1Recognizing the importance of finding the cause and cure for
2multiple sclerosis; expressing appreciation to the
3Pennsylvania chapters of the National Multiple Sclerosis
4Society for their work; and recognizing the week of March 3
5through 9, 2014, as "Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week" in
6Pennsylvania.

7WHEREAS, Multiple sclerosis is a neurological disease of the
8central nervous system, affecting an estimated 400,000
9Americans, and nearly 200 new cases of multiple sclerosis are
10being diagnosed each week nationwide; and

11WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania chapters of the National Multiple
12Sclerosis Society (NMSS) report that in this Commonwealth more
13than 19,000 people are affected by this devastating disease, the
14fifth highest incident rate in the country; and

15WHEREAS, Multiple sclerosis generally strikes young adults 20
16through 50 years of age, attacking them in the prime of their
17lives, and some of these young adults diagnosed with multiple
18sclerosis experience tremendous suffering and pain, leading to
19total paralysis in some cases, and the cause and cure for this

1debilitating disease remain unknown; and

2WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania chapters of the National Multiple
3Sclerosis Society have been committed throughout the years to
4heightening public knowledge and insight about this devastating
5and crippling disease, and the chapters are currently planning
6several major Statewide fundraisers and educational programs and
7are providing direct services in order to raise awareness about
8the effects of multiple sclerosis; and

9WHEREAS, Finding the cause and developing a method of
10prevention for multiple sclerosis is an important task that all
11citizens of this Commonwealth should support; therefore be it

12RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the importance of finding
13the cause and cure for multiple sclerosis, a terribly perplexing
14and painful disease which affects hundreds of thousands of
15Americans, including many citizens of this Commonwealth; and be
16it further

17RESOLVED, That the Senate express its appreciation and
18admiration for the major work that the National Multiple
19Sclerosis Society has done over the years to heighten the
20public's knowledge and insight about this debilitating disease;
21and be it further

22RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the week of March 3
23through 9, 2014, as "Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week" in
24Pennsylvania and encourage the citizens of this great State to
25join in the fight to end this devastating disease.