MS Connection, spring 2014

SPRING 2014 UPPER MIDWEST CHAPTER

MS Connection Newsletter

Be inspired. Get connected. Walk MS.

INSIDE 04 THIS ISSUE

MS Awareness Week is March 3 to 9

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Sign up for a Walk MS event near you

The promise of myelin repair

Upcoming programs

2 Studies show that early and ongoing treatment with an FDA-approved therapy can reduce future disease activity and improve quality of life for many people with multiple sclerosis. The National MS Society’s medical advisors recommend that people with MS talk with their health care professionals about using these medications and about effective strategies and treatments to manage symptoms. If you or someone you know has MS, please visit nationalMSsociety.org or call 800-582-5296 to learn more.

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Can you help us?

If you’re able to make an in-kind donation to the Upper Midwest Chapter, contact Jenn at 612-335-7925, 800-582-5296 (option 2) or jennifer.baumgartner@nmss.org. To see the full in-kind list, visit MSsociety.org and click “Donate.” n

Electronic readers (Kindle, Nook)

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Jump drives (portable storage devices)

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Power pallet jack

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Bike rack

Lanyards and clear name badges

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Digital photo printer

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Gift cards (restaurants, convenience stores, etc.)

Gift basket items for silent auctions

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Dry-erase board

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Concert and event tickets

National Multiple Sclerosis Society Upper Midwest Chapter 200 12th Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55415 800-582-5296 Board chair: Larry Schmid Chapter president: Holly Anderson Editor: Maggie Flanagan Design: Sue Schweitzer © 2014 National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Upper Midwest Chapter

Information provided by the National MS Society is based upon professional advice, published experience and expert opinion. Information provided in response to questions does not constitute therapeutic recommendations or prescriptions. The Society recommends all questions and information be discussed with a personal physician.

The Society does not endorse products, services or manufacturers. Such names appear here solely because they are considered valuable information. The Society assumes no liability for the use or contents or any product or service mentioned.

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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Connections matter Today, the very idea of what it means to live with MS is markedly different from 20 years ago. It was about 20 years ago that the very first disease-modifying treatment hit the market, and today, we have 10 of those, not to mention even more in the development pipeline.

Connect with us online If you wish to receive MSConnection via email, please let us know at editor@MSsociety.org.

Upper Midwest Chapter MSsociety.org editor@MSsociety.org Like us: facebook.com/ UpperMidwestMS Follow us: twitter.com/ UpperMidwestMS Watch us: tinyurl.com/ UpperMidwestVideos Find us: @UpperMidwest MS

We now have a better idea of what’s causing MS damage and progression. We understand more than ever the benefits of early and continuous treatment, and thanks to significant investments and a global initiative — progress in the field of nervous system repair is accelerating at warp speed.

A few months ago I attended a dinner with the Society’s Tykeson Fellows. These fellows are some of the best and brightest young scientists in the field of MS and they reminded me that there has never been a more promising time in MS research. In fact, I heard at that dinner that we have made more progress in the last five years than in the 20 years before it.

Today, we also have different ways of accessing information about MS and connecting with others who live with disease. To help strengthen and grow those connections, the Society has redesigned and improved our website functionality. The updated website was launched in hopes to get you relevant information and support when you need it most, and to continue to forge meaningful connections across your chapter area and beyond.

I’m excited to hear your thoughts on our new website and MSconnection.org. Feel free to drop me a line with feedback at holly@nmss.org. n

4 NEWS

What you can do this MS Awareness Week March 3 to 9 is MS Awareness Week.

Raising awareness about multiple sclerosis doesn’t take a lot of work. When you send an email to your friend or coworker inviting them to join you at Walk MS or wear a National MS Society T-shirt while running errands, you’re creating connections. And though these actions may seem small or insignificant, they start a long string of connections that truly strengthen the MS movement.

You help build MS awareness when you share your story and help bring an understanding to this disease that is so often misunderstood. As part of a network of people who are passionate about ending MS, you have a responsibility to raise your voice and to introduce new people to our vision of a world without it.

During this MS Awareness Week, take simple actions to make a big impact, and join thousands of others across the country who are starting important conversations about MS. Here are some ideas.

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Share with at least five people the one thing you wish people knew about MS.

