Nancy Davis hosted the 24th Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at the Beverly Hilton on May 5th. The event raised $1.6 million to benefit the Race to Erase MS and its Center Without Walls program. The money raised will go towards a collaboration of top MS research centers working together as a team on ground-breaking research with the goal of treating and, ultimately, finding a cure for MS. Celebs in attendance included honoree Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Lance Bass, Kathy Griffin, Randy Jackson, Haylie Duff, Lisa Rinna, Tommy Hilfiger, Paris Hilton, Adrienne Maloof, Naya Rivera, and many more.
Quincy Jones introduced singer-songwriter Siedah Garrett who took a moment to share something that she had not made public yet, announcing that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis five years ago. After bravely sharing her diagnosis with the crowd, she sang the hit song she co-wrote for Michael Jackson, “Man in the Mirror,” and for the first time ever, debuted her single “Carry On” live with David Foster.
Randy Jackson introduced legendary rock band Chicago who brought down the house with a nine-song set that included hits “If You Leave Me Now,” “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is,” “Just You ‘n’ Me,” “Make Me Smile,” “You’re the Inspiration,” “Hard to Say I’m Sorry,” “Saturday in the Park,” “Feelin’ Stronger Every Day,” and “25 or 6 to 4.” In what has become a Race to Erase MS tradition over the past 24 years, an uplifting rendition of “Lean On Me” was performed as the finale of the evening, led by Chicago and David Foster.
Funding research is the core focus of Race to Erase MS, and significant strides have been made to find the cause and cure of this debilitating disease. At the event’s inception 24 years ago, the absence of medications and therapies encouraged its involvement. The race has been instrumental in funding many pilot studies that have contributed to drugs now on the market and other very important therapies that are improving the lives of people suffering from MS.
All funds raised support the Center Without Walls program, a unique collaboration of the world’s leading MS research scientists. 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.
