KATE STEVENSON
Observer-Dispatch

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that people rally against, whether it be through fund-raising walks or awareness campaigns, said Sarah Fedele, the special events manager for the National MS Society's Upstate New York chapter.

"It's basically something that hits someone in the prime of their life and I think people can really relate to that," said Fedele, one of the coordinators of fund-raising walks taking place statewide Sunday. "People are just starting off in their career, starting a family and they're diagnosed with MS."

Diagnoses of this chronic disease of the central nervous system usually occur between the ages of 20 and 50. New Hartford resident Traci Buffington was diagnosed about 12 years ago, while a junior at SUNY New Paltz.

"I started getting these symptoms I couldn't ignore," said Buffington, now 32. "My mouth wasn't working, I couldn't swallow, I was drooling, choking on my drool and then one day I just couldn't get out of bed."

Buffington's boyfriend at the time, now her husband, persuaded her to go to the hospital. Even after the diagnosis, she says she didn't fully understand what was happening to her.

"I just thought I could take medicine and be done with it," Buffington said. "It's definitely not going away. It's just getting worse."

About 9,000 walkers are expected at 20 walk sites across Upstate New York Sunday, all with the goal of raising money to support research, health services and advocacy, Fedele said. Funds will be raised through pledges.

Last year, the Utica-area walk alone raised about $26,000 and this year that goal is up to $40,000, Fedele said. Statewide last year, walkers raised more than $900,000, she added.

"This year our goal is a million-dollar walk," Fedele said. "I think that's definitely attainable."

Buffington said her family plans to attend the walk, but said she'll probably just be a cheerleader because walking is sometimes nearly impossible, and fatigue hits often. The worst symptoms, she says, are bladder and bowel incontinence, which limits her ability to leave the house.

"Until about five years ago, if you looked at me you would never know there was something wrong with me," Buffington said. "Now, it's painfully obvious there's something wrong with me. I'm still a young person but I feel like an old lady, physically."

Her husband, Andrew, said dealing with the diagnosis at such a young age was extremely difficult.

"You're just not equipped for anything like that when you're that young," he said. "You're just a stupid college kid, trying to figure out who you are. My first reaction was, 'Should I run?' But I love her, so I obviously didn't."

For more information, or to register to walk, call (800) FIGHT-MS or visit www.msupstateny.org.