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Visit MSsociety.org and check out the MS Awareness Week page. You’ll find ideas and tools you can use to raise awareness.

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Showcase your awareness activities by posting them on the chapter’s Facebook page at facebook.com/UpperMidwestMS.

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Wear your MS apparel while you’re out during the week.

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Sign up as a participant or volunteer for a chapter event.

As part of a network of people who are passionate about ending multiple sclerosis, you have a responsibility to raise your voice and to introduce new people to our vision of a world without it.

If everyone who received this MS Connection newsletter shared their story with one person, we’d have 20,000 new people in our chapter area who know a little bit more about MS! We’re counting on you to make a connection during MS Awareness Week, and we look forward to hearing your success stories! For more information about MS Awareness Week or to share your ideas, contact Maggie at 612-335-7913 or maggie.flanagan@nmss.org n

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NEWS

Golden Circle gives in 2013 Launched in 2009, the National MS Society’s Golden Circle honors donors who give $1,000 or more annually with a non-event gift. In 2013, 130 members comprised the Chapter’s growing Golden Circle and together, generously gave more than $400,000.

Consider joining Golden Circle and connecting with others who are passionate about the MS movement. Your gift will have immediate

NEWS

Society launches new website The National MS Society believes that by strengthening and growing our connections, we can better address the challenges of living with MS, and eventually destroy the disease entirely. Ensuring that people with MS have an optimal experience the Society website is critical to making these connections and building stronger, more informed communities, which is why we launched a new website.

impact and help speed advancements toward a cure. With a Golden Circle membership, you also can look forward to: n

unmatched access to breaking research news;

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invitations throughout the year to exclusive Golden Circle events;

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subscriptions to both Momentum and Connection magazines;

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invitations to participate in national research calls and conferences; and

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so much more!

For more information about the Golden Circle or donating to the Society, contact Jennifer at 612-335-7965 or jennifer.mcgee@nmss.org. n

Many site visitors — people living with MS, friends and family members, event participants, volunteers, and professionals — have contributed ideas and opinions on the new site. Some exciting enhancements to the improved site experience include: n

a new look and updated navigation;

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a “My Profile” section where you can track your engagement; and

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easy viewing from your smart phone, tablet, or other mobile device.

If you have questions about the new website and the way it works, or want to provide feedback on functionality, please email editor@MSsociety.org. n

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EVENTS

Be inspired.

Get connected.

Walk MS. May 3 South Dakota May 4 Minnesota and Hudson, WI May 17 Iowa Sept. 6 North Dakota Whether it’s the energy of the crowd, the smiles on new faces or the warmth of family members and friends supporting someone they love, there is a celebratory atmosphere everyone should experience at Walk MS. And in its 26th year, there’s much to celebrate.

Because of Walk MS participants, an MS diagnosis isn’t the same as it used to be. Because of Walk MS participants, major progress in care and treatment has been made. Year after year, Walk MS participants have demonstrated their commitment to creating a world where MS no longer exists. We get closer and closer to that world every day thanks to people who take part in Walk MS, people who know their connection to MS means something.

Help strengthen the power of those connections, and register now for one of 33 events in the chapter area. Team up with others, and start raising awareness and asking for donations today.

Money raised at Walk MS supports programs and services for more than 17,000 people who live with the disease in our Upper Midwest Chapter communities. It also funds global studies that contribute to research initiatives that were once only a dream.

Chances are everyone in your community knows someone affected by MS. Walk MS is your chance to do something about it.

Call 855-372-1331 or visit myMSwalk.org to sign up, and ask each of your family members, friends and neighbors to join you. n

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Events

Don’t just ride, Bike MS

invaluable volunteers. Visit the volunteer Web page at myMSbike.org to learn more.

There’s a reason Bike MS is considered the nation’s premier fundraising cycling series.

Find out why. For more information about Bike MS or to register, call 855-372-1331 or visit myMSbike.org.

Bike MS 2014 series Bike MS: Sam’s Club Twin Cities Ride May 10, St. Paul, MN 15, 25 or 50 miles

NEW LOCATION!

