Shouts of cheers and high-fives resounded as a sea of green and gold reached the end of the 3.7 mile Walk MS 2011. As over 50 members of Langley’s team crossed the finish line of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s walk in Reston, all eyes were on the team captain, senior Joseph Larounis.
Under Larounis’ lead, this is the fourth, and most successful, year for Langley’s team. The team raised $10,755 to donate towards efforts for finding a cure, breaking its goal of $7,000 and placing third amongst all participants. Individually, Larounis was the fourth highest donor, raising $8,005 on his own through events such as the Interact Club’s car wash and other fundraisers.
For some students, the walk was an eye-opening experience. “The effects of the walk had not truly hit me until I was leaving and a woman in a wheelchair thanked some of us for participating,” said senior Thomas Zumot.
But as the signs pinned to the team’s chests reading “I walk in honor of John Larounis” conveyed, the reality of multiple sclerosis has been a part of the captain’s life for many years.
In 2004, when Larounis was a fifth grader, his father, John Larounis was diagnosed with progressive MS. A former dentist, Mr. Larounis’s love for his career was inexplicable—making retiring that much harder.
“My dad loved being a dentist. It was his dream job, and all the patients loved him. But he just had to give it up, because his body was weakening and it was becoming extremely painful for him to work,” said Larounis. “I still remember the day he had to sell his practice and he was standing next to my mom, as he was still able to stand, and the look on his face. His dream was lost. That image will forever be engraved in my memory.”
The family eventually decided to move from New York to Virginia in 2006, deciding a move would symbolize a fresh start. Since Larounis’ mother had family living down in Virginia, they thought it would be most convenient and helpful to live near relatives with the new difficulties lying ahead.
Despite the challenge facing the family of four boys, Larounis feels it’s hardest on his younger brothers, Alex and Chris, who were only six and three years old when Mr. Larounis was diagnosed with MS.
“I feel as if it’s easier for me to deal with my dad’s disease because I still have those memories of my dad running and playing baseball with me. My younger brothers will never have those memories with him,” said Larounis.
As the family continues to hope for a cure, Team Langley will continue to grow. “I’ve been doing the walks for a couple of years now and every year more people have come out to show support. I think that’s a real testament to Joseph’s dedication and leadership,” said senior Tarun Sharma.
Just as Team Langley grows, so will the movement to create a world free of MS, for the Larounis family and all others.
What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?
– MS is a chronic, usually disabling disease affecting the central nervous system
-Symptoms can range from mild numbness in the limbs to complete paralysis
-MS is not directly inherited or contagious
-A majority of people with MS have a normal or near-normal life expectancy rate
-The disease is different from muscular dystrophy, which attacks the muscles rather than the central nervous system
-Medication exists to reduce the progression of MS, but no cure has yet been found
**Information from official website of the National MS Society
Photos by Parnia Zahedi