Local Haggen Food & Pharmacy stores are encouraging the public to join them in supporting Walk MS, the largest annual fundraiser of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Haggen Food & Pharmacy and TOP Food & Drug stores are presenting sponsors of Walk MS, which will be conducted by the MS Society’s Greater Northwest Chapter on April 2-3 at eight sites throughout Washington. The Bellingham event, which features a three-mile walk, will start at 9:30 a.m., April 2, at the Barkley Village Haggen. Participants will enjoy breakfast and lunch, live music along the walk, face painting, entertainment for children and awards.

Haggen and TOP Food stores are again matching a portion of the donations raised by employees who are participating in Walk MS. Stores, employees and customers already have raised nearly $67,000 this year through $1 sales of MS “feet,” fundraising events at stores and sales of T-shirts and reusable bags.

The local chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society serves 12,000 people living with MS in Western and Central Washington, Montana and Alaska. Walk MS donations also fund research to find a cause and cure for the disease.

For more information, visit www.walkmsnorthwest.org.