has taken part for two years in Camp Connect, a weekend camp hosted by the Ohio Buckeye Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for youths in grades 2-9 who either have MS or relatives have MS. Her involvement in the camp encouraged her to take it a step further and raise money for the cause.

Libby’s father, Mike, was diagnosed in 2001, Libby said.

Libby said she’s become accustomed to living with a person with MS, adding she lets her father do what he wants and needs to do in his own time.

“We let him take time to do something, let him choose when he wants to do something. We let him go down his own path,” she said.

The Columbus walk raised funds for local programs, services and medical research. It was open to anyone, including those with mobility challenges.

Multiple sclerosis is an often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information between the brain and other parts of the body. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. Most people with the disease are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, and women are two to three times more likely than men to be diagnosed. Multiple sclerosis affects more than 2.3 million people worldwide. More than 20,000 Ohioans are affected by the disease, according to the National MS Society.

Libby said she had fun doing the walk and raised $473, which was $348 more than her $125 goal. The overall goal for the walk was $320,000, she said.

“It was really fun,” she said. “But it was really cold.”

Libby said she’d like to do the walk again. When she’s not walking or helping at home, she is active with gymnastics and plays guitar, among other hobbies.

For more information about multiple sclerosis or the Walk MS event, visit MSohiowalk.org or www.nationalmssociety.org. Donations for the walk and for Libby’s team are being accepted until June 17 at MSohiowalk.org.

Mechanicsburg resident Libby Scheiderer participated in the Columbus Walk MS on April 9 in honor of her father, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 15 years ago.
https://www.urbanacitizen.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/36/2016/04/web1_Scheiderer.jpgMechanicsburg resident Libby Scheiderer participated in the Columbus Walk MS on April 9 in honor of her father, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 15 years ago. Submitted photo

By Casey S. Elliott

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Casey S. Elliott may be reached at 937-652-1331 ext. 1772 or on Twitter @UDCElliott.

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