Camden — People from Camden and surrounding communities are coming together Wednesday, April 27 for Walk MS, presented by Biogen Idec & Élan, to help individuals and families address the challenges of living with multiple sclerosis.

Organized by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the accessible route offers five mile and one mile options starting and finishing at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. Check-in opens at 9 a.m., and the official start is 10 a.m.

Walk MS is a fundraising event that provides MS education, support, advocacy, and services to people affected by multiple sclerosis, while it supports cutting-edge research and treatment to stop disease progression, restore function, and end MS forever. Each walker, 12 years old and above, is required to raise at least $25. T‑shirts are awarded for at least $100 in fundraising, but historically walkers easily average above $200.

Family members and co-workers are encouraged to form teams who walk and fundraise together in support of a loved one with MS. Teams and individual walkers can register online, walkMSgne.org, to take advantage of e‑fundraising tools. Registrations are also accepted by phone, 1-800-344-4867 opt. 2, and in-person on Walk day.

Volunteers are also needed. Send questions about walking, fundraising, or volunteering to walkMSgne@nmss.org.

Donations in support of walkers and teams may be made online, at walkMSgne.org. Click on ‘Donate’, select “Maine, Camden ‘Donate/ePledge’”, and enter the individual or team to support.

Of the many sponsors that make Walk MS possible each year, the most loyal and generous are Biogen Idec & Élan, EMD Serono & Pfizer, Bernie & Phyl’s Furniture, Data Associates, Patients Like Me, Camden Real Estate Company, Tim Hortons, Subway, Thorndike Creamery, Hole in the Walk Bagel, 3 Dog Café, Ducktrap, Irving, and Domino’s Pizza.

Additional Walk MS sites in Maine include April 27: Brunswick, Bangor/Brewer, Kennebunkport, Lewiston, Portland and Waterville; April 28: Augusta. Visit walkMSgne.org for details.

Multiple sclerosis interrupts the flow of information between brain and body and can stop people from moving forward in their lives. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS. MS is typically diagnosed between ages 20 and 50, but teenagers and even young children can have the disease. MS affects women nearly three times more often than men. There are more than 19,000 people with MS in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont; 400,000 cases in the U.S., and 2.1 million worldwide.