Winter 2014 MS Connection Newsletter

National Multiple Sclerosis Society

WINTER 2014

MS CONNECTION NEWSLETTER

COLORADO-WYOMING CHAPTER

Colorado-Wyoming Chapter

EVERY CONNECTION COUNTS

Beating MS Fatigue 8 An MS Research Revolution

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Cherish diagnosed in 2002

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

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DIY FUNDRAISING SUCCESS

I AM WHY WE WALK

RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

MS AWARENESS WEEK 2014

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Friends, A new year has arrived and with it comes unlimited opportunities to make more people aware of our mission and to grow the support and awareness that makes our voice and our work stronger. On behalf of the board and staff, I want to thank everyone—our donors, event participants, sponsors, volunteers, and advocates—who played a part in making 2013 such a success. We look forward to again providing many diverse activities that keep our extraordinary momentum going.

The momentum we experience at every event and gathering isn’t randomly achieved; it is fostered by engagement that stems from making every connection count. I’m sure most of you have received the support of someone, who quickly became a supporter. Often these same people say they would have become involved sooner, but didn’t know about the impact of MS or were simply never asked. We have an abundance of generous people in communities across Colorado and Wyoming who want to make a difference.

Now is the time to let them know how every gift and every connection is taking us closer to stopping MS, reversing damage caused by MS and ending MS forever.

In this issue you will read about exciting research happening right here in our Chapter territory as well as where the Society’s exceptional research fellows see advancements on the horizon.

Our 2014 event schedule is also listed, so mark your calendars and connect with friends, neighbors, peers and acquaintances to start a team, grow a team or volunteer.

Whether having a casual conversation at the grocery store or coffee shop, actively recruiting for a Walk MS, Bike MS, Hike MS or MuckFest MS team, or inviting someone to a DIY event, remember there are moments in each and every day to connect and share our story.

Now is the time to get involved and make every connection count.

As our connections quickly multiply, so does our ability to make progress, moving all of us ever closer to living in a world free of MS. Sincerely,

MS Connection is published by the Colorado-Wyoming Chapter, National MS Society 900 S. Broadway, Suite 250 Denver, CO 80209 Info: 800 FIGHT MS (344-4867) Newsletter Distribution—If you have a change of address or would like to receive MS Connection electronically, please call 800-344-4867.

If you or someone you know has MS—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. Talk to your health care professional, or contact the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) to learn about ways to help manage multiple sclerosis and about the current research that may one day reveal a cure.

The NMSS does not endorse products, services or manufacturers.

Such names appear here solely because they are considered valuable information. The NMSS assumes no liability for the use of contents of any product or service mentioned. Information provided by the NMSS is based on professional advice and expert opinion.

Information provided in response to questions do not constitute therapeutic recommendations or prescriptions. The NMSS recommends that all questions and information be discussed with a personal physician. The NMSS is dedicated to a world free of MS. Chapter President Carrie H. Nolan Board of Trustees Kyle Ocasek, Chair Brandt Wilkins, Immediate Past Chair Kathryn Spritzer, Secretary Rob Hartnett, Treasurer Alison "Brooke" Allen, MD Carl Berglind Whit Conant John Corboy, MD Claudia Curry Hill Chris Doerr Shauna Giddings Schmitz Marley Hodgson III Craig Lopez Deborah O’Neil Richard Raymond, MD Travis White Jo Wilson Emeritus Trustees George Garmany, MD Ralph Holden David Lord Janet Savage ©2014 National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Colorado-Wyoming Chapter

Carrie H. Nolan President

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MS CONNECTION: WINTER 2014

IN THE NEWS NEW BOARD CHAIR Kyle Ocasek

DO IT YOURSELF EVENT

Rallies the Aspen Community

Lexi McNutt shares her passion for running with a close group of friends. This combination of running and friendship eventually led to a new and very successful Do It Yourself (DIY) fundraising event.