Bike MS: C.H. Robinson MS 150 Ride June 6–8, Duluth to the Twin Cities, MN 150 miles

Bike MS: C.H. Robinson Cruise the Cornfields Bike MS is more than just a ride. It’s a group effort that transcends personal accomplishment and touches the lives of more than 17,000 people living with multiple sclerosis in the Upper Midwest Chapter area.

Join us for one or more of the six upper Midwest bike tours, designed for riders of all levels.

Each event offers stocked rest stops, bicycle mechanics, rider assistance along the route, a T-shirt and a finish line meal. All riders must be at least 12 years old.

Want to help but don’t want to pedal? The success of Bike MS is directly related to our

June 21, Ames, IA 25, 50 or 100 miles

Bike MS: TRAM Ride July 13–18, Pipestone to Welch Village, MN Nearly 300 miles

Bike MS: Sanford Health Ride the Wind July 26, Fargo, ND 25, 50 or 100 miles

Bike MS: Sanford Health Pedal the Plains Aug. 2, Sioux Falls, SD 25, 50 or 100 miles

8 ADVOCACY

Be your own best advocate

By Jennifer L aRue Huget Your whole life changes when you learn you have multiple sclerosis. Mine sure did. In my case, those changes weren’t largely physical.

Rather, my diagnosis caused me to reconsider my place in the world and the way I interact with other people and institutions.

Like many others with MS, the process of learning to live with my condition opened my eyes to the necessity for me to become an advocate — for myself and, by extension, for others with MS. I suppose I was accustomed to the concept of advocacy before I was diagnosed. As a mother, I advocated for my kids, seeking the best health care, education opportunities and play dates possible. But those of us with MS also have to learn to advocate for ourselves. We need to assert our own needs and effectively communicate them to our doctors, employers, insurers — even our families and friends. But self-advocacy doesn’t necessarily come naturally. I’ve always been a bit reticent to ask others to do things for me.

The National MS Society, recognizing that many people feel the same way, offers helpful advice at nationalMSsociety.org/selfadvocacy for

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learning to take on the role of self-advocate in the key realms of our lives, from our workplaces and schools to our families and communities.

The term “self-advocacy” can sound kind of daunting. When I first heard it, I thought it meant going to Washington, D.C., to lobby for funds for MS research. I have since learned that, yes, lobbying is at one end of the self-advocacy spectrum. But at the other end of that spectrum, there are many everyday opportunities for self-advocacy. Making sure you’re getting the medical attention you need?

That’s self-advocacy. Reminding others that you can still do your job well, despite limitations your MS places on you? That’s self-advocacy.

At the most basic level, self-advocacy begins with becoming informed. As I shared at the start, self-advocacy doesn’t come naturally to me. But I can read, learn and discuss issues related to MS. Armed with information, I can advocate for myself with the best of them. n Jennifer LaRue Huget was diagnosed with MS in 2001. A freelance writer and children’s book author, she lives in Connecticut with her husband, two teenage kids and two brown dogs. Visit her website at jenniferlaruehuget.com.

Article originally published at blog.nationalMSsociety.org.

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VOLUNTEER

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Many people say one of the best ways to take control of MS is getting involved and giving back. The MS community is strong, but the Society needs your support so that we can continue to fund research and the programs and services that make living with MS a little easier. Every person matters!

Your help is needed Volunteer opportunities abound during the spring and summer months — when the chapter hosts the majority of its fundraising events, including Walk MS and Bike MS. If you’re able to drive trucks, greet participants at a registration table, help with first aid or distribute food and water at rest stops, visit MSsociety.org for event dates and locations near you.

Volunteer Initiated Programs The Upper Midwest Chapter is excited to announce a new volunteer opportunity for people who are passionate about the MS movement and want to create a meaningful experience for people living with the disease.

If you’re interested in planning and executing your own MS education or social event, you can be one of the first to participate in a Volunteer Initiated Program (VIP).

Volunteers who would like to host their own program receive training, guidance and basic marketing support and tools to boost attendance and measure success. By becoming a VIP leader, you can help build a strong, informed community and move us all closer to a world free of MS. For more information, contact James, at 612-335-7984 or james.adkinson@nmss.org. n VIP made possible by a grant from the Otto Bremer Foundation.

