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Working Toward A Cure

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By GEORGE H. NEWMAN

gnewman@tampatrib.com

Published: February 11, 2009

PLANT CITY - Mardi Gras Extravaganza, a fundraiser for the fight against multiple sclerosis, will be held Feb. 21 at St. Clement Catholic Church.

The seventh annual edition of the dinner and dance will be at St. Clement's Cronin Hall, 1104 N. Alexander St. Tickets are $12; $7 for children 4 and younger. The ticket price includes dinner, music, dancing, door prizes and more.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Sponsorships ranging from $100 to $1,500 are available.

All money raised at the event goes to research, in the hope that one day a cure will be found for the disease, which affects the central nervous system.

Carol Rodriguez, chairwoman of the fundraiser, has a son, Anthony, who was diagnosed with the disease. She said she knows first-hand how supportive the Plant City community can be.

"When people come together, they can make a difference," Rodriguez said. "The battle to find a cure for multiple sclerosis is a long one, but this fundraiser is another step toward finding a cure."

Rodriguez said she learned her son had MS when he was 18.

"I cried, hoping it wasn't true," she said in an e-mail. "But I knew it was MS. We already had two other family members with the disease. I sat in the doctor's office wondering how I was going to tell the rest of my family about Anthony's diagnosis."

The disease was diagnosed March 27, 2001, when her son was a senior at Plant City High School. Since then, she and her family have made it their mission to do what they can to help find a cure for MS.

Anthony, 26, graduated in 2007 from the University of South Florida with a degree in information systems. He is working as a technical education teacher at a Lakeland high school.

He said he feels no sign of the MS, but he has to keep his stress levels under control. He admits that is a pretty tall order for a high school teacher.

"I have been blessed that my diagnosis was made at an early age," Anthony said. "There are a lot of very smart people like Dr. Stanley Krolczyk, neurologist in the MS division at USF. His group is working hard to find a cure. Because of their continued involvement, I feel hopeful that a cure will come to help young people who have the disease one day be free to live a long and healthy life."

Krolczyk will be the guest speaker at the extravaganza.

Anthony has been involved with all the fundraisers headed up by his mother for about seven years.

"As much as I help, it is nothing compared to the amount of time and energy my mother puts into this effort," he said. "We are looking forward to a large turnout at the Mardi Gras. It's always a good time."
Carol Rodriguez said the fundraiser will also raise community awareness of MS.

"Together, and with the help of many close friends, we created the Mardi Gras Extravaganza, along with an annual walk, to not only raise money to find a cure for this disease, but also to inform people about the damage this invisible monster is capable of. People in Plant City will be making a difference and have a great time while they're at it," she said.

For information, call Rodriguez at (813) 727-5214 or e-mail her at plantcityms@gmail.com.

Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 865-4451.

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