SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 50

(By Senators Stollings, Wells, Yost, Plymale, Snyder, Kessler (Mr. President), Unger, Carmichael, Prezioso, Laird, McCabe, Jenkins, D. Hall and Green)

Designating the week of March 3-9, 2014, as Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week.

    Whereas, Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease of the central nervous system, affecting 2.3 million people worldwide, and each hour someone is newly diagnosed; and

    Whereas, The National Multiple Sclerosis Society – Blue Ridge Chapter reports that in our state more than four thousand people are diagnosed with MS, and that the disease generally strikes people in the prime of life, between ages twenty through fifty, and causes unpredictable effects in which the progression, severity and specific symptoms cannot be foreseen, and the cause and cure for this often debilitating disease remain unknown; and

    Whereas, The National Multiple Sclerosis Society – Blue Ridge Chapter has been committed for more than thirty-three years to a world free of MS, heightening public knowledge about and insight into the disease; and

    Whereas, Since 1946, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society has been a driving force of MS research, relentlessly pursuing prevention, treatment and a cure and has invested more than $771 million in groundbreaking research; and

    Whereas, Funds raised through the National Multiple Sclerosis Society fuel the efforts of nearly three hundred twenty-five research projects globally, totaling $40 million annually, at the best medical centers, universities and other institutions throughout the United States and abroad, and because of this MS research has never been more hopeful than it is today; and

    Whereas, Discovering the cause, finding a cure and preventing future generations from being diagnosed with MS are important tasks that all Americans and West Virginians should support; and

    Whereas, The Senate recognizes the importance of finding the cause and cure of MS, a chronic and often devastating disease, and expresses its appreciation and admiration for the dedication that the National Multiple Sclerosis Society – Blue Ridge Chapter has shown toward a future free of multiple sclerosis; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Senate:

    That the Senate hereby designates the week of March 3-9, 2014, as Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Senate encourages everyone to “Go Orange” at the Capitol on March 6, 2014, in support of discovering the cause, finding a cure and preventing future generations from being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the representatives of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society – Blue Ridge Chapter.