Volunteer to assist walkers during MS ‘Miles of Smiles’
Published: May 5, 2005
May is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month and the Great Basin Sierra Chapter is asking everyone to lace up their walking shoes and show support in fighting this disease.
People participating in the three upcoming Multiple Sclerosis Society’s MS Walks called “Miles of Smiles” might feel safer knowing that Nikki Villoria is ready to ride to their rescue if any painful mishaps occur along the three-mile courses in South Lake Tahoe, Reno and Carson City.
Nikki, a senior at Douglas High School, will serve as a volunteer who will provide medical assistance at the fund-raising walks. The 17-year-old is a certified first responder and trained to deal with anything from walkers’ painful blisters and twisted ankles to life-threatening heart attacks.
Nikki will ride her bike along each course during the May 7, May 14 and May 21 MS walks, looking to provide initial first aid for an injured or ill walker. She will be first on the scene to address any immediate mishap and stabilize the patient. She will notify, by walkie talkie, paramedics for any seriously injured participant.
“I’m delighted to donate my time, effort, knowledge and help in any way I can,” said Nikki, a senior, Key Club and student council member who has a 3.6 GPA. “Seeing people cross the finish line at these walks inspires me and makes me glad to be involved as a volunteer. I urge others to donate their time and money to help fight this disease. There are no excuses why people can’t volunteer and help others.”
Nikki became a certified first responder at age 13 while living in Las Vegas, where she successfully completed the challenging course dealing with applying first-on-the-scene first aid to accident victims.
She first became aware of Multiple Sclerosis, a chronic disabling disease with no cure that adversely effects the central nervous system, when her first responder course teacher Ken Richardson was diagnosed with the disease.
“I was personally touched by Ken and his story about living with MS,” she said. “He is the reason I want to help make people aware of this disease.”
Most MS patients are diagnosed between the ages of 20 to 50, but the unpredictable physical and emotional effects can last a lifetime. More than 6,000 people in Northern Nevada have been diagnosed with the dreaded disease that can leave its victims paralyzed, blind or with difficulty walking.
Registering for MS “Miles of Smiles” walks or volunteering can be done on-line at nationalmssociety.org or call 329-7180, option #2.
Walkers can participates as individuals or teams. Last year each walker averaged $200 in donations.
The first MS “Miles of Smiles” walk will take place Saturday at Camp Richardson in South Lake Tahoe. Idewild Park in Reno will be the site of the second walk on May 14. The final walk is slated for May 21 at Mills Park in Carson City. The walks will take place rain or shine.
All three routes for the MS “Miles of Smiles” are wheel chair accessible.
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