The 44-year-old was diagnosed with MS in 2011 after she experiencing vision problems that didn’t fit the usual pattern of her migraine headaches. An MRI confirmed MS, but it took Lexi time to accept she had the disease. “I couldn’t see the symptoms, so in some way it didn’t feel real,” she explained. “I postponed starting treatment, but after seeing people quickly progress from showing no symptoms to many, I changed my mind and began medication. Eventually I reached a place where I knew I was benefiting from research and decided to give back through a fundrasier. I also knew it was time to let my running companions know that I had MS.

and established a $40 entry fee. We also asked participants to raise an additional $50, which would enter runners into a raffle drawing for gifts donated from restaurants and local clothing stores.” The event was a huge success raising more than $30,000!

“Creating a DIY event took a lot of hard work and time, but was well worth the effort. What I received back—the love of my family and support from friends and the community—surpassed any of my expectations. A DIY event is an ideal way to raise awareness and funds, open conversations and engage people to help end MS. I encourage anyone with a DIY idea to act on it and experience the joy of making an impact.”

Lexi and her husband Ray are already planning the 2014 TNT run and with the goal of increasing participation by promoting teams, which she sees as the logical next step. n

“When I shared my diagnosis everyone was surprised, but very supportive. I discussed the idea of starting a small friends and family 10K fundraiser to benefit the National MS Society and everyone was immediately on board. We decided this was also an opportunity to reach out to the greater community and offer a different experience for runners. Most run courses follow bike paths, but there are so many beautiful trails that connect to the bike paths in Aspen, we decided to incorporate a back country experience as well, and the Town ‘n’ Trail (TNT) 10K was born.

We set a goal to have 100 participants

CUREMSCO-WY.ORG 1-800-FIGHT MS (344-4867)

Senior director with management consulting firm Point B, Kyle was elected chairman of the board of trustees in October 2013. He has more than twenty years of consulting experience spanning a variety of industry groups.

Ocasek initially connected with the Society by riding in Bike MS to support his wife Sarah, who was diagnosed with MS in 1999.

He joined the Chapter’s board in 2010.

"Each year the Society strives to ensure every dollar has the greatest impact. As a board we are looking to enhance our role as ambassadors, further increasing connections with our community."

Point B sponsors the National MS Society in several markets, including Colorado where the company is the presenting sponsor of Bike MS Colorado.

Do It Yourself (DIY) fundraising is an opportunity for people to raise awareness and critical funds in new and creative ways.

Have an idea for a fundraiser to benefit the Society but not sure where to start?

Check out the Do It Yourself Fundraising Guide:

cureMSco-wy.org click Fundraising Events

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RESEARCH EVENTS

TEAM STAY FIT AT HYATT

Surpasses $1 Million Dollar Mark!

WALK MS 2014

Why We Walk I experienced the first symptoms of multiple sclerosis two years ago on a beautiful day in the Rocky Mountains.

My husband John and I were sneaking in a little time together with a few ski runs before picking up our kids from school later that afternoon.

Back then I was physically fit, exercising daily and living an overall healthy lifestyle. My first symptom was blurred vision. A couple of months later I began to have weakness and pain in my legs, imbalance, difficulty walking, depression and fatigue. The active lifestyle that our family had always enjoyed changed dramatically within just a few months.

Bike MS Team Stay Fit at Hyatt raised over $1 million during the 2013 Newmont Bike MS, presented

by Point B! Their team has grown from 3 members (in 2000) to 200 cyclists, making them our largest Bike team.

"The key to our team's growth and fundraising success is keeping focused on the mission when recruiting team members.

We also host lots of popular events throughout the year like our golf tournament."

The hardest part for me has been acceptance. The Society has provided my family and I with information and guidance as well as encouragement through their support programs. They helped me find the words to tell our children that I have MS and what that might mean to our family. Hearing stories of others that have experiences similar to my own make me feel like I am not alone and getting involved with the Society through Walk MS has helped me to feel connected.

Laura Fry, Walk MS participant, and family

spirited friends who encouraged me to walk, gave my family and I the opportunity to celebrate the goodness that comes from people coming together in love. The Lord has given me an amazing family, caring friends and delivers perfect strangers to lift my spirits when I need it most. This is what I call “Laura's Army of Angels.”

