MS Survivor and advocate Nancy Davishas announced that Sharon Osbourne and Jack Osbourne will be honored at the 20th Annual Race to Erase MS event at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles on May 3, 2013.
Each year since its inception, the celebrity-filled gala has raised millions of dollars for the Race to Erase MS and its Center Without Walls program, a selected network of the nation’s top six research centers that operates with one mutual goal: to always communicate and never duplicate medical research. This year’s star-studded evening, entitled “Love to Erase MS,” will feature live musical performances and a live auction with celebrity auctioneers.
Sharon Osbourne and Jack Osbourne will receive the Race to Erase MS “Medal of Hope” Award. Jack Osbourne will be honored for his courage in announcing his diagnosis as well as for acting as a role model to all who suffer with MS. The Race to Erase MS will also recognize and honor Sharon Osbourne for her ongoing and proactive effort in raising MS awareness while supporting her son, Jack.
“I can’t believe that it has already been 20 years since we started the Race to Erase MS. It’s amazing to think that what started out as an impossible dream has evolved to the reality of now having nine drugs on the market to help MS patient’s live independent and healthy lives. There is a real promise that a cure for this disease is now within our reach. I’m so incredibly grateful for everyone’s support and I honor our very rare and talented team of doctors for breaking the traditional barriers that exist in medical research by coming together to work as a team in finding a cure as soon as possible,” stated Nancy Davis.
The month of May not only marks the 20th Anniversary of the Race to Erase MS event, but it also acts as “Orange You Happy to Erase MS” awareness month, with orange being the vibrant color chosen to represent Multiple Sclerosis and hope. Kelly Osbourne will support her brother Jack as this year’s spokes model for the 6th annual “Orange You Happy to Erase MS” campaign which features a variety of products being sold with all or a portion of proceeds to benefit the cause. Proceeds from the sales of these fabulous items will go to the Race to Eras MS. To purchase any of these items, please visit www.shop.erasems.org.
As the Race to Erase MS event celebrates its 20th year, it salutes the ongoing research and developments surrounding MS and the contributions the Race to Erase MS has made in the field. At the event’s inception 20 years ago, the absence of medications and therapies encouraged its involvement; As a result, the Race to Erase MS has contributed to seven of the nine currently FDA approved medications, providing hope and encouragement for those who suffer with MS. Most recently, the FDA approved the BG-12 (dimethyl fumarate) drug which will revolutionize MS treatments. While most MS medicines are daily or weekly shots, BG-12, developed by Biogen Idec, exists as one of the first safe oral drugs to help stop the progression of MS with very few side effects.
The Race to Erase MS is dedicated to the treatment and ultimate cure for MS. Funding research is the core focus of the foundation and significant strides have been made to find the cause and cure of this debilitating disease. All funds raised support the “Center Without Walls” program, a unique collaboration of the world’s leading MS research scientists currently representing Harvard, Yale, Cedars Sinai, University of Southern California, Oregon Health Science University, UC San Francisco and Johns Hopkins. This nationwide collaboration of physicians, scientists and clinicians are on the cutting-edge of innovative research and therapeutic approaches to treat MS. It is the hope of the Race to Erase MS that in addition to combating MS through research in a clinical environment, awareness will be created by educating the public about this mysterious disease.
Tickets to the 20th Annual Race to Erase MS start at $1,000 and tables start at $10,000. To purchase tickets for the event, please contact info@erasems.org or (310) 440-4842. Find out more here.
