‘Race to erase’ multiple sclerosis begins anuual meet at UCLA tomorrow
By Daily Bruin Staff
May 30, 1996 9:00 p.m.
Friday, May 31, 1996
Celebrity fundraiser aims to speed efforts at discovering cureBy
Rachel Kelley
Daily Bruin Contributor
The Fourth Annual Race To Erase MS, a fundraiser for multiple
sclerosis featuring numerous professional athletes and celebrities,
will kick off Saturday at 9 a.m. at Drake Stadium.
The purpose of this sporting event is to raise money and promote
public awareness of the disease, said Nancy Davis, the event
organizer and UCLA alumna who has been diagnosed with multiple
sclerosis (MS).
The competition is closely modeled after "Battle of the Network
Stars" and will feature stars Shaquille O’Neal, Muhammed Ali and
Natalie Cole, who will sing the national anthem during the opening
ceremony.
Reminiscent of the Olympics, the event will include relays and
obstacle courses in which teams comprised of one celebrity, one
athlete and five amateur athletes will compete for medals. In
addition to the sporting events, spectators can visit booths to
take five- minute basketball, hockey and other sports lessons from
famous athletes. Paraphernalia will also be sold for those who want
autographs.
After four people parachute into Drake Stadium to begin the
opening ceremony, the Olympic torch will be run by ex-Olympians,
some of whom have MS. The closing ceremony is expected to conclude
around 3 p.m., but the activities will continue at the Century
Plaza Hotel with stand up comedy, an auction and an appearance by
musician Don Henley.
In the past, the event was held on the slopes of Aspen and Vail
in Colorado, but Davis decided to move the event to Los Angeles to
give it "a permanent home where my home is," she said.
It makes much more sense to hold the fundraiser in Los Angeles
because it is where the supporters are and where the research is
being conducted, she added.
The fundraiser will be sponsored by the Nancy Davis Center
Without Walls, an organization founded three years ago by Davis’
parents to speed up the process of finding a cure. All proceeds
from the race will go toward funding research for the disease.
"Our ultimate goal is to find a cure (for multiple sclerosis) by
2001," Davis said.
A medical symposium will be held at the James West Center this
afternoon to detail the latest in multiple sclerosis research.
Student Volunteers are welcome to assist with hospitality/ VIP
services at the sporting competition. Admission is free for student
volunteers.
To become a volunteer, call Tamara McCraw at (310) 615-0706.
Student ticket prices are $40 with ID. For ticket information, call
(310) 440-4842.