N AT I O N A

This year I will share my story with 10,000 other walkers at Denver City Park. If my story can provide hope to just one other person the way other’s stories of courage and faith have done for me then my life’s purpose will be fulfilled. n

REGISTER TODAY: walkMScolorado.org walkMSwyoming.org

Walk MS allowed me to get involved, share my story and do something about MS now. The event and my wonderful,

Mark your calendars!

-Team Captain Greg Leonard Team Stay Fit at Hyatt has joined teams Home Buyers Warranty, Great-West Life, Team Sugar Bee and the Raw Hinies as distinctive Bike and Walk MS teams that have achieved this remarkable fundraising milestone.

REGISTER TODAY: bikeMScolorado.org bikeMSwyoming.org

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September 10

cureMSco-wy.org

September 13

MuckFestMS.com

Summer 2014

hikeMS.com

Denver Luncheon

Larkspur, CO

Copper Mountain

MS CONNECTION: WINTER 2014

N A T IThe O NChapter A L M Swould S O Clike I E to T Ythank

the following members of the Golden Circle Club for supporting vital MS programs, services and research through generous donations made from October 1, 2013 – December 10, 2013

BECOME A GOLDEN CIRCLE MEMBER

Barish Family Foundation Carl and Meghan Berglind Phillip and Marje Clark Elfriede and Gary Cooper Stephan Di Tirro Amy Dorsey Edward and Barbara Netter Foundation Inc Brian and Wendy Farley Dr. Andrew and Chrissy Fedorowicz Patrick Finney Mark and Nancy Foster Paula Galloway and Stanley Slater Frank and Anne Goldsmith Harmes C. Fishback Foundation Trust Todd and Marie Hauer

Sarah and Eric Hilty Mike and Elizabeth King Dr. Stuart and Arlene Lerman Loretta and Leigh Norgren Foundation LP Brown Foundation Axson and Bryan Morgan Dick and Jane Raymond Elizabeth and Scott Rigsby George T. Sanders Company Ann Sandquist Mark Schouten Jeffrey Sepich Dr. William and Kristi Shaffer Betty Shuel Clarence and Emily Stump Mary and David Solomon/ Goldman Sachs Gives

GIVING The Spritzer Family Fund David and Susan Thomas James Veldkamp Dr. Thomas Voelker Dave and Susie Wehrfritz Suellen and Travis White Brandt Wilkins and David Alexander Michael and Carrie Williams Phil Yastrow

*Golden Circle members are individuals who gave a one-time gift of $1,000 or more.

Golden Circle Members are compassionate donors who provide invaluable assistance to the more than 13,000 people in Colorado and Wyoming affected by MS. Learn more:

N A L M S S O C sophia.conti@nmss.org IETY

make a donation: cureMSco-wy.org

AWARDING INNOVATIONS IN MS RESEARCH

Largest MS Research Prize When a family member of Chuck and Margery Barancik was diagnosed with MS 25 years ago, they immediately set out to learn everything they could about the disease. What they found surprised and frustrated them—there were no treatments for MS. Concerned about the future, they connected with the Society, which led to two-decades of unwavering support for the Society’s research efforts.

20-year commitment to the Society’s research and to this new and exciting opportunity for researchers. Ideas come in many sizes and forms and each and every donor makes an impact. The efforts of everyone combined form an unstoppable force that will ensure that we will one day live in a world free of MS,” Nolan added.

While the Baranciks recognized that tremendous progress had been made in developing disease modifying therapies for MS, they also knew that they wanted to do more to fulfill their vision of finding a cure. In 2013 they established the Barancik Prize for Innovation in MS Research. The annual $100,000 prize is given to an exceptional scientist or team of scientists whose work in MS research demonstrates outstanding innovation and originality.

In September 2013, University of California, San Francisco neuroscientist Jonah R. Chan, Ph.D. was named the inaugural winner of the Barancik Prize for Innovation in MS Research. Dr. Chan was selected from a pool of 27 nominations for creating cutting-edge and cost-effective technologies to solve the challenge of brain repair for people living with MS. Early in his career, Dr. Chan’s work broke new ground by identifying factors that both promote and inhibit myelin formation.

“This is the largest research prize ever established and provides the opportunity for researchers to explore novel, but sound, creative ideas,” said Carrie Nolan, Chapter president. “What began as a connection with the Baranciks led to a

Among the accomplishments for which he was recognized, Dr. Chan invented new nanofiber and micropillar technologies to rapidly identify compounds that stimulate the regrowth of the myelin nerve casing, which is damaged in MS.

