What: Fundraiser for The Montel Williams MS Foundation

Information: 1-(888)-33GOWNS

Melissa McFarlin had just about had it. Every day she woke up with a new pain or symptom attributable to the multiple sclerosis she was diagnosed with at age 23. Slurred speech one day, weakness in her leg the next.  And always, the depression. "I have chronic pain - 24/7. There were definitely days that I just did not want to get up out of bed," said the mother of two young girls. "I didn't like this life. I used to be financially stable. I owned my own home but I lost that. MS was holding me down. I thought I was going crazy." Until, she said, she read "Climbing Higher," an account of talk show host Montel Williams' own battle with the disease, an unpredictable neurological disease that affects the central nervous system and has varying levels of severity and symptoms. "He talked about his own MS, what he went through, how he battled the depression," said McFarlin, now 27. "Just the fact that he was going through the same things I was - somehow that made me feel a lot better, like I wasn't crazy after all. That book is practically my Bible." McFarlin is hoping that the inspiration she received from Williams will in turn inspire others to give to help find a cure for the disease. To that end, McFarlin is devoting her time and talents to organizing fundraisers for The Montel Williams MS Foundation, which gives 100 percent of its public donations to fund research into finding a cure. This weekend, she offers her first effort - a raffle which unites her desire to help the foundation with her latest business venture - selling bridal and formal gowns. Both Saturday and Sunday, McFarlin will set up to raffle off four new wedding dresses and eight new prom dresses, along with several baskets filled with donated gifts and gift certificates from area businesses and community members. The dresses, up to size 18W, are from a collection she is discontinuing and range in retail prices from $175 to $775, she said. "I'm going with a new vendor and I just want to get these out of here," she said. "But they are in perfect condition and are just beautiful." Raffle tickets will sell 10 for $20 and may be purchased from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Lincoln School in Pittsburg and from noon to 5:30 p.m. Sunday at the Herrin Civic Center. The raffle drawings will take place at 5:45 p.m. Sunday. All proceeds from the raffles will go the foundation. In addition, McFarlin will donate 20 percent of the purchase price on all in-stock or special order gowns to the foundation through the month of March. Her efforts on behalf of the foundation have gotten her notice from both the foundation and its namesake: she was invited to appear on "Montel." "Once a year, Montel highlights people who have MS and she fit the description of who were looking for - people who are trying to be proactive, who support the cause and have an upbeat attitude," said Janine Quijije, foundation development manager. "Melissa was a perfect candidate." Unfortunately, as McFarlin traveled to appear on the show last month, she suffered an MS-related episode, Quijije said. "Montel knows how unpredictable the disease can be and he was very concerned about her," she said. That concern was evident Friday when McFarlin received a huge bouquet of flowers from the man who serves as her inspiration. "Remember, we have MS. It doesn't have us," ended the note from Williams. For more information on the foundation, visit www.montelms.org.