10 VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

Five chapter volunteers receive Hall of Fame award Five extraordinary leaders from the Upper Midwest Chapter were named 2013 National MS Society Volunteer Hall of Fame award winners. This prestigious honor is given to the most esteemed and select group of the nation’s Society volunteers.

Richard A. Knutson Richard A. Knutson — recipient of the Volunteer Hall of Fame Volunteer of the Year award — is a dedicated leader in the MS movement, serving on the Upper Midwest Chapter Board of Trustees (formerly Minnesota) for more than 17 years and on the National Board of Directors since 2008. He is recognized for his amazing depth of involvement, positive attitude, generosity, ability to motivate others and his passion for the Society’s mission.

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Dick’s leadership spans two decades in numerous roles locally, regionally and Society-wide, always keeping people living with multiple sclerosis at the center of each conversation and decision. Nationwide, Dick is recognized for his leadership in the Midwest Region, where he has worked to build stronger chapters, successfully leading two historic realignments resulting in a stronger organization with better services for people with MS. At the chapter level, Dick serves on the Executive, Finance and Audit Committees and provides on-the-ground support throughout the year. From working the registration table at Walk MS, to supporting Bike MS cyclists, to speaking at recognition events, his commitment is an inspiration to others.

Janet Nurnberg Hall of Fame Programs and Services Volunteer honoree Janet Nurnberg is passionate about supporting young people impacted by MS. As the founder of the Upper Midwest Chapter’s first-ever 20s and 30s group, Janet has played an integral role in engaging and empowering this important group within the Society. Through her efforts, she has planned and implemented programs connecting people to information, resources and most importantly, one another. Janet also has participated in nearly every chapter fundraising event.

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Brenda Brelje Named Volunteer Hall of Fame Health Care Professional, Brenda Brelje has dedicated her nursing career to supporting patients and families affected by multiple sclerosis through direct patient care, community outreach, public education, fundraising and health care professional mentoring, training and networking. She’s often lending her expertise as a speaker, moderator and host for chapter programs.

Susan Stellmacher Susan Stellmacher, recipient of the Volunteer Hall of Fame Advocacy award, is the definition of an MS activist.

She led a comprehensive voter-engagement campaign across the chapter area, advocated for accessible, affordable housing, testified at legislative hearings

and has rallied and educated the disability community around the importance of activism.

Dr. Claudia Lucchinetti Dr. Claudia Lucchinetti of the Mayo Clinic was awarded Volunteer Hall of Fame for Scientific Research.

As principal investigator of the MS Lesion Project, Claudia has been working to better understand the sequence of nervous system damage in MS in an effort to stop disease progression.

Lucchinetti also contributes to patient and professional education programs and has recruited colleagues, fellows and other trainees to join the MS movement by highlighting both MS clinical care and research.

Congratulations, National Volunteer Hall of Fame award recipients! The Upper Midwest Chapter is extremely proud and grateful for all your years of service to people with MS and the Society. n

Norman Cohn Hope Award The Norman Cohn Hope Award is the most prestigious volunteer award given at the chapter level. Mike Schrock, 2013 award recipient, joined the Upper Midwest Chapter’s Board of Trustees in 2004 — since serving in a number of roles and playing a key role in developing the MS Scholarship Program. Mike has done an incredible amount of fundraising, too, generating more than $120,000 for Bike MS and Walk MS, in addition to personal gifts and his efforts as the captain of Team Pentair.

12 RESEARCH

THE PROMISE OF MYELIN REPAIR

BY BRUCE BEBO, PH.D. When I started as a laboratory immunologist more than 20 years ago, the major focus in MS research was searching for ways to turn off destructive immune attacks, which resulted in immune-based therapies that can help control relapsing forms of the disease for many people.

While researchers continue to look for ways to improve treatment of relapsing MS, the focus in MS research is shifting to finding strategies that stop MS progression and repair the damage that causes disability. This is relevant to people with all types of MS, but especially to people with progressive forms of the disease.

DREAM TO REALITY People are excited by the possibility, once only a dream, that we’ll find a way to repair damaged myelin. This would be important for restoring function, and many believe that re-establishing the protective myelin coating on axons may even shield them from further harm.

