MS Connection Fall 2016

FALL 2016 VIRGINIA - WEST VIRGINIA CHAPTER

MS CONNECTION NEWSLETTER

BREAKTHROUGHS, INVESTMENTS & OPPORTUNITIES INSIDE 06 GIVE THIS AT THE ISSUE OFFICE

FINDING NEW MEANING

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

TAKE CHARGE

MS CONNECTION: FALL 2016

CHAPTER NEWS

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Friends, Once again, Happy New Year, from all of us at the National MS Society! As we embark on the start of our fiscal year on October 1st, we are looking forward to being even more connected and engaged in our communities as we work towards solutions for people living with MS. I invite you to sit back and enjoy this issue of your MS Connections. It’s not only filled with research breakthroughs, health and wellness tips, and ways for you to become involved in the new year, it is also full of stories and moments about how you are helping to ensure those affected by MS can live their best lives as we stop MS in its tracks, restore what has been lost and end MS forever. On page 6, you’ll find information so you’ll be ready for your company’s workplace giving campaign this fall. Whether it is through United Way, the Combined Federal Campaign, Community Health Charities, or another giving platform, you will be able to direct your gift to the National MS Society to help fund our mission. We look forward to seeing you on November 3, from 6:00 – 7:30pm for our Annual Membership Meeting. We will, of course, be celebrating our top volunteers and fundraisers! And for the second year in a row, we will hold the meeting in four locations throughout Virginia and West Virginia: Virginia Beach, Richmond, Charlottesville, and Charleston, WV. In closing, I want to acknowledge the strength, resiliency, and determination of our friends and neighbors in West Virginia following the devastating floods this summer. As rebuilding continues, if you are or if you know of someone living with MS who is in need of emergency assistance, please reach out to us at 1-800344-4867 (1-800-FIGHTMS). I cannot thank you enough for standing with us as we create a world free of MS. With Gratitude,

Sherri Ellis Chapter President

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CHAPTER NEWS

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2016 We invite you to join us for our Annual Membership Meeting! The evening will begin with a social and cash bar, followed by a wonderful keynote presentation on the latest in MS Research, and applaud the efforts of our wonderful volunteers and fundraisers.

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: MS RESEARCH Researchers are working tirelessly to discover new ways to treat MS and ultimately stop, repair and end the disease forever. This year’s presentation will focus on the latest in cutting edge research and what’s in the pipeline.

AS A MEMBER OF THE CHAPTER, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO ATTEND AN ANNUAL MEETING IN YOUR AREA AS WE CELEBRATE PAST SUCCESSES AND LOOK FORWARD TO ANOTHER YEAR OF EXCELLENT PROGRAMS, SERVICES, AND FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES. DETAILS: Meetings to be held Thursday, November 3, 2016 in Virginia Beach: The Westin Virginia Beach Towncenter, 4535 Commerce Street Virginia Beach, VA 23462 Richmond: The Place Innsbrook Shoppes, 4036 Cox Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23060 Charlottesville: Double Tree 990 Hilton Heights Road, Charlottesville VA 22901 West Virginia: Local MS Office, 1700 MacCorkle Ave SE Charleston, WV 25311 in the upstairs conference Center 5:30 pm: Social, Light Hors D’oeuvres, and Cash Bar 6:00 pm-7:30 pm: Annual Meeting. This program is free; however, RSVP is required by October 28th! To register, contact the chapter at 804-353-5008, option 2 or visit www.MSVirginia.org

If you are interested in serving on the Board, or would like to propose an individual for consideration, please submit a letter of interest and resume to

Sherri.Ellis@nmss.org

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ADVOCACY

IN PRAISE OF CAREGIVERS BY JOE SALACKI My wife, Becky, and I will celebrate 23 years of marriage this month. We will reminisce through memories of our steamy romance and the early years of our relationship. We will not celebrate that numbness in my right hand that has been there a long time, nor the tight feeling around my torso that started in the late 1990s, nor the fact that I stumble a lot. I saw the first doctor in the spring of 2000. Not quite two years later, in 2002, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I suspected that I had the progressive type, and that suspicion was confirmed. This is not relapsing-remitting MS. There is no treatment. I’m not getting better. In fact, I will get worse as time goes on. I told Becky to go have a life but she wouldn’t hear of it. I know she was hurting then and I know it hurts her to see me struggle now, but she is strong. When I got my first assistive device, the mobility was liberating but my confidence and self-image were really affected. Her strength helped me through that first trip. She opened the doors and cleared the obstacles as she still does for me today. An accessible home, a specially equipped van, a custom computer work station at home, a

