MS Sufferer Working To Find A Cure

Dr. Mallika Marshall
Reporting

(WBZ) BOSTON Art Mellor was 37 when he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis seven years ago.

The chronic disorder of the central nervous system often results in extreme fatigue and severe disability.

"Being an engineer by training, my reaction was, what causes this and how can I work on solving that problem?" asked Art.

So Art decided to start the Accelerated Cure Project -- which raises money for MS research and is collecting blood and tissue samples from patients all over the country.

"We are collecting those samples at 6 centers and making them available to researchers who are looking at the causes of MS. In exchange for access, they return the data back to the repository so it can be compared against all different studies," said Art.

"The idea is by all these different approaches, we're going to get creativity and new ideas that hopefully lead to a cure," said Dr. Peter Riskind of the UMass Memorial Medical Center.

That's why the Whites drove all the way up to Worcester from South Carolina to donate samples from their two-year-old son Will who was paralyzed by Transvere Myelitis -- a condition which has similarities to MS

"We're hoping we're contributing in finding a cure," said Gena White.

The Accelerated Cure Project for MS is holdings its second annual fundraising dinner at the Orleans Restaurant in Somerville on Wednesday, July 25th.

If you'd like more information about the event, or the project, log onto www.acceleratedcure.org.