County raises $4,200 for carnation campaign

Volunteer Susan Eastbury among the many volunteers who braved the cold and wind to sell carnations for the PEC MS chapter.

County residents and visitors helped raised $4,200 for the Prince Edward Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society through this year’s Carnation Fund Raising Campaign.
“Our thanks go out to the many people who supported us with their very generous donations,” said Fiona Patton, campaign co-ordinator.

Many Canadians living with multiple sclerosis are mothers. Others, either children or adults, have mothers affected by this disease because women are diagnosed with MS three times as often as men. That’s why every year the MS Carnation Campaign takes place over Mother’s Day weekend.

For people living with multiple sclerosis the “cure” means different things to different people. For people who have just been diagnosed, the cure will stop MS in its tracks. For people who have lived with MS and have experienced loss of mobility and other serious impairments, the cure means repair of the nervous system and recovery of lost functions.

The research funded by the MS Society is to find a cure for MS, to protect the nervous system, repair damage caused by MS, and to improve monitoring and management of the disease.

“With everyone’s help and dedication, we managed to raise over $4,200 this year, despite the dreadful weather, to help those battling MS in our community,” said Patton.

She noted special thanks due to the students and staff of Athol/South Marysburgh school and to Ms. Moon, her class, and the students and staff of PECI.

“Extra special thanks are due our many dedicated volunteers, both veterans and new recruits, who sold in cold and wind, again, without whom our campaign would not be possible. And extra, extra, special thanks go out to Monty Kellar and Gail Ellsworth for their years of hard work above and beyond.”

Sales were held at the Beer Store, Metro, Pharma Plus, and the Victory Archives in Picton. Whattam  Funeral Home donated space to house the flowers over the weekend and “We especially have to thank Flowers N Such who provided the most beautiful single carnations we’ve ever had.”