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Bruce Trapp, Ph.D., and his team at Cleveland Clinic have been working hard to advance the field of nervous system repair. They’ve shown that new MS lesions undergo natural repair much better than older ones. They also reported that the problem is not a lack of cells capable of making new myelin in old lesions, but their inability to produce new myelin. Work is now underway to figure out what the impediment is and how to jump-start the repair process.

Work on MS lesions is intriguing because it straddles two different parts of the brain — the so-called white matter and gray matter.

The Cleveland Clinic team found that chronic lesions in the white matter don’t remyelinate.

But chronic lesions in the gray matter show robust remyelination — even in people living with MS into their 70s. This opens up opportunities to compare differences in the two regions and figure out how to make white matter repair itself like gray matter.

the focus in MS research is shifting to finding strategies that stop MS progression and repair the damage that causes disability.

In related research, Larry Sherman, Ph.D., and colleagues at the Oregon Health & Science University found that fragments of a molecule called hyaluronic acid (HA for short) accumulate

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in chronic white matter lesions and could be at least partially responsible for the stalled remyelination. They have identified an enzyme that chews the HA into fragments and have shown that inhibitors of this enzyme promote remyelination. They’re now trying to figure out exactly how this works, in hopes of developing treatments that promote remyelination.

MORE POSSIBILITIES Increasing evidence suggests that female sex hormones might be neuroprotective and/ or promote repair of myelin. The Society is supporting two projects that reported different estrogen-like molecules could stimulate production of new myelin. Last October, these findings were presented at the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS), the world’s largest professional organization dedicated to the understanding and treatment of MS. Another strategy to repair myelin in MS is to introduce new repair cells into the system via transplantation. Of note was an ECTRIMS presentation by investigators from Milan, Italy, who used mouse skin stem cells and forced them to become myelin-making cells. After these cells were infused into the spinal cord, they promoted recovery in mice with the MS-like disease. The team is working to identify the growth factors released that stimulate natural repair and reduce inflammation. More work is needed, but there’s hope this strategy may eventually help restore lost function.

13 Updates on two repair therapies already being tested in clinical trials were also presented. The first is called anti-LINGO, which has been shown to promote remyelination in animal models. An investigative team from Biogen Idec reported that anti-LINGO was well tolerated in people and that no negative effects were seen. The company will likely keep pursuing clinical development of this promising repair candidate.

Additionally, investigators from the Mayo Clinic are developing an agent called rHIgM22 that has been shown to promote extensive remyelination in several different animal models of MS. This agent is now in early clinical trial testing in MS. We’re not there yet, but recent and ongoing research holds the promise of uncovering new targets for stopping progression and stimulating repair.

To learn more about exciting news in MS research and intriguing leads on the horizon, visit nationalMSsociety.org/research. n Bruce Bebo, Ph.D., is the associate vice president of discovery research at the National MS Society.

Article originally published at MSconnection.org/blog.

14 Corporate Spotlight

MS Annual Conferences sponsorship support The 2014 MS Annual Conference series brought together individuals affected by MS to learn about the latest research, connect with professionals and community members who understand living with MS and honored leaders in the MS movement who have dedicated their time, talent and treasure to the Society. So far, events have been held in Minneapolis, Minn., Sioux Falls, S.D., and Fargo N.D. The Iowa MS Annual Conference will be hosted in Ankeny Saturday, March 15. To learn more, turn to page 16.

These conferences — attended by more than 2,000 MS professionals, volunteers, programs facilitators, fundraisers, corporate partners and people living with MS — were made possible with support from the following corporate partners. Thank you! n

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Chapter programs

Upcoming programs Programs listed are free unless otherwise noted. For more information or to register for a listed program, visit MSsociety.org or call 800-582-5296 (option 1).

Program feature Youth Camp June 16–21, YMCA Camp Icaghowan, 899 115th St., Amery, WI Now in its 15th year, Youth Camp brings together young people entering grades four through 12, who live with someone who has MS, for a week of summertime fun, memory-making and personal growth. Youth Camp is hosted at YMCA Camp Icaghowan, which spans an entire island on the edge of beautiful Lake Wapogasset.

Campers can enjoy a variety of activities, such as swimming, high ropes and horseback riding.

The program fee is $175 per child; fee adjustments are available upon request. Requests for travel assistance can be made with applications and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Online applications are available at MSsociety.org and must be received by April 30. For more information or to request an application, contact Krista at 612-335-7937 or krista.harding@nmss.org.