JOE SALACKI WITH HIS WIFE AND CAREGIVER, BECKY shower chair and a ceiling track system have become part of our daily lives. We live in a retirement community that provides endless opportunity to positively impact the lives of 100 or so seniors. I know all of our neighbors by name. I feel safe and secure here, and I know that is a load off of Becky’s mind. Becky works downtown; her commute is around 75 miles round-trip. We get “BECKY IS SO up together at 5 a.m. DEDICATED AND because I need her SO TIRELESSLY help showering and GIVING” dressing. We spend a few minutes together before she hits the morning rush at 7 or 7:30 a.m. She goes to work in the busy, high-stress corporate world and comes home 11 hours later. Then it’s time to fix dinner. She can’t even eat in peace because she has to feed me. If we’re lucky, we get a few moments of downtime before it all starts over again the next day. The weekends are busy too because there’s always something to do. We do what we have

05 to do, and we hope there’s time left over to relax and enjoy some fun together. We enjoy music, good friends and good restaurants as often as we can. And we both love the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. We don’t miss a game on TV — unless we are there in person for 10 to 15 games each year, thanks to Becky’s connections. And she fundraises! Becky has raised more than $100,000 for the Gateway Area Challenge Walk MS® and has “IF YOU HAVE A walked 500 miles in 10 CAREGIVER, BE consecutive events. I know she gets tired. I SURE TO THANK can see it in her face and THEM AND TELL hear it in her voice. It THEM — OFTEN breaks my heart. It takes a special person to care — HOW MUCH for someone with MS. THEY MEAN I am needy. I hate it. TO YOU.” But Becky never, never, never makes me feel like a burden. She cares for me like no one else could. Sometimes I feel guilty. I wonder if I could do the same things for her if the situation was reversed.

Becky is so dedicated and so tirelessly giving. Caregivers are special people, and Becky is a special caregiver. Just one last thought. Becky was in charge of a big corporate conference in Hawaii this spring. She could have buried herself in her work in the tropical paradise, but that’s not my wife. Instead, she talked me into going. Imagine the challenges of getting me to Hawaii! Well, she did it. Not only did she run the conference

MS CONNECTION: FALL 2016

flawlessly, she made sure that I had an incredible experience as well. I can’t imagine life without my Becky. I tell her so all the time. If you have a caregiver, be sure to thank them and tell them — often — how much they mean to you. Not just this month, but as often as you can. Becky and Joe Salacki met in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. They have lived in Wildwood, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, for 16 years.

NOVEMBER IS NATIONAL CAREGIVERS MONTH WHILE CAREGIVERS, ALSO KNOWN AS CARE PARTNERS, PLAY A VALUABLE ROLE IN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WITH MS EVERY DAY, NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO TELL THEM HOW MUCH YOU APPRECIATE THEM. FOR MORE IDEAS ON HOW TO CELEBRATE THE CAREGIVER IN YOUR LIFE, VISIT NATIONALMSSOCIETY.ORG/CAREPARTNERS.

MS CONNECTION: FALL 2016

WAYS TO GIVE

GIVE AT THE OFFICE It is easy and fun to do some good in the workplace and every year, people nationwide feel empowered to contribute through their employer’s charitable giving campaign to help create a world free of MS. Join the movement by simply designating your annual pledge to the National MS Society. Most campaigns kick off in the fall, so check with your employer. Your tax deductible donation will be automatically deducted from each paycheck to fun cutting-edge research and provide programs and service to help people affected by MS

COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN: #46654 COMBINED VIRGINIA CAMPAIGN:

Federal #46654

State #6090

UNITED WAY: Richmond, Charlottesville, Hampton Roads, Harrisonburg and all of West Virginia do not use codes any for work place giving. It is very simple, write in the name of the organization you wish to give and the address of that organization. You will want to write the National MS Society, Virginia – West Virginia Chapter, , 4200 Inslake Drive, Suite 301, Glen Allen, VA 23060. Roanoke code is #0257. These are our approved brochure numbers, but always check your brochure; look for National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Virginia – West Virginia Chapter, 4200 Innslake Drive, Suite 301, Glen Allen, VA 23060. If you employer doesn’t offer a giving program, talk to your benefits administrator or contact Angie Miller at 434-465-6036 or angie.miller@nmss.org.

