Local Haggen Food & Pharmacy stores are encouraging the public to join them in supporting Walk MS, the largest annual fundraiser of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Haggen Food & Pharmacy and TOP Food & Drug stores are presenting sponsors of Walk MS, which will be conducted by the MS Society’s Greater Northwest Chapter on April 2-3 at eight sites throughout Washington. MS Society supporters may choose to walk 3 or 4 miles at the site closest to them and seek donation pledges. They can participate as individuals, join a team or start a team. The public also can support walkers by making donations in their name at www.WalkMSnorthwest.org.
Haggen and TOP Food stores are again matching a portion of the donations raised by employees who are participating in Walk MS. Stores, employees and customers already have raised nearly $67,000 this year through $1 sales of MS “feet,” fundraising events at stores and sales of T-shirts and reusable bags. Haggen and TOP Food stores have raised nearly $400,000 since 2004 for the MS Society’s Greater Northwest Chapter.
The chapter serves 12,000 people living with MS in Western and Central Washington, Montana and Alaska. Walk MS donations also fund research to find a cause and cure for the disease.
More than a fundraiser, Walk MS is a celebration of hope and moving forward. Participants will enjoy breakfast and lunch, live music along the walk, face painting, entertainment for children, awards and much more.
Walk MS events are scheduled at the following locations (registration at 8:30 a.m., program at 9 a.m. and walk at 9:30 a.m. for each location):
- Saturday, April 2, Bainbridge High School, Bainbridge Island (three miles).
- Saturday, April 2, Barkley Village, Bellingham (three miles).
- Saturday, April 2, Columbia Park, Kennewick (four miles).
- Saturday, April 2, Horizons Elementary School, Lacey (four miles).
- Saturday, April 2, Fort Steilacoom Park, Lakewood (three miles).
- Saturday, April 2, Klahowya Secondary School, Silverdale (three miles).
- Saturday, April 2, Tulalip Amphitheatre, Tulalip (three miles).
- Sunday, April 3, Husky Stadium, Seattle (four miles).
For more information, visit www.WalkMSnorthwest.org.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system, which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from one person to another.
Haggen, Inc. operates 29 supermarkets in Washington and Oregon under the Haggen Food & Pharmacy and TOP Food & Drug names. Headquartered in Bellingham, it is the largest independent grocer based in the State of Washington. For more information, visit www.Haggen.com and www.Top-Foods.com.