IOWA MS Annual Conference Saturday, March 15, 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Prairie Meadows Event & Conference Center 1 Prairie Meadows Drive, Altoona, IA 50009 Learn more about the important work the Society is doing, discuss the progress that’s been made and what’s in store for the future.

Plus, help us recognize volunteers, fundraisers, donors and other leaders in the MS movement.

Teen Summit The Iowa MS Annual Conference includes a social event for 13- to 19-year-olds who have a connection to MS. At the Summit, teens can socialize with peers, provide input on chapter offerings, learn ways to get involved and have fun! Registration is required.

16 Everyday Matters: living Your Best Life with MS Saturday, March 22, 10 a.m.

Mahaska County Hospital, Education Center 1229 C Ave. E., Oskaloosa, IA 52577 Sunday, April 19, 2 p.m.

Walnut Ridge at Clive Senior Community 1701 Campus Drive, Clive, IA 50325 Everyone has their own idea of what it means to live their “best life.” For people with MS, the idea of that best life can change due to the challenges of having a chronic, unpredictable and lifelong disease. In this program, learn principles of positive psychology, including strategies to enhance personal strengths that can help you live your best life with MS. To RSVP for the Oskaloosa program, contact Lin at 641-295-2030 or linyoder@gmail.com.

To RSVP for the Clive program , contact David at 515-556-5338 or dlmetal@mediacombb.net.

Face time with your local neurologist Second Thursday of the month, 11:30 a.m.

Mercy Ruan MS Center 1111 Sixth Ave., Des Moines, IA, 50314 Neurologists from local MS clinics host these informal, question-and-answer style sessions about living with MS and research. RSVPs are appreciated but not required. Contact Valerie Stickel-Diehl, R.N., M.S., M.S.C.N., at VStickel-Diehl@mercydesmoines.org or 515-358-0002.

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MINNESOTA Making Treatment and Lifestyle Decisions: Managing Benefits and Risks Tuesday, March 4, 6:30 p.m.

Cloquet Gospel Tabernacle 1400 Washington Ave., Cloquet, MN 55720 Wednesday, March 19, 6 p.m.

CentraCare Medical Center 1013 Hart Blvd., Monticello, MN 55362 When considering MS treatments and symptom management options, it’s important to consider the reliability of information sources and the preferences of family and friends. A number of additional factors can complicate decisions, such as: how much risk we’re comfortable with, tolerance to side effects, the convenience of treatment method and more. In this program, we’ll consider these and other factors that can influence treatment decisions and lifestyle choices.

To RSVP for the Cloquet program, please contact Karen at 218-499-8105 or bkc3laine@yahoo.com. To RSVP for the Monticello program, contact Jane at 763-295-8103 or dnjtref@gmail.com.

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Care Partner happy hour Thursday, March 20, 5–7 p.m.

Good Day Café 5410 Wayzata Blvd., Minneapolis, MN Join us for an opportunity to connect with others who understand the experience of caring for someone who has MS in a charming, casual setting! Guests are responsible for purchasing their own food and beverages.

Service Dogs for People with MS Tuesday, April 1, 6:30 p.m.

Cloquet Gospel Tabernacle 1400 Washington Ave., Cloquet, MN 55720 Learn more about service dogs and how they can benefit people living with disabilities. To RSVP, contact Karen at 218-499-8105 or bkc3laine@yahoo.com.

Majestic Shores Resort May 3–7; May 7–11 Camp Courage, Maple Lake, MN Majestic Shores Resort, held in two sessions, is a five-day retreat for adults with MS held at Camp Courage on the shores of beautiful Cedar Lake near Maple Lake, Minn. Guests meet new friends and reconnect with old ones while enjoying outdoor leisure activities like pontoon boat rides, fishing and music by the lake, as well as indoor activities like crafts, education workshops and games. The program fee is $200 per guest. Fee adjustments are available upon request.

For more information or to request an application, contact Jeannie at 612-335-7939 or jeannie.zank@nmss.org. Applications must be received by March 10.

South Dakota Making Treatment and Lifestyle Decisions: Managing Benefits and Risks Monday, April 14, 6 p.m.

