Bismarck was a popular place to walk on Saturday despite the overcast skies and skin-prickling breeze.

Two fundraiser walks drew about 650 people to Bismarck from across the state. A walk at Wachter Middle School supported the MS Society, and a walk at the Medcenter One Women's Health Center supported the Arthritis Foundation.

"This walk has grown a lot in two years," MS Walk organizer Amy Hinkemeyer. She is the development manager for the MSSociety.

This year, they expected about 500 walkers, up from about 200 two years ago. The growth has caused them to move the walk from the Elks to Wachter Middle School.

One team in particular could take credit for the growth. Legs for Lorisa was the largest team this year, with about 180 people.

"We have walkers from four states and all over," North Dakota, team captain LeAnn Bornemann said. Two years ago, they had 30 team members, although they usually averaged 60 members at the MSWalks.

The Legs for Lorisa team is easily recognizable in lime green T-shirts. This year they also had a canopy set up with a sign for team members to easily meet up.

The team's goal is to raise $10,000 for the walk, which is a fifth of what the organizers hoped to raise Saturday. About 60 percent of the money raised at the walk goes toward local programs and services. The remainder goes to multiple sclerosis research.

Across town at the Medcenter One Women's Health Center, about 160 people gathered to walk or run to support the Arthritis Foundation. It's the third year for the walk at this location.

The honoree for the walk is three-year-old Harlie Muggli. She was there with her parents, Joe and Evelynne Muggli, and her older sister Gracie, 7, and older brother Isaac, 6. They are rom Dickinson.

Harlie has juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that affects joints. It is juvenile rheumatoid arthritis when diagnosed under 16 years old.

"The doctor at first thought her ankle was broken," Evelynne Muggli said.

They tried casts to no avail, and then Harlie's other ankle started swelling. It was hard for Evelynne and her husband to have people question why their then-one-year-old daughter was breaking her ankles.

More doctor visits and blood work eventually gave the Muggli's an answer to their daughter's predicament. Now they see a specialist in Bismarck.

The fundraising goal for the arthritis walk was $17,000, which was exceeded by $500. People could compete in a run or a walk. People who walked could do so as individuals or part of a team.

"It's a good cause," said Sandy Stewart of Mandan.

Stewart was part of the Tesoro Refinery team. The team was organized by Rhoda Schramm of Hazen. She heard about the walk through her sister, who works at Medcenter One. Schramm sent e-mails to co-workers and ended up with a team of 11 people.

(Reach reporter Sara Kincaid at 250-8251 or sara.kincaid@bismarcktribune.com.)