Dr. Chan has automated the detection and quantification of the myelin rings, and he is now testing thousands of compounds, including some FDA approved drugs, to develop a pipeline of novel and known agents that may promote remyelination and repair in MS. By starting with FDA approved drugs, Dr. Chan hopes to identify therapies that have already been shown to be safe for use in humans and can be rapidly moved into clinical trials in people with MS. This strategy could shave years off the development of important new treatments. n

N AT I O N A L M S S O C >>

CUREMSCO-WY.ORG 1-800-FIGHT MS (344-4867)

Learn more about Dr. Jonah Chan

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RESEARCH RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

Society Fellows Shine

At the Society’s Leadership Conference held in Denver last fall, Dr. Tim Coetzee, MD, chief research officer for the Society, reported that in 2013 the Society had invested $43 million ($5 million more than in 2012) to support 380 MS research projects worldwide. Part of this research investment supports the Society’s Fellow program, which attracts and trains promising young investigators and doctors into the field of MS by supporting the training of postdoctoral fellows in studies related to MS. Four of the Society’s young fellows were featured in a panel discussion where they described their diverse and potentially transformative work.

Dr. Jonah Chan

Dr. Ellen Mowry

Dr. Sabeen Lulu

Dr. Meghan Beier

Dr. Chan discussed his work in the area of nerve repair and protection, which involves compounds that promote remyelination to reverse nerve damage caused by MS. The FDA has approved a clinical trial that will advance his promising work.

Dr. Mowry addressed her work on vitamin D. She said it is known that there is a correlation between vitamin D and MS—the lower the level of vitamin D present, the higher the level of MS. Why? When higher levels of vitamin D are present, there is less impact on nerves.

Dr. Mowry is also exploring the impact diet and environment factors, including cigarette smoke exposure, Epstein-Barr exposure and obesity, have on MS. Risk factors, pediatric MS and drug efficacy are at the forefront of Dr. Lulu’s work who is involved with several clinical trials that will improve the understanding of different drugs available and their efficacy in different types of MS. This will lead to better outcomes and will continue to propel progress.

She is also involved with projects focused on pediatric MS and is investigating cognitive deficits that occur in children living with MS. Rehabilitation and cognition are areas of Dr. Meghan Beier’s research. She has used technology to develop a cognition screening app using an internationally validated

assessment. This tool will extend access to people in low-populated and rural areas.

Where do they see the next breakthrough?

All the Fellows mentioned remyelination being at the forefront. Getting the right drugs to individuals faster will help to delay disability and allow people to better live with MS. Use of technology through apps and telemedicine will also be factors extending rural reach into communities so doctors can interact with MS specialists and learn how to recognize and treat MS. The Fellows shared that receiving a Society fellowship provides the training, mentorship and access to conferences and networking that help transition grad school students into research scientists who will shape the future of MS. n

Jonah Chan - Ph.D., associate professor in residence, department of neurology, University of California, San Francisco Ellen Mowry, MD, assistant professor, department of neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore Sabeen Lulu, MD, clinical fellow in neuro-immunology, University of California, San Francisco Meghan Beier, Ph.D., clinical fellow, University of Washington

Watch the research panel discussion (Friday Nov. 8 General Session)

livestream.com/nationalMSsociety 6

MS CONNECTION: WINTER 2014

RESEARCH

Inspiring NOW Campaign Video FEATURES CHAPTER SUPPORTERS In 2011 the Society launched the NOW (No Opportunity Wasted) research campaign. As of October 2013, the campaign has reached half of its $250 million goal.

Recently the Society produced an inspirational video featuring three of our Chapter supporters – Scott Kaplan, Negar Niazi and David Sloan. They are facing MS head on and share their messages of hope that are sure to rouse continued support for NOW research.

