Henry P. Becton Regional High School staff will participate in a dress-down day on Friday, March 20, 2026, to raise awareness and funds for Multiple Sclerosis as part of National MS Awareness Month. Staff members will have the option to donate $5 in exchange for dressing down, with all proceeds supporting MS Run the US, a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding research and improving treatment for the disease.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. It interferes with communication between the brain and the rest of the body when the immune system attacks the protective covering of nerve fibers. With no known cause or cure, awareness and fundraising efforts remain critical.

MS Run the US is a cross-country relay that stretches from Santa Monica, California, to New York City. The relay consists of 21 runners, each completing a marathon per day over a six-day segment. The 2026 relay will take place from April through August, raising funds to support MS research and those affected by the disease.

Ms. Woyce, who participated in the relay in 2019, shared a personal connection to the event. “I ran this relay in 2019, and now Becton alumnus Michael Woyce will be participating in the relay this summer, running from Sunbury, PA to Harlem, NY,” Ms. Woyce said.

Michael Woyce, a graduate of Becton, is scheduled to run approximately 189 miles from August 2 through August 8. He will be running in honor of his sister, Michelle Besmer, also a Becton alumna, who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in her 20s. Despite the daily challenges of the disease, she continues to remain positive and resilient.

The dress-down initiative offers staff members an opportunity to support both awareness and research at the local level. Through participation, the Becton community contributes to a broader effort to fund advancements in treatment and work toward finding a cure for Multiple Sclerosis.