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Graduating Seniors from Cumberland High & St. Mary’s Bay View Know What it Means to Have a Parent with MS

WARWICK, R.I., July 29, 2010  - The Rhode Island Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society has awarded scholarships to graduating seniors whose mothers have MS. Curtis Jack “C.J” Bare III of Cumberland and Katelyn Perline of Warwick are both National Honor Society members who earned outstanding academic honors and were team captains in Walk MS.

Both Bare and Perline will pursue medical studies. They share a confidence and determination to succeed, which they agree may be the result of caring for an ailing mother and accepting responsibility at a young age.

“I had to mature very quickly and I know how to handle difficult situations and not complain,” said Perline.

When Perline’s mother grew too weak to cook, she spread the word among her teenage friends, who organized a weekly meal delivery for six months. She said her mother’s MS, “helped me to not look at a person and think I know everything about them.” 

Bare agreed, “I grew faster than everyone else because you have more responsibility than anyone else. My mother’s MS has shaped who I am.” 

Bare graduated from Cumberland High School and will be heading to Northeastern University, where he will study pre-med. He plans on being a surgeon. From the National MS Society’s R.I. Chapter, he will receive $1,500 a year for four years. Bare was team captain for a 45-member team for Walk MS. At Cumberland High, Bare played varsity soccer and baseball. He was varsity captain for indoor track and field. Bare also was active with the literary magazine, math team, and concert band, in addition to having a part-time job. He volunteered with the Little League Challenger Program, playing baseball with mentally and physically handicapped children.

Perline recently graduated from St. Mary Academy – Bay View and will be attending the University of Rhode Island in the fall. She plans to study pre-veterinary science. From the Rhode Island Chapter, she will receive $1,000 a year for four years. Perline was a team captain in Walk MS and active in the Italian Club and Campus TV in addition to having a part-time job. An Irish step dancer, she plans to minor in Italian and study in Italy. 

Both Bare and Perline plan to have work study jobs at their new schools.

The National MS Society believes MS shouldn’t stand in the way of an education but the economic impact of MS can be substantial on a family. Direct costs of the disease are estimated at more than $50,000 annually. Also, many people with MS experience a loss in earnings due to the physical demands of the disease, which increase the difficulties of paying for higher education.                    

The Society awarded $610,000 in new scholarships for 2009 and renewed $411,500 in scholarships for a total of more than $1 million. The Society acknowledges the outstanding support of the O’Donnell Family Foundation, Diversified Developers Realty, Teva Neuroscience, Arthur Collias, the Modestus Bauer Foundation, the Kamvar-Schiavoni Scholarship Fund, the ICSC Foundation, and all the supporters of the Kathryn Dailey Scholarship.