Students slipped on their walking shoes and shorts Saturday in the hopes of outrunning multiple sclerosis.

More than 150 students and members of the community gathered around Thompson Point to commence a 2.3-mile walk on a picture-perfect morning. Hosted by the Public Administration Student Organization, the walk’s goal was to raise at least $5,000 in the hopes of procuring a cure for MS. The group would end up raising nearly $11,000.

Keith Snavely, a professor of political science, assisted in organizing the first MS walk, which he hopes will become an annual event. Snavely was diagnosed with MS four years ago, though he first experienced symptoms in 1994.

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MS is a disease that attacks the central nervous system. Symptoms can be both mental and physical. While treatments are available, the disease has no cure.

“It is a nerve condition,” said Snavely, who uses both a cane and a scooter for mobility. “You lose flexibility in your arms and shoulders and your legs get weak and stiff.”

Participants all pledged a minimum of $10 and received T-shirts. All proceeds would go to the Gateway Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. A multitude of corporations and small businesses contributed to the walk: Allied Physicians ‘ Rehab, Southern Illinois Healthcare, Don Taco and Mary Lou’s Grill in Carbondale to name a few.

Shayla Leibovitz, a graduate student from Silvis studying public administration, said preparations for the walk began in October. The walk was to be in honor of Snavely, she said.

“This is the first year, so we are building everything from scratch,” Leibovitz said. “We’ve had excellent support from the community. Our main goal is to get the community involved and we hope people have a fun time – the bigger, the better.”

Leibovitz posted flyers on campus, sent out e-mails and used word of mouth to increase interest in the walk.

SIUC alumna Tiffany Heil is a volunteer development coordinator at the Gateway Chapter in St. Louis. She said researchers have made great strides in developing treatments for MS, but said the disease is quarrelsome because of its progressive nature.

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“(MS) affects every area of their lives,” Heil said. “Everyday activities become difficult … (Snavely) really opened my eyes to MS.”

Tom Heller, a junior from Petersburg studying international relations and business management, said he attended the walk in support of Snavely. Heller said his former neighbor was a victim of MS and said it is a distant disease many people may not understand. As to the 2.3-mile walk, Heller thought he’d manage fine.

“I’ve run it before,” he said. “But I was a healthy college student back then. Now I’m a college student, if you know what I mean.”

Though Snavely was unable to participate physically in the walk, his tireless efforts to organize the event and the inspiration he has given throngs of people through his experience, have proved invaluable.

“I used to enjoy running, hiking and biking,” Snavely said.

He added that drug companies are pouring plenty of money into research, but he believes a lot of that research is directed toward treatment, rather than a cure.

“But I think eventually they’ll have (a cure),” he said.

Tim McGovern can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 254 or [email protected].