Syracuse, NY -- It's been nearly 13 years since Linda D'Antonio was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and the 49-year-old Liverpool native has never let the disease hold her back.

D'Antonio, who now lives in Webster, near Rochester, is currently training for the Coeur d'Alene Ironman competition in Idaho. The race takes place in June.

D'Antonio's hope is to put an end to the disease that has impacted her life and the lives of many others. As she trains for Ironman, D'Antonio seeks to bring awareness to multiple sclerosis and raise money for research. Her quest has been dubbed "Iron for MS." D'Antonio is determined to raise $15,000.

"I don't want to do this just for me," D'Antonio said in a news release. "Focusing just on me feels a little bit empty, but doing this and connecting with others allows me to inspire and help people who are impacted by something that is so personal to me."

Multiple sclerosis is an often disabling disease of the central nervous system that interrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis.

D'Antonio was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis just weeks before her wedding that took place in Hawaii in July 2001. D'Antonio hopes to return to Hawaii this year to participate in the Hawaii Ironman World Championship as a statement of triumph over multiple sclerosis. For D'Antonio to compete in the world championship, D'Antonio must qualify at the Coeur d'Alene Ironman.

D'Antonio attributes her love for outdoor activities to her hometown of Liverpool

"I grew up in an active family," D'Antonio said. "We were always running, biking and skiing around Syracuse."

While she's training for the Ironman, D'Antonio is simultaneously participating in Race to Finish MS, which is a program that unites individuals with the common goal of creating a world free of multiple sclerosis and completing an athletic endurance event. This fundraising platform offers runners, cyclists, swimmers and distance athletes of all types the chance to help find a cure for multiple sclerosis while pushing their own personal limits.

"Through Race to Finish MS, I feel like I can reach out to people and inspire them to dream," D'Antonio said. "MS changes your life, but we have to keep moving forward and use our experiences for good."

To donate to D'Antonio, visit her fundraising page. For more information on D'Antonio, visit her Facebook page.

Contact Sarah Moses at smoses@syracuse.com or 470-2298. Follow @SarahMoses315