KALAHEO — Diners at Kalaheo Steak and Ribs have an opportunity to make a difference to patients afflicted with multiple sclerosis. Thursday, Caroline Fredericksen, owner of the Kalaheo Steak and Ribs with Ernie Kaneakua, was joined by Joy Ortiz-Zimmer of
KALAHEO — Diners at Kalaheo Steak and Ribs have an opportunity to make a difference to patients afflicted with multiple sclerosis.
Thursday, Caroline Fredericksen, owner of the Kalaheo Steak and Ribs with Ernie Kaneakua, was joined by Joy Ortiz-Zimmer of Sleeping Giant Sotheby’s International Realty and co-chair of the Kaua‘i MS Walk, and Candice Schwalbach, MS Hawai‘i division manager, in announcing a special for diners during the launch for the 2013 Kaua‘i MS Walk.
During dinner hour on Thursday, 10 percent of a diner’s bill will be turned over to help MS patients, Schwalbach said. This does not include any alcoholic beverages.
“I was invited to the MS Walk last year and the people were amazing,” Fredericksen said. “I had a lot of fun and met so many people. We used to help the Visitor Industry Charity Walk and after meeting the MS people, we knew we had to do something for them.”
During the MS Walk, which centered around the Kapa‘a Beach Park and utilized the multi-use path, a Kalaheo Steak and Ribs diner pledged $500 if Fredericksen’s photo was published in the newspaper. The photo of the Kalaheo eatery was featured on the front page of The Garden Island newspaper. This year, Fredericksen pledged the support of Kalaheo Steak and Ribs, offering them the use of the eatery’s “downstairs” where the MS Support Group could hold its monthly meetings along with the Thursday night dining pledge.
“The money raised by Caroline will be used to support the self help group for MS patients on Kaua‘i,” Ortiz-Zimmer, who co-chairs the walk with Laurie Weber of Tire Warehouse, said.
Fredericksen said in addition to the menu offerings, Kalaheo Steak and Ribs will also feature live entertainment headlined by Charlie Iona and friends.
“Right now, this offer is until whenever,” Fredericksen said. “The Walk is in April, but now is as good a time to enjoy dinner and help patients with MS.”
Schwalbach said there are about 150 patients on Kaua‘i who registered with MS Hawai‘i, but estimates there may be as many as 200 patients who are living with MS on the island.
Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a chronic, often disabling disease which attacks the central nervous system made up of the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves, states the National MS Society website.
Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from one person to another.
With new treatments and advances in research, new hope is available to people affected by the disease.
“Today is the launch for the 2013 MS Walk and registration and pledge forms are available at www.walkMS.org, or by calling (800) 344-4867,” Schwalbach said. “Kaua‘i’s walk will take place on April 27, 2013 at the Kapa‘a Beach Park.”
Registration starts at 4 p.m. with the walk starting at 4:30 p.m. Visit www.mshawaii.org for more information on MS. Visit www.kalaheosteakandribs.com for information and menu offerings of Kalaheo Steak and Ribs, or call 332-4444 to set up your Thursday night dinner reservations.
