THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY PICCOLA, WASHINGTON, STACK, FERLO, BAKER, LOGAN, ROBBINS, RAFFERTY, ERICKSON, FONTANA, WAUGH, BOSCOLA, GREENLEAF, FARNESE, O'PAKE, STOUT, DINNIMAN, FOLMER, M. WHITE, ALLOWAY, ORIE, SCARNATI, TOMLINSON, MELLOW, KASUNIC, TARTAGLIONE, PIPPY, WOZNIAK, GORDNER, EARLL, BROWNE, MUSTO, WARD, COSTA, WILLIAMS, WONDERLING, D. WHITE, PILEGGI AND LEACH, MARCH 11, 2009

INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, MARCH 11, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the month of March 2009 as "Multiple Sclerosis

Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, In its mission to end the devastating effects of

multiple sclerosis (MS) since its founding in 1946, the National

Multiple Sclerosis Society funds more research, provides more

services for people with MS, offers more professional education

programs and furthers more MS advocacy efforts than any other MS

organization in the world; and

WHEREAS, MS is a chronic and disabling disease of the central

nervous system in which the progression, severity and specific

symptoms cannot be foreseen; and

WHEREAS, Every hour of every day someone new is diagnosed

with MS, a disease that can erode a person's abilities and

hopes, halt a career and unravel the fabric of families; and

WHEREAS, Relying on the support of caring individuals,

businesses and foundations, the National MS Society strives to

improve the lives of more than 400,000 people nationwide, more

than 19,000 of whom make their home in Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, For 63 years, the National MS Society has provided

hope and help for Pennsylvanians with MS, hope through extensive

and promising national, international and local research

programs and help through client programs, which make daily life

better for people with MS and their families; and

WHEREAS, The goal of every National MS Society program is the

self-empowerment of the person living with MS; and

WHEREAS, Since 1946 the National MS Society has invested 460

million dollars to find the cure for MS; and

WHEREAS, This investment is paying off in significant

advances in treating MS, such as new medications, which may

reduce or delay future disability for people with MS; and

WHEREAS, While research advances have brought us closer to

finding the cure, much remains to be done, and services must

continue to be provided to persons living with MS; and

WHEREAS, The National MS Society is driven to serve the

constantly changing needs of persons with MS and their families

by extending essential services to all who need them; therefore

be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of March 2009

as "Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania in

recognition of 63 years that the National Multiple Sclerosis

Society has served people with multiple sclerosis.