Los Angeles, CA – May 17, 2025 – The 32nd Annual Race to Erase MS Gala was held on Friday night at the historic Fairmont Century Plaza. But the sold-out event wasn’t merely a red carpet affair, as the glam night raised over $1.5 million for groundbreaking MS research. Blending fashion, music, and star power for an important and powerful cause.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: Robin Thicke attends the 32nd Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 16, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)
A Legacy in Orange
Helmed by Nancy Davis, longtime MS advocate and founder of the Race to Erase MS and its Center Without Walls program, this year’s gala marked over three decades of tireless fundraising for Multiple Sclerosis research. The Center Without Walls unites top medical minds from institutions like UCLA, Harvard, and Johns Hopkins to work collaboratively toward a cure. And yes — they’re getting results: 24 FDA-approved therapies and counting.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: (L-R) Jennifer Tilly, Kathy Hilton, Heather Dubrow, and Faye Resnick attend the 32nd Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 16, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)
Davis was wearing a Veronica Beard Bead-Trim Flores Maxi Dress and Alessia Pearl-Trim Sequin Jacket as she took the stage to thank supporters with heartfelt honesty. “We all need each other to lean on until we succeed in finding the cause and the ultimate cure for MS,” she said, reminding everyone why they showed up dressed to the nines — to create change.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: (L-R) Sharna Burgess, Brian Austin Green, Peta Murgatroyd, and Maksim Chmerkovskiy attend the 32nd Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 16, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)
The Red Carpet Was Orange-Hot
From OG icons to new-gen influencers, we spotted Ashley Benson and Brandon Davis, Brian Austin Green & Sharna Burgess, Carmen Electra, Diane Warren, Eva LaRue, Tika Sumpter, Katie Cassidy, Kelly Osbourne, Ioan Gruffudd, Lauren Kettering, Lisa Vidal, Val Chmerkovskiy & Jenna Johnson, and Maksim Chmerkovskiy & Peta Murgatroyd, Daniella Karagach & Pasha Pashkov, Shaun Robinson, Tommy & Dee Hilfinger, and more.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: (L-R) Daniella Karagach and Pasha Pashkov perform onstage during the 32nd Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 16, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)
Of course, some of the notable guests included the many doctors who work with Race to Erase MS to help find a cure.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: (L-R) Radha Mitchell, Claire Jensz, John Raftopoulos, Ioan Gruffudd and guest attend the 32nd Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 16, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)
Many in attendance — including Ashley Benson, Caroline Rhea, Frances Fisher, Georgie Flores, Larsen Thompson, Lex Scott Davis, Lisa Vidal, Nichelle Hines, Rebecca Rittenhouse, Siedah Garrett, and Tika Sumpter — were repping Veronica Beard’s signature cool-girl silhouettes — a nod to the brand’s sponsorship and signature orange runway show that kicked off the entertainment during the evening.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: (L-R) Siedah Garrett and Thelma Houston perform onstage during the 32nd Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 16, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)
A-List Entertainment with Heart
The event raised over $1.5 million to benefit the Race to Erase MS and its Center Without Walls program, a collaboration of top MS research centers working together as a team on groundbreaking research to treat and, ultimately, find a cure for MS. The star-studded event, hosted by Caroline Rhea, featured performances by Robin Thicke, A Great Big World, and Siedah Garrett. Veronica Beard kicked off the evening with a fashion show.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: Veronica Swanson Beard, wearing Veronica Swanson Beard, is seen backstage during the 32nd Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 16, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)
David Faustino introduced Grammy-winning duo A Great Big World, who performed their hit song “Say Something,” — but another standout moment came when Chad King debuted a new song inspired by his personal journey with MS. “The fact that I’m able to strum a chord is incredible to me,” he said, receiving a standing ovation from the audience.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: (L-R) Ian Axel and Chad King of A Great Big World perform onstage during the 32nd Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 16, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)
Next, Dancing with the Stars pros Daniella Karagach and Pasha Pashkov brought the heat with a live ballroom routine, followed by Siedah Garrett, who belted out “Man in the Mirror” and “You are the Universe.” The grand finale? Five-time Grammy nominee Robin Thicke closed the night with a set including “Blurred Lines,” “Magic,” and a Prince cover that had the entire room on their feet. Legends Siedah Garrett and Thelma Houston led a rendition of “Lean On Me” that turned the gala into an impromptu sing-along.
