Sakonnet River Bridge Lit Orange For Multiple Sclerosis Awareness

PORTSMOUTH, RI — The Sakonnet River Bridge is lit up for a good cause this week. All week long, the bridge will be illuminated with orange lights in honor of multiple sclerosis. March 8 through 14 marks MS Awareness Week.

The disease affects the central nervous system, with symptoms ranging from numbness and tingling to paralysis. Approximately one million Americans live with MS, with most diagnosed between 20 and 50 years old. The disease affects women three times as often as men, and there is not currently a cure.

"We are so excited that the Sakonnet River Bridge will be lit orange during MS Awareness Week in support of our mission to ensure everyone with MS has what they need to live their best life," said Lori Espino, the National MS Society President of Greater New England. "Every day, people living with MS do whatever it takes to move their lives forward. It is our hope that others seeing the bridge in orange will be inspired to join our movement to create a world free of MS."

The MS Society is encouraging people to get involved, both during awareness week and throughout the year. Walk MS, a national series, brings together more than 300,000 people across the country. More information and ways to get involved are available online.