For Murray Kushner, the fight against MS is strictly personal.

Pop diva Bette Midler performed in concert June 20 and typically enthralled a sold-out crowd of more than 2,700 attending "Musical Moments for MS," a benefit at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center here to raise money for multiple sclerosis research.

But the devine Ms. Midler and actor Tony Randall, who hosted the gala, shared center stage that evening with a New Jersey real estate developer and his wife who brought to a successful conclusion the second concert they have organized to benefit MS research at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ).

Preliminary reports indicate that the latest gala brought in proceeds of $2.2 million -- more than a similar event in 1998 that starred Linda Ronstadt.

Like many of his colleagues, Livingston, N.J. real estate developer Murray Kushner donates to lots of charities. He has raised funds for the United Jewish Appeal of Metro West, contributed with other members of his family to the Joesph Kushner Hebrew Academy in Livingston and donated to various other charities through his company Schenkman/Kushner Affiliates.

But when it comes to multiple sclerosis, Murray Kushner takes a distinctly personal interest. His wife, Lee, was stricken with the thus-far incurable disease of the central nervous system seven years ago. And while her condition is currently mild and not debilitating the future is uncertain; MS is very unpredictable and can worsen at any time.

"Lee and I have learned a lot about MS since her diagnosis," Mr. Kushner points out. "We discovered that while drugs have become available in the past decade to treat the disease, they cannot cure it. There's still tremendous research needed to find a cure and that takes money -- a lot of it."

In November, 1998, the Kushners organized the first "Musical Moments for MS," the proceeds of which established an endowed professorship in multiple sclerosis research at UMDNJ.

"It was a fantastic evening," recalls Lee Kushner, who has a mild case of MS that is being treated in a preventative way which does not affect her high-energy lifestyle. "And the way people responded was incredible. In fact, the results were so impressive that we couldn't let it end there."

Almost nine months in preparation, the Bette Midler concert again took over the lives of both Kushners. Regular meetings were necessary to coordinate the myraid of medical, pharmaceutical and marketing professionals who volunteered their time for the project. Hours were spent on the phone for fund-raising -- cajoling friends, obtaining new lists, making sure everything is on schedule.

"It was all-consuming," says Murray, who took care of many of the details personally. "The minutia was unbelievable. But when everything finally came together, it was worth it."

Money raised from the first "Musical Moments Benefit" was used to establish an endowed professorship in multiple sclerosis research at UMDNJ's Neurological Institute of New Jersey. Dr. Stuart D. Cook, President of UMDNJ and internationally recognized for his contributions to the field of MS research, was named to the Ruth Dunietz Kushner and Michael J. Serwitz chair last September.

"Thanks to people like Lee and Murray Kushner we have one of the world's most prominent MS Research Centers here in New Jersey, with a real opportunity to find a cure for this disease."