Art auction benefits multiple sclerosis
More stories from Lukas Hagley
Proceeds from the art will benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Virginia-West Virginia Chapter.
Bringing together the fields of art and science has always proven lucrative. In this tradition and in honor of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month, Marshall’s Neurology department hosted an art auction to aid MS patients March 30. Held at Black Sheep Burrito and Brews, the auction raised funds to provide resources for people in need nationwide.
“Marshall Neurology is hosting an art auction to benefit the National MS Society and all proceeds to go them through our MS Walk Team,” said program administrator Cynthia Krantz. “We have over 400 patients in this area alone that come to us for treatment.”
Items up for auction are all made by local artists from the Tri-State area, including handcrafted bowls, eclectic painted works and framed photography.
“The MS Walk is April 9 and 10 in Huntington and Charleston and our department has its own Walk Team,” Krantz said. “To raise money for the National MS Society though our Walk Team, we decided to host an art auction as a department. We have all types of items, photography to recycled glass works.”
Raising awareness of MS and its myriad symptoms is only a small part of Marshall’s MS Clinic. According to Dr. Paul Ferguson M.D., the clinic is a steadily growing institution.
“We have a very large MS clinic which we started in 2013,” Ferguson said. “We’ve grown it quite a bit over the last few years. We’re very fortunate that we have a multi-disciplinary approach to our treatment, with a physical therapist, a clinical pharmacist and a nurse practitioner with specialty training.”
Providing awareness about the specificity of the condition, Ferguson noted MS is usually diagnosed in people between the ages of 20 and 40 and usually affects more women than men. Neurological symptoms can include physical weakness, vision impairment, loss of coordination, loss of sensation, even bladder and bowel trouble.
Lukas Hagley can be contacted at [email protected].
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