FRANKLIN — In public, strangers may not notice when Bonnie Blanchard struggles to walk, stand up or even maintain command over her everyday activities.

But for Blanchard, her physical disabilities, coupled with impeding brain lesions that affect cognitive functions, are a constant reminder of an incurable disease.

“It’s a very strange disease,” said Blanchard, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in October 2007.

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“Some days are really, really good and others are just horrible. I can tell when I’m having a bad day because it’s affecting the brain, too. I was so much in control before.”

Blanchard, a stay-at-home mom, school volunteer and Glencoe Charter School board member, is one of more than 4,000 Louisianans who have multiple sclerosis, said MS Society Louisiana Chapter Director of Development Ashley Zeringue. Many people with the disease are not registered with the chapter so the number could be higher, Zeringue said.

The chronic, auto-immune disease causes brain lesions and loss of nerve cells that block impulse transmissions, leading to symptoms including changes in vision, cognitive impairments, weakness, imbalance, extraordinary fatigue, difficulty walking, emotional changes, bladder control problems, numbness and even paralysis and blindness in some cases, Blanchard said.

Though the disease is not terminal, Zeringue said there are numerous, severe physical complications that are often caused by multiple sclerosis.

“The hardest part for them is just kind of coming to terms and trying to realize what it is and what’s going on with their bodies, the fear of the unknown,” said Zeringue.

With no cure yet for the disease, Blanchard said she uses injection therapy to slow the growth of lesions on her brain.

“Research and development of new medications is so important in the fight,” Blanchard said. “We are getting closer to finding a cure.”

As part of an ongoing effort to fund research and offer help to those who suffer from the disease, the Louisiana chapter is participating in a national MS Awareness Week, set for March 2 - 8.

This year’s theme for awareness week is “Move It,” and the only event scheduled in the Teche Area is MS Give Back Night at Chili’s. On March 4, residents can dine at any Chili’s in the state and have 10 percent of sales from the night donated to the Louisiana MS Chapter, Blanchard said.

A flyer must be presented at the restaurant for the donation to be received, Blanchard said. For more information on statewide events or to print out a flyer, contact the Louisiana chapter office in Metairie at 1-800-FIGHT-MS.

“It (the theme) is all about encouraging people to move it to end MS, whether you volunteer, talk, advocate, educate or support,” Blanchard said. “Every action is a demonstration of a commitment to the movement and helps to motivate people who want to and can do something about MS.”

Other events in the state include Walk MS, scheduled for April 4 at Audobon Park in New Orleans, and a walk in Baton Rouge on March 28.

Though there are several support groups throughout the state, the closest groups for Blanchard are in Lafayette and Houma.

Blanchard “loved the outdoors” before being diagnosed, but said she now has to stay in the shade because “MS doesn’t like the heat.” For Blanchard, though, the hardest thing is suffering from steady fatigue and weakness in her legs, she said.

“We have had to readjust things in our lives and it has been OK,” Blanchard said. “My husband and daughter are my biggest supporters and we just work around the symptoms.”