If the words “Race to Erase MS” conjure up images of celebrity philanthropists in tracksuits, you’re on the wrong track. Think Afro wigs, peace signs, and slinky dresses: this year’s star-studded gala had a disco theme. Guests such as Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton dined on sweets shaped like platform shoes and sprinkled in glitter sugar, and grooved to Kool and the Gang, Sister Sledge, Natalie Cole and Macy Gray. The event raised $2.5 million for multiple sclerosis research, which will hopefully bring scientists closer to winning this momentous race—whether in running shoes, dancing shoes, or lab coats.

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