Scott Kaplan was diagnosed with MS in 2003 at the age of 26, just months before his wedding. Initially fearing what he would encounter, Kaplan went through a stage of denial before becoming involved in Walk MS Denver, where he and his team “For a Cure” are now top fundraisers. Today the father of two continues to do everything in his power to stay healthy and raise funds so his children will one day live in a world free of MS. MS Ambassador Negar Niazi, O.D, is

Colorado-Wyoming Supporters (left to right): David Sloan, Scott Kaplan, and Negar Niazi

no longer able to practice her profession as a result of severe disability from progressive MS. Now in a wheelchair, she hasn't let MS deter her from making a difference. Committed to raising awareness Dr. Niazi provides continuing-education to eye doctors in many states, sharing her personal experience with blindness. She also presents the experience kit to schools to help students understand more about MS in an interactive way.

She recently published “Rumi’s Fables,” and a portion of sales from the book benefits the Society. Additionally, as a native of Iran, she is working with her mother to establish a building in Tehran, Iran to provide hydrotherapy and activities that benefit people living with MS. Niazi is very hopeful about nerve repair and that she will walk again through the results of MS research.

Highlands Ranch resident David Sloan was a top investment banker prior to being diagnosed with MS in 1998, a disease that also struck his mother and two first cousins. The diagnosis led him on a journey that in 2004 included a trip to Brazil where he spent time with a spiritual healer. It was there, Sloan said, that he learned the difference between being healed and being cured.

Today he is focused on his family and helping others. He continues to have a strong resolve and uses hope and a positive attitude to confront his MS. Sloan has also authored a book, “One Day at a Time,” which details his personal story. He looks forward to the day he can again enjoy the simple, but meaningful things in life, such as taking a walk hand-inhand with his wife. n

Check out the MS NOW MS Research Revolution video:

youtube.com/NMSSColoradoWyoming NOW—NO OPPORTUNITY WASTED

An MS Research Revolution The National MS Society supports and funds research activities spanning ALL research stages. Our unique approach drives the pursuit of all promising avenues that can impact those living with multiple sclerosis.

We must all be leaders in achieving our $250 million fundraising goal to move MS research further and faster than ever before.

Now is the time to make things happen. Join us.

CUREMSCO-WY.ORG 1-800-FIGHT MS (344-4867)

The National MS Society is a driving force of MS research!

STOP. RESTORE. END.

NOW 7

RESOURCES

SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT

Beating MS Fatigue Over 75% of people with MS experience fatigue, and 55% of people with MS describe fatigue as their most debilitating symptom. MS fatigue is defined as a lack of physical and/or mental energy that interferes with usual and desired

activities. There are two different kinds of fatigue, primary and secondary.

Primary fatigue is a direct result of MS compared to secondary fatigue which is caused by indirect implications of MS such as spasticity, pain, poor sleep, infection and drug side effects.

contributes to fatigue and mobility limitations. It is important to address deconditioning with an individualized exercise program including strength, endurance, balance and flexibility.

Scheduled rests should be built into the program.

MS fatigue has a severe impact on employment, social interactions, and daily activities like showering and cooking. “Fatigue has made me not able to work. There are days when I can’t function at all. It gives me an overall feeling of lethargy. It can be challenging for others to truly understand the affect fatigue has on a person’s life,” says HealthSouth patient DeeAnna Kraft.

Decreasing energy expenditure throughout the day by using adaptive equipment can improve energy stores. Utilizing an appropriate assistive device such as a cane, rolling walker, scooter or walking poles can both improve mobility and decrease fatigue. Using a brace like an AFO (ankle foot orthotic), or external functional electrical stimulation device can also decrease the amount of energy spent with movement. Adapted kitchen utensils, cooking equipment, reachers, and devices such as shower chairs all help with saving energy. “If I don’t use or wear the appropriate assistive device I tire more quickly. Using two forearm crutches instead of my cane increases my stability and energy levels. If I need to go longer distances using my scooter helps me,” agrees Kraft. Talk to your therapist or doctor about what options are right for you. n

Individual strategies and behavior modifications like prioritizing activities, pacing tasks and making time for rest can enhance energy conservation.

Maintaining a health diet and quitting smoking can also help manage symptoms. “It is important for me to sit during activities like cooking in order to get tasks done. I plan my day with a mixture of activity and rest, as well as only planning a few appointments per day,” says Kraft.

