Walkers line up in preparation for the ribbon cutting outside of the Hyde School Krebs Gymnasium on Sunday, April 26 at 9 am.

Woodstock, CT–Hyde School, a national leader in character-based education, hosted the MS Walk on April 26, opening its campus to more than 300 individuals from the local community.

The MS Walk is an event organized by the National Society for Multiple Sclerosis with the purpose of fundraising for research efforts. The walk takes place in locations throughout the country. Over the past two weeks, MS walks were held in a number of locations throughout Connecticut.

On Sunday morning, the mass of walkers gathered at Hyde School in Woodstock, CT. Following an opening stretch and the Star Spangled Banner sung by Hyde School senior Stevie Bowie, walkers left to complete the 5K loop.

Stephanie Gaudette, MS Walk organizer, spoke about the success of the walk. “We had a great morning for it, and it ran great!” Gaudette says. “The volunteers were very helpful, and it was fantastic to see everyone come out for the walk.”

Hyde School students, who participate in a number of community service efforts throughout the school year, volunteered and participated in the walk, demonstrating their support for what many of them expressed as a “very worthy cause.”

Hyde School senior Katie Brooks ran the volunteering effort, coordinating the jobs and locations for all of the students involved. “I enjoy doing community service,” Brooks says. “It’s something I feel very passionate about, and I want to help in any way possible.”