Northern Kentucky University’s students and staff banded together in an effort to strike out Multiple Sclerosis in the most unusual way. On Nov. 5, they partook in the annual event called Strike Out MS Bowl-A-Thon at Southern Lanes in Alexandria, Kentucky.

The event was a major fundraiser to support the fight against multiple sclerosis, a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord resulting in loss of muscle control, vision and balance. One important function of this event was to educate people about the disease.

Over the past six years, NKU’s Student Alumni Association has sponsored the bowl-a-thon. SAA advisor Carol Beirne stated that it was nice to see faculty as well as students at the event. During the actual bowl-a-thon students and the general public competed in teams of four. Each team would play two games then add up the total, for each person on the team as well as the whole team itself. Four awards were given out at this event in order to spark the competition. The awards were best female, best male, best team and then best co-ed team.

‘It was a very creative way to help people with this certain disease,’ Said NKU Sophomore Courtney Lee.

At this event laughter and bonding was the cure for that day. ‘It was awesome to see so many people come together in order to help others,’ Said NKU Sophomore Jessica Polaski.

According to CureReasearch.com, there is an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 cases of MS in the United States. Along with various sponsorships as well as all of the teams registration fees, over $200 was raised to help fight MS. NKU Senior Alicia Morris said, ‘I had so much fun rasing money with all of my friends.’

‘I really feel that this a major first step in the fight against this disease,’ Polaski said. ‘I know there will be a day when a cure will be found.’

This event is just the first of many MS events around the greater Cincinnati area. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society sponsors three other major events. Bike MS, Walk MS, as well as Challenge Walk MS is designed to get the Cincinnati area involved in the fight.

For more information on these Multiple Sclerosis events or curiosity about volunteering, visit National Multiple Sclerosis Society at http://www.nationalmssociety.org/index.aspx.