John Charbonneau doesn't walk alone in his fight against multiple sclerosis.

Even his two dozen teammates are just a piece of the puzzle.

The 61-year-old MS sufferer and a team of well-wishers, donning tie-dyed shirts and dubbing themselves Charbie's Chargers, were among the hundreds to hit the riverfront Sunday for Windsor's annual MS Walk. Charbonneau has participated for more than 10 years and said he's inspired by the progress in treating the disease that has put him in a wheelchair.

He's experienced some of that progress firsthand, having gone to California in December for a controversial procedure called chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency treatment.

He said he came back from the surgery, which opens up clogged neck veins, with more energy and strength and less pain, able to feel more warmth in his limbs.

"This new CCSVI treatment is very encouraging and very positive," Charbonneau said. "It's not a cure for MS but it certainly alleviates the symptoms."

But while a recent University of Buffalo study casts doubt on whether neck vein clogs are a result or a cause of MS, Charbonneau still hopes for a cure.

"Hopefully within my lifetime. Every day they're learning new things."

Charbonneau and his Chargers were part of a large crowd of walkers who braved cold weather and high winds Sunday.

Run organizer Jackie Putterman of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada said about 900 people registered for the walk, and despite the weather she figured about 70 per cent showed up. A walk was held in Leamington as well.

"It is nippy, but look how many people we have despite the temperature," she said.

The walk is in its 20th year.

While she didn't have final figures, she was expecting to raise as much as $190,000. Half of that cash will go to research.

The other half will stay here to help local people with MS. Putterman said there are about 400 members of the local MS Society chapter, but there could be as many as 700 people in the community battling the disease.

The illness attacks the protective coating around the nerves of the brain and spinal cord, disrupting the ability to send electrical impulses to and from the brain.

Windsor, Putterman said, has a somewhat higher rate of MS than Canada's already high average. "We don't know why, unfortunately."

Lisa Adams doesn't have MS, but the odds are 50-50 that she'll be eventually get it. The 38-year-old runner said she suffers from transverse myelitis, a neurological disorder caused by inflammation of the spinal cord.

The disease, she said, is similar to MS, so the walk hits close to home for her.

"It's investing in my future," she said.

"You can just see the progress that they've made. Research doesn't happen without funds."