Students, teacher keep up fight vs. multiple sclerosis
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer

In what has become an annual effort supported by Freehold High School students, teacher Rennie Rankin (second from right) was joined by students from the high school in the MS Walk held at the Errickson School, Freehold Township.

Rennie Rankin may have what some people would consider a limitation, but anyone who knows her would tell you her multiple sclerosis is not a limitation.

Rankin, a resident of North Bruns-wick is a teacher at Freehold High School, Freehold Borough. On April 22, Rankin and a team of more than 200 people, the majority of whom were her students, participated in the annual MS Walk at the Errickson School, Freehold Township.

Rankin was diagnosed with MS in June 2003 and her first symptoms were numbness on the left side of her body. In the spring of 2004, Rankin decided to take a proactive approach to her disease and formed a team to participate in the MS Walk.

Over the years Rankin's MS has progressed and has affected her ability to walk, balance and function on the left side.

The teacher said she has been the captain of the Freehold High School MS Walk team for the past four years and she is very proud of her team.

"I had over 200 people registered as part of my team this year, but the most interesting part about this is the fact that this team is composed largely of students who have become involved in this cause," Rankin said. "I began this team after begin diagnosed with MS and it has grown from 90 members raising $4,000 our first year to over 200 members raising more than $24,000 last year."

The team is part of the Mid-Jersey Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. This year the team has raised $17,000 so far.

The MS Walk raises money through the collection of pledges by walkers to support research and programs for people with MS, which is a chronic and often debilitating disease of the central nervous system.

"It was especially difficult for us to raise as much money this year due to the fact that I was on disability for MS-related issues for four months and only came back to school in February," Rankin said.

Rankin said her students have been an inspiration to her and are part of the reason she was able to return to school when she did.

"The weather was perfect," Rankin said of the April 22 event. She said she was happy to be able to do the 7.5-mile walk. "In October, I couldn't have done it. I was walking with a cane," she said. "I was very proud to be there to do this with my kids. They made coming back really easy for me."

Donations to the team can be made at www.nmss.org or sent to the Mid-Jersey Chapter of the MS Society, 246 Monmouth Road, Oakhurst 07755. Any donations received by June 15 will count toward this year's walk.