An aerobic and resistive exercise program works to fight deconditioning which

For more information about symptom management, visit:

PAIN AND FATIGUE PROGRAMS COLORADO SPRINGS:

GRAND JUNCTION:

Managing Pain and Fatigue March 5, 6 – 8pm HealthSouth Rehab Hospital To register: 1-800-FIGHT-MS

Managing Pain and Fatigue March 13, 11:30am – 1pm Clarion Inn To register: 1-800-FIGHT-MS

PUEBLO: Managing Pain and Fatigue March 12, 6- 8pm Pueblo Public Library Lamb Branch To register: 1-800-FIGHT-MS

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FORT COLLINS:

Fatigue Workshops February 18, 25; March 4, 11 Center for Neurorehabilitation 1045 Robertson Street To register: 970-493-6667

Maria Rundell, PT, DPT, MSCS Outpatient Physical Therapist, HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Colorado Springs

cureMSco-wy.org click Living with MS

MS Learn Online

SYMPTOM MANAGEMENT VIDEO SERIES Learn more about symptom management and get expert advice by watching our MS Learn Online Education video series about symptom management at nmss.org.

MS CONNECTION: WINTER 2014

RESOURCES

NEW WAYS TO CONNECT MS affects everyone differently, that’s why it is important to have someone you can count on to support you in the way that YOU need. The Society offers Peer Support in ways that make sense for you.

Peer Connections: MSconnection.org now offers a one-on-one Peer Connections program. Pick your own peer and connect with them by e-mail or telephone. Visit the peer connections page at MSconnection.org. For information about volunteering, e-mail: PeerConnections@nmss.org MS Friends: Connects you with volunteers living with MS who are there to support you when you want and need it most. Call the MS Friends helpline at 1-866-673-7436. All of your conversations are confidential. For information about volunteering, e-mail: OnlinePeers@nmss.org

CSU RESEARCH

Taking on MS Fatigue Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of MS, but determining if this sensation is perceived or muscular in nature is not easy. The ability to identify the source of fatigue is both challenging and critical, as it can have a significant impact on the course of a person’s physical therapy treatment, rehabilitation and stamina.

Thorsten Rudroff, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Director of the Integrative Neurophysiology Lab in the Department of Health and Exercise Science at Colorado State University, has investigated the topic of fatigue for more than 12 years. He and his team recently completed a pilot study on MS fatigue funded by the National MS Society, which is already modifying how physical therapists are working with MS patients.

“MS often causes a difference in leg strength—one leg working more than the other—creating an imbalance that affects gait and walking, leading to fatigue.

Bringing muscle groups in balance so both legs are using the same energy alleviates muscular fatigue,” said Rudroff.

Dr. Rudroff is one of a select few researchers worldwide who is using PET imaging

technology, normally used for cancer diagnosis, to evaluate how muscle tissue is functioning. Muscle energy is required for leg movement and a PET scan reveals metabolic activity such as muscular glucose uptake. The stronger leg will require more glucose uptake—more energy—to accomplish a task, resulting in a higher activity level, which appears as a bright spot on the scan. If the PET imaging shows no signs of metabolic imbalance activity in the muscle, the person’s feeling of fatigue may result from perception, which is activated by several regions of brain.

Thanks to Dr. Rudroff’s pilot research, physical therapists, who in the past often focused on quadriceps muscles, will now incorporate more strengthening exercises for the knee flexor muscles, which use more energy and may be more impaired than other muscle groups.

Studying brain regions active during walking and the correlation between brain activation and the action of certain muscles are the next areas of fatigue that Dr. Rudroff hopes to explore. He also looks forward to investigating fatigue related to gender and the aging process.

What matters most where fatigue is concerned, the natural process of aging or MS? These and other questions will be answered thanks to dedicated and talented researchers like Dr. Rudroff who are working to solve the many mysteries of MS. n

CUREMSCO-WY.ORG 1-800-FIGHT MS (344-4867)

MS CONNECTION MSconnection.org

Defy MS by connecting with people around the world striving to live their best lives.

MS Connection is an online social network where thousands of people support one another and explore the issues that shape your world.

