Nancy Davis, founder of Race to Erase MS, stopped by the ABC7 studios Monday and said the annual gala highlights both progress in research and the ongoing need for support as scientists work toward a cure for the disease.
"I've had MS for 34 years. When I was first diagnosed, it was a very bleak future," she said. "I was told to go home and go to bed, and I would lose my independence to be able to be a mom or anything."
Early on, she noticed multiple doctors were pursuing similar studies without working together.
"I thought if I could get the best and the brightest to work together as a team, we will get somewhere quicker," she said.
This year, Disney communications executive Naomi Bulochnikov-Paul, who has been battling MS, will be honored for her fight at Friday's event.
The gala will be held at the Fairmont Century Plaza, located at 2025 Avenue of the Stars. For more information, click here.