Clay Walker Donates $25,000 to Multiple Sclerosis Research

The Vanderbilt University Medical Center recently received a $25,000 donation from Clay Walker and his non-profit organization, Band Against Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, in order to fund Multiple Sclerosis research.

According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, approximately 400,000 individuals in the United States are affected by Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and approximately 200 new cases of MS are diagnosed each week in this country.

Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disorder in which the central nervous system attacks itself, destroying the myelin that surrounds nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. Myelin is a substance that both protects nerve fibers from damage and allows nerve impulses to be transmitted to and from the brain. As the myelin on nerve fibers in the central nervous system are destroyed, nerve impulses have difficulty getting to and from the brain, which causes the symptoms of MS.

Symptoms of MS frequently vary from person to person and from time to time in each individual as well. Symptoms of MS can include, but are not limited to: vision problems, coordination difficulties, walking and balance problems, bladder and/or bowel incontinence, difficulty with memory, problem-solving and/or focusing, fatigue, depression, spasticity, pain, a "pins and needles" or numbness sensation, dizziness, and/or sexual dysfunction.

Clay Walker is no stranger to MS, as he was diagnosed as having relapsing-remitting MS in 1996. Walker has been a successful country music star, despite his battle with MS. To date, he has sold over eight million albums and has had 11 singles hit #1 on the charts. He has released 10 albums, four of which have been certified platinum. His most recent album, Fall, was released in April, 2007.

Walker founded the Band Against MS Foundation in 2003 with the hopes of raising awareness about MS. His non-profit organization also seeks to provide information and resources to individuals who suffer with MS and to fund MS research. Additionally, Band Against Multiple Sclerosis provides funding for assistance programs to aid individuals battling MS.