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ADVOCACY

MS Awareness Week Events Monday, March 3 — Sunday, March 9

¡MUY BIEN!

Café con Leche

Grab a cup of coffee, sit back in the comfort of your home or office and participate in the Society’s Café con Leche telephone support group led by Society experts in Spanish.

Discuss symptoms, treatment options, family issues and other topics related to living with MS. Get connected and learn from others who understand and share common experiences and concerns.

Tuesdays, Noon – 1:30pm February 11, March 4, April 15, May 13, June 10 MAR

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MAR

MS Awareness Week Café con Leche Spanish Educational Program

When I Walk "When I Walk" Screening "The film's about the triumph over challenges. I have MS and am able to find love within it. I want people to draw parallels with their own challenges, however big or small, and draw conclusions in their own lives."

- When I Walk Director, Jason DaSilva MAR

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MAR

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VOLUNTEER: Help us connect newly diagnosed MS patients to the Society through neurologists in your community. Contact LeeAnn.Bellum@nmss.org about volunteer opportunities.

WHEN I WALK SPECIAL SCREENING: Jason DaSilva’s poignant

film about living with multiple sclerosis is filled with unexpected moments of humor and joy. The film documents a young man’s determination to survive—and to make sense of a devastating disease through the art of cinema. Sie Film Center, Denver

Visit cureMSco-wy.org for more information about MS Awareness Week activities in your area!

AWARENESS AND ADVOCACY

5 2014 MS Day at the Capitol Real people have a real impact on reforming legislation and the policies that affect our lives.

Advocacy successes happen when people with MS speak out on issues important to them and progress in public policy is made when citizens and legislators work together to identify needs in their communities and to address them in a positive way.

Join our MS Advocates and Public Policy staff on Wed., March 5 at the Colorado State Capitol in an effort to educate your legislators about MS. This is your opportunity to share your stories and impact future legislation.

Colorado State Capitol: 200 East Colfax Ave in Denver. Arrive by 8am

To learn more and RSVP: matthew.pfeifer@nmss.org

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caitlin.westerson@nmss.org

303-698-5435 MS CONNECTION: WINTER 2014

OF NOTE N AT I O N A L C A R E G I V E R M O N T H

My caregiver is my husband. I have had progressive MS for ten years. It has slowly progressed so that now I am unemployed and he has to work two jobs and take care of me. I get around fairly well most times, so it is the little things that he does for me that mean the most... He just never says no. What a great helper! ho knows what the years will bring? But I know W he will be here, no matter what. His name is Rick Thompson, but I call him Hero!

-Jackie Thompson

Newest MS Support Group!

Join the MS Support Group of the Roaring Fork Valley - committed to living well with MS and providing support to each other.

Thank your local Sam's Club

Learn more: cureMSco-wy.org

Sam's Club will be fundraising in stores for the Chapter February and March.

Last year they raised $68,000 in support of the Society. Stop by and say thanks!

NEW HEALTHCARE GUIDE AND INSURANCE CHECKLIST

We're on Twitter!

This guide can help you understand how to advocate for yourself when it comes to your health care and medical costs. Empower yourself by being your own advocate

Follow our page for updates about our programs and services, event information, MS research and more!

twitter.com/NMSScowy

Now available online! Learn more at:

cureMSco-wy.org

Remembering Betty Buck

Bett y Buck

Betty Buck volunteered for the Western Slope office for over seven years, touching the lives of many people in our community. She managed our medical clinic, greeted our guests at our education programs, checked in our Walk MS participants, provided administrative support in the office, was a member of The Angels who steadfastly visited a local nursing care facility, and spread her vivacious love of life to all. Betty was about giving and caring for others, this is her legacy. She leaves us full of inspiration and gratitude.

CUREMSCO-WY.ORG 1-800-FIGHT MS (344-4867)

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Broadway Station 900 S. Broadway, Ste. 250 Denver, CO 80209

STAY CONNECTED

cureMSco-wy.org 1-800-FIGHT-MS (344-4867)

On your state tax return...

A small mark will make a big difference to support people living with MS. Remember to ask your tax preparer to make a contribution on your behalf.

Tracey, diagnosed in 2005

COLORADO

Check line 50 on your 2013 state income tax returns.