First Congregational Church 125 E. Seventh Ave., Redfield, SD 57469 When considering MS treatments and symptom management options, it’s important to consider the reliability of information sources and the preferences of family and friends. A number of additional factors can complicate decisions, such as: how much risk we’re comfortable with, tolerance to side effects, the convenience of treatment method and more. In this program, we’ll consider these and other factors that can influence treatment decisions and lifestyle choices.

To RSVP, contact Sandy at 605-472-0217 or smthorn@abe.midco.net.

18 Anywhere, anytime programs Anywhere, anytime programs can be accessed online or by telephone. The Society has designed a number of programs that can be accessed at your convenience, putting MS education right at your fingertips, right when you need it.

Midwest Teleconference Series Each month, an MS specialist provides up-to-date information on a specific topic in a one-hour teleconference format. To learn more or register, visit MSsociety.org or call 800-582-5296. Recordings of passed teleconferences can be found at MSsociety.org.

Monday, March 10, 7–8 p.m. (CST) “How MS Affects Vision” with Dr. Jonathan Calkwood, neurologist, Minneapolis Clinic of Neurology n

Monday, April 14, 7–8 p.m. (CST) “Sharing Your Diagnosis with Friends and Family” with Tamara Lott, licensed clinical professional counselor, One Counseling and Wellness n

May 12, 7–8 p.m. (CST) “Managing Bowel and Bladder Issues” with Mary Kay Fink, adult clinical nurse specialist and MS-certified nurse, The MS Center of Saint Louis n

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Tuesday, March 11, 9–10:15 p.m. (CST) “How MS Affects Vision” with Dr. Jonathan Calkwood, neurologist, Minneapolis Clinic of Neurology

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Get Fit, Stay Fit & Exercise with MS Join physical therapist Tammy Roehrs and exercise physiologist Alex Ng in this webinar to learn more about exercising, and creating your own individualized exercise plan or how to improve your existing exercise regimen. Plus, get tips and advice on how to become or stay fit regardless of the challenges you face with MS or your current fitness level.

Visit mscando.org/webinar to register.

MSConnection.org MSConnection.org — an online community that’s all about making meaningful connections when, where and how you want — provides easy access to the best content and resources the MS community can bring you. You’ll learn about the topics that are most important to you, connect with people you want to connect with and have expert MS information right at your fingertips.

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Calendar of Events To learn more about the events listed below, visit MSsociety.org or call 800-582-5296.

On the Move Little Black Dress Luncheon March 6, Fargo, ND Enjoy good food, inspirational speakers and a live and silent auction with other people who are passionate about ending MS.

MS Annual Conference March 15, Altoona, IA Learn more about MS research, the progress we’ve made and what’s in store for the future.

Plus, connect with people who live with MS and local resources in your community.

Walk MS May 3, South Dakota Join South Dakota in walking toward a world free of MS in one of four locations.

Walk MS May 4, Minnesota Join Minnesota and Hudson, Wisc., in walking toward a world free of MS in one of 18 locations.

Bike MS: Sam’s Club Twin Cities Ride May 10, St. Paul, MN Ride 15, 25 or 50 miles and celebrate your ride and fundraising efforts at Summit Brewery’s festive finish line celebration.

Walk MS May 17, Iowa Join Iowa in walking toward a world free of MS in one of seven locations.

Bike MS: C.H. Robinson MS 150 Ride June 6–8, Duluth to the Twin Cities, MN Nearly 4,000 cyclists ride 150 miles in two days while raising money for people with MS.

Bike MS: C.H. Robinson Cruise the Cornfields June 21, Ames, IA Ride 25, 50 or 100 miles through the Ames area and enjoy a festive finish line celebration.

Nonprofit US Postage

PAID

Twin Cities, MN Permit No. 1759

200 12th Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55415-1255

Walking for Jillian, diagnosed in 2009

Bike MS: Upper Midwest » Six extraordinary rides » One destination: A world free of MS

At Bike MS, it’s not just the miles that matter — it’s the unforgettable experience. The National MS Society, Upper Midwest Chapter hosts six unique rides in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Experience fun, challenging and scenic routes and top-notch support from start to finish while making a difference in the lives of people with multiple sclerosis.

Register Today

myMSbike.org » 800-582-5296