SPORTS
December 6, 2013
11
Multiple sclerosis diagnosis for Trevor Bayne
BY CHRISTIANNA VAN DALSEN
Swp WiiiTm
Soccer player Javier Artero. Baseball player Stan
Belinda. Football player Dan Carnevale. Basketball player
and coach Deanna Davis. Olympic skier Jimmy Heuga.
Olympic gold medalist sprinter Betty Cuthbert. And the
list goes on and on.
Aside from their amazing athletic achievements, all
these athletes been diagnosed with the same disease:
Multiple sclerosis.
Now, NASCAR driver Trevor Bayne joins the list. On
November 12, 2013, the Roush Fenway Racing driver
announced his diagnosis.
Multiple sclerosis is a disease where the immune
system attacks the central nervous system. Although
symptoms range in severity, MS can lead to paralysis in
severe cases.
"It's tragic that this has to happen to such an iconic
celebrity, and I hope it doesn't affect his career," said
early college junior Trey Woodlief.
In 2011 Trevor Bayne won the Daytona 500 at the age
of 20. To this day, he remains the youngest driver ever to
win the race.
"What's crazy is that he's only 22," said early college
senior Jordan Smith. "He's so, so, so young and he only
just got married this summer.
"To have this bombshell right after that... Even though
his sister also has it, it's completely unexpected."
Numbness affected Bayne's arm in the middle of a race
at Texas Motor Speedway. Coupled with fatigue, nausea
and blurred vision, for any athlete experiencing these
symptoms this would be a recipe for disaster.
However, NASCAR does not have the same physical
requirements most sports do, but that does not put Bayne
out of danger if he continues to drive.
Definition, Clarification & Exploration
Read up on the term(s) in this article
A chronic disease that attacks the central nervous
system: the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. Symptoms
may include paralysis and loss of vision.
These disabling side affects occur because Multiple
Sclerosis, or MS, causes the immune system to attack the
central nervous system.
Multiple Sclerosis
(noun)
"He talked about double vision, and his double vision
can get worse if he's overheated," said Dr. Harold Moses
to ABC News. "These cars get very warm, and a lot of
these drivers wear cooling suits. I think they're going to
be very careful about how he re-enters the sport."
Bayne stated he has not experienced any symptoms
since the Texas Motor Speedway incident.
"I've never been more driven to compete," Bayne told
USA Today. "My goals are the same as they've been since
I started racing. I want to compete at the highest level and
I want to win races and championships.
"I am in the best shape I've ever been in, and I feel
good. I'm committed to continuing to take the best care of
my body as possible."
MS is unpredictable, though.
"MS can have a very variable course. So one person
- Information Courtesy of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
may have years where they're not affected much at all,
whereas someone else the same age presenting at the
same time may have a course that's very rocky," ABC
News' chief health and medical editor Dr. Richard Besser
told ABC news.
There are medications that can slow down the disease's
effects and progression, but Bayne has experienced no
relapses and has decided to go without medication.
"I have a close family friend who has MS," said early
college senior Kristen Witkemper. "I wish we had more
knowledge about it, because she goes through a lot.
She goes to the hospital quite often and I think it really
detracts from her ability to enjoy life.
"Hopefully Bayne's MS doesn't relapse. But hopefully
this will promote awareness about MS and lead to more
research. Hopefully, one day, we'll have a cure."
FCA organizes donations for children
BY RENEE DEHART
Staff Writer
"Do they know it's Christmas time at
all?"
Many know the song but few answer
the call, excepting Guilford's Fellowship
of Christian Athletes.
On Nov. 18, the FCA organized a
shoebox drive in the Community Center
to collect supplies and toys, which will
be distributed internationally to children
in need by the evangelical Christian
humanitarian group Samaritan's Purse
through their holiday program Operation
Christmas Child.
"This is a large organization; we're just
doing our part through Guilford," said
junior tennis captain and FCA President
Turner Votipka.
Donations for the FCA's project have
poured in from across the community.
"Students are doing it, parents have sent
us stuff and we went out and got boxes
from organizations," said Votipka. "We
have club money and student donations."
The FCA found inspiration through the
story of Jesus feeding 5,000 people with
only five loaves of bread and two fish.
"He fed 5,000 people because he saw
their need," said Mike Gatton '13, FCA
coordinator. "Yes, we want to give these
children something that will meet their
temporary needs, but we also want to
share with them hope and the hope they
can have with Christ.
"This bread they can have tonight and
have for eternity."
Accompanying the FCA was a wide
array of students and non-students alike,
united in a joint effort to brighten the lives
of impoverished children this Christmas.
The bread, or temporary satisfaction,
Gatton referenced could be seen spread
across the room in the Community Center
in the form of toys and school supplies for
the children.
Contributors started the event by
selecting one of the several dozen assorted
shoeboxes on the first. Once a box was
selected, they filled it with goodies from
four different stations.
First, the shoeboxes were layered with
a mints and butterscotch. A hygiene
station was also set up with toothpaste,
toothbrushes and bars of soap.
Teddy bears and other stuffed animals,
dolls, and Nerf footballs were stuffed into
the boxes, followed by pencils, notebooks
and construction paper from the school
supplies station.
"I came out to help and pack a couple
of boxes," said sophomore Dakota Rock.
"I actually brought some toys, cups,
notebooks and crayons."
Everyone had fun while organizing
their own packages.
"I just think it is nice we're helping kids
in need," said a junior Ezra Fleishman.
Before wrapping the boxes a special
trademark from the FCA was added, as
everyone in attendance was encouraged
to write an inspiring note for the child
recipient. After wrapping, the boxes were
sent to Operation Christmas Child.
This heartwarming event brought many
people in the community together for a
common goal of helping children in need.