Destinee Frias, a 4th grader at Lippitt Elementary School, is so intent on helping to find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis (MS), she has spent the last few months rallying friends and family to raise money for the Greater New England Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Destinee’s mother, Jennifer Frias, was diagnosed with MS in January 2007. For the past five years Destinee, her 12-year-old brother Paulo Jr. and her mother have been participating in Walk MS, held annually in Providence, to raise money for research as well as for programs and services for those individuals with MS. Jennifer also has completed the MS Climb to the Top: Boston and the MS Muckfest: Boston despite her condition, struggling with pins and needles in her legs, vision and fatigue problems.

This year, Destinee wanted to do more, reaching out to her young friends and her school community for help without her mother’s knowledge.

Destinee and her friends, Sloane Falcofsky, Katie Ignagni and Adriana Flesia, all fourth graders, created “wish” bracelets made of braided thread with a, orange bead, the signature color of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and a wish card “representing hope.” When either the thread or the bead wears out of the card falls off, the idea is that your wish will be granted. The girls created fundraising posters and sold their bracelets at an after school event and raised $100 for Walk MS back on April 17.

Destinee could have stopped there, but she continued her efforts, hosting an assembly for her entire school on MS, beginning a blog, raising money through keychain sales and organizing a separate walk-a-thon for Lippitt Elementary, which was hosted last Friday afternoon in the school’s playground. Nearly the entire school wore orange and every classroom got the opportunity to walk around the playground and show their support for not only Destinee but also her mother and all of those with MS.

All together, Destinee was able to raise just over $1,000 for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Destinee and her friend Sloane said they were surprised they were able to raise so much money, especially when their initial goal was $500.

“I was completely blown away, but what these girls were able to achieve,” Lauren Bardsley, event manager for The Greater New England Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, said. “One thousand dollars is a hefty number for our adult participants. The more I heard about these girls I was just continuously shocked.”

One of Bardsley’s colleagues, who was present when Destinee and her friends presented on MS in front of the entire school, had nothing to add after the assembly because the girls had been so thorough in their explanation. At that age, Bardsley said she would never have been brave enough to speak in front of her whole class, nonetheless to eloquently.

Bardsley said, “It pulls at your heart strings. I’ve never seen anything like this. Their motivation and enthusiasm is fantastic and really inspiring.”

Destinee was inspired after writing an essay about her hero, her mother Jennifer.

Jennifer, now in the know about all her daughter has done to help fund-raise for MS research and services, said when she found out what Destinee was doing it brought tears to her eyes.

“It’s unbelievable and truly amazing what these young girls have been able to accomplish. They are only in fourth grade. They could be watching TV or playing video games, but instead they gave themselves this project and did phenomenally,” Jennifer said.

Holly Falcofsky, Sloane’s mother, said by being involved in an initiative such as this the four young girls were able to get a “new outlook on life,” to see how lucky they are and the importance of helping others less fortunate. Adriana even mentioned that helping Destinee with her project “encouraged” her to do more projects like this to help others.

“They worked so hard to get here,” Falcofsky said. “They should be proud of themselves.”

Destinee said that although it’s been “hectic” trying to organize everything it has been a very fulfilling experience to be able to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

“My mom has MS and I asked my friends to help me. I think if we can raise awareness and money maybe we can help find a cure.”

For Jennifer it was initially hard when Destinee began sharing her story because many people weren’t aware she had MS in the first place.

“Destinee was inspiring though,” Jennifer said. “She said she wanted to raise the money that could fund the research that found a cure or to inspire the student that becomes a doctor and finds a cure. It is truly heartwarming.”