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April 20, 2009

Danielle Spencer, Beverly Running with MS

By Chris Cassidy

BEVERLY — Danielle Spencer of Beverly was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 10 years ago.

Today, she hopes to finish her fifth Boston Marathon.

"I think a lot of people think that if you have MS, you're either wheelchair-bound or you can't do a lot of things," said Spencer, 31. "I'm doing this to prove that point wrong. There's a lot you can do with the disease, and it doesn't have to be a bad sentence."

Still, it's not easy. Spencer was diagnosed when she was 21. She never knows when a flare-up may occur. Three years ago, she lost total vision in her left eye. This year, she's suffered a few stress fractures as a result of the grueling training.

But she's also raised about $3,200 this year for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society as part of a 60-member charity team that has brought in a total of about $400,000 so far.

Her favorite part of the race course? The screaming women of Wellesley College.

Spencer hopes to cross the finish line today in about 4 hours, 30 minutes.

"It's what keeps me going," she said, "and keeps me healthy and keeps me strong, both mentally and physically."

—Chris Cassidy

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