Luxe Giving: The Auction
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: (L-R) Rick Hilton, Kelly Osbourne, and Kathy Hilton attend the 32nd Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 16, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)
The event also hosted a luxurious live auction, including one-of-a-kind opportunities and getaways — like a four-night yacht charter in the Bahamas, three-night stay at luxury resort in Aspen, Colo., The Little Nell, along with two round-trip flights on Aero and a $500 gift voucher for Catch Steak Aspen; a yellow gold diamond pendant from RobinHood Diamonds; a four-night private yacht charter with a crew and gourmet chef in Nassau, Bahamas; a three-night Irish countryside getaway with Chef Catherine Fulvio at the Ballyknocken Farmhouse & Cookery School, along with a 250,000 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan with over 30 global partners — and even an invite to Kathy Hilton’s annual holiday pajama party.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: (L-R) Daniella Karagach and Pasha Pashkov attend the 32nd Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 16, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)
With guests bidding on a variety of designer jewels, drinks, luxury stays, and an original RETNA painting, the auction alone raised serious cash for the cause.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: (L-R) Tommy Hilfiger and Dee Ocleppo Hilfiger attend the 32nd Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 16, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)
Presenting sponsors of the event included Fairmont Century Plaza, Veronica Beard, and Associated Television International, with product sponsors Adam Vodka, G.H. Mumm Grand Brut Champagne, Hafner Vineyards, Malibu Rocky Oaks Estate Vineyards, Sanpellegrino, and Acqua Panna Fine Dining Waters.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: (L-R) Nancy Davis, President and Founder, Race to Erase MS, wearing Veronica Swanson Beard, and Diane Warren attend the 32nd Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 16, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)
How You Can Help
Donate to Race to Erase MS. Or support the cause from shopping in Los Angeles — this weekend, Veronica Beard will donate a percentage of profits from sales from its Beverly Hills store locations – just tell them when you check out.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: (L-R) Lauren Goldenberg and Dr Emmanuelle Waubant, Medical Director at Race to Erase MS, attend the 32nd Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 16, 2025, in Los Angeles, California.
About Race to Erase MS
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: Carmen Electra attends the 32nd Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 16, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)
Race to Erase MS was founded in 1993 by Nancy Davis and is dedicated to the treatment and ultimate cure of Multiple Sclerosis. Since the Race to Erase MS foundation was created, there has been more than $58 million raised and 24 FDA-approved therapies created to aggressively fight MS that have provided hope, inspiration, and resources to those in the Multiple Sclerosis community. The gala directly benefits the foundation’s Center Without Walls program, a unique collaboration between the world’s leading MS research scientists and investigators who have bolstered their efforts into collective action that has led to exciting discoveries in the search for a cure.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: (L-R) Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson Chmerkovskiy attend the 32nd Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 16, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)
The Center Without Walls program currently includes physicians, scientists, and clinicians from Cedars-Sinai, UCSF, Harvard, Yale, Oregon Health Science University, Johns Hopkins, UCLA, and USC. The Race to Erase MS Gala has been instrumental in funding pilot studies that have contributed to drugs now on the market and other very important therapies that are improving the lives of people worldwide suffering from MS.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: (L-R) Stephen Huszar and Katie Cassidy attend the 32nd Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 16, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)
Davis also created the annual “Orange You Happy to Erase MS” campaign, which takes place for the entire month of May (MS Awareness Month) and adds yet another branch of fundraising for MS research. Throughout the month, a variety of orange products, many of which are specially created for this initiative, are sold to benefit the cause and elevate public awareness about MS.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: Guests appear onstage during the 32nd Annual Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 16, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Race to Erase MS)
