UCLA FOOTBALL: FRIENDS DO THE WALKING BRUINS SUPPORT EX-TEAMMATE IN MS EVENT.

Byline: JILL PAINTER

Staff Writer

When Robert Kibble needs help walking, he turns to a motorized chair.

Kibble prefers not to use it, but because he's battling multiple sclerosis, it's often the only solution.

Today, Kibble's UCLA teammates will walk in support of him in the Greater Los Angeles 5K Walk, benefiting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, at the Rose Bowl.

Kibble came to UCLA from Houston as a promising defensive back. He learned he had the disease before his senior year at Westfield High and figured he could cope and still play football. He played on special teams his freshman year for the Bruins, but frequent episodes that landed him in the hospital were too much to overcome and in November, Kibble had to retire from football.

Still, he's very much a part of the Bruins.

"It means a lot to me," Kibble said of his teammates' support. "I wasn't sure if they were going to go for it. A lot of people don't know about the disease, but seeing me in the hospital, I feel like they're a little more in touch now with the disease."

Kibble's doctors have tried a combination of medications to battle the incurable disease, one of which -- at least for Kibble -- is chemo-therapy. It seems to be working well. He underwent chemo-therapy Friday and has just one more session. Provided he's feeling up to it, he plans to be in Pasadena.

"Maybe they can find a cure for this disease," said Gary DeLoach, UCLA's safeties coach. "With stem-cell research, California seems like the place to be. He's still fighting this."

It was less than a year ago that Kibble still harbored hope he could return to football. As he watched UCLA practice the recently, Kibble talked about how he used to have similar athletic ability. And he watched as DeLoach did his usual screaming routine.

"He still yells at me," Kibble said with a smile. "He'll tell me when I'm out here that it's too hot for me, or that I look too skinny. He doesn't treat me any different, and I'm glad."

Kibble most recently had an attack in February, and DeLoach had to carry him from his hospital bed to the bathroom. According to WebMD.com, MS is a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord, resulting in loss of muscle control, vision, balance, sensation or thinking ability.

"I wasn't aware of MS until it happened to him," Bruins safety Chris Horton said. "He's excited about this. He's always part of this team. It uplifts this team to see him out here."

Kibble has found a new connection with other MS patients. Kibble is shy by nature, but he said he has surprsingly come to enjoy talking with others about it.

"You kind of have to embrace it," Kibble said. "It's going to be a part of me forever, until they find a cure. It used to hurt to talk about it. I'm still learning how to deal with it, but I've been living with it for almost three years."

Kibble is about halfway toward earning his sociology degree and is on a medical retirement scholarship. He's marrying his fiance, Jazzmin Ramirez, in June, and Ramirez and their daugther, Kayla Kibble, will move from Texas to live with Kibble.

He said it's another step into manhood.

"My main goal is to walk out of here with a degree," Kibble said. "That's why I came here."

It will be a walk that surely is just as memorable as today's.

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2 photos

Photo:

(1) A battle with multiple sclerosis forced Robert Kibble to quit playing football at UCLA.

Scott Quintard/Icon SMI 

(2) KIBBLE