“WE MAKE A LIVING BY WHAT WE GET BUT WE MAKE A LIFE BY WHAT WE GIVE” - WINSTON CHURCHILL

07 GET INVOLVED

A BREAKTHROUGH GIFT

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Edward M. Dowd, a successful philanthropist and financier who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis himself in 1993. His $3 million multiyear gift (the largest gift the Society has ever received from an individual) will make a difference in the lives of those most severely affected by MS through the establishment of the Edward M. Dowd Personal Advocate Program. Dowd says he considers his diagnosis “one of the best things that has ever happened” to him as it helped him to slow down and reevaluate his priorities.

CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS Dowd’s gift is transformative; it will greatly expand the Society’s nationwide network of trained case managers who are knowledgeable about MS and provide extra support to thousands of people nationwide who are living with the most complex challenges of MS.

EDWARD M. DOWD Some gifts provide the recipient with a moment of delight and pleasure, a warm glow in feeling loved and recognized by the giver. Other gifts are practical, fulfilling a need in someone’s life, or are a chance to foster a connection, a chance to nurture a bond between giver and receiver. Then, there are the gifts that do all of these things and more. They continue to give, empowering people for years to come and helping them to live their best lives with a chronic and unpredictable disease. This is the sort of breakthrough gift that the National MS Society received in June 2016, from

“I realize the value of services for people with limitations. I have help navigating life with MS, but I often wonder how people without sufficient resources manage even the day-today tasks,” says Dowd. “My overall focus is to help improve the quality of life for people with MS who do not have the financial means to get the support they need.” To learn more about the Edward M. Dowd Personal Advocate Program, call an MS Navigator® at 1-800-344-4867, or email ContactUsNMSS@nmss.org. To support programs and services that help people with MS and their loved ones, visit nationalMSsociety.org/donate

MS CONNECTION: FALL 2016

ADVOCACY

VOTING WITH MS BY LAUREN SHRYNE I have voted in every national election, and most state and local elections, since I turned 18. I’ve stood in lines outside of schools, courthouses, firehouses and retirement homes, eager to register my stance on candidates and issues that were important to me. I believe that voting is the most important way that we participate in the democratic system, and my belief in its importance has only gotten stronger since I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2014. The many hurdles, both practical and emotional, that a person with a disability might face when trying to exercise their right to vote only became apparent as I faced them myself: losing the ability to walk to school, as after half a mile I found myself tripping and dizzy; becoming unable to summon the strength in my right hand to sign a receipt for my coffee; failing to recognize friends passing on the sidewalk as my vision blurred; missing meetings and blanking on names as my memory became unreliable. And I was very, very tired. At the height of an MS flare, when performing basic, necessary tasks requires momentous effort, voting might cede to more immediate concerns.

LAUREN SHRYNE OUR VOICES ARE IMPORTANT It’s important that people with disabilities exercise their right to vote as fully as the general population. Currently, more than 1 out of 7 eligible voters have a disability; yet, the turnout rate of people with disabilities is nearly 6 percent lower than other Americans who are eligible to vote. At NATIONALMSSOCIETY.ORG/VOTERINFO, learn your voting rights, including your protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act; how to register, including online; and how to ensure that your polling place is accessible to you. Remember that currently in 30 states citizens must comply with voter identification laws when voting in person — find out ahead of time what’s required in your state.

MS CONNECTION: FALL 2016

But government can help by ensuring that polling places are accessible, by providing and maintaining accessible voting equipment, and by making sure that anyone who seeks information on how to vote can easily find it. That’s where the U.S. Elections Assistance Commission (eac.gov) comes in as the primary resource for information regarding voting in the United States, including specific resources for voters with disabilities.

for myself and for others with MS has been profoundly empowering. Volunteering as an MS activist has encouraged me to educate my legislators about MS and urge them to support measures that make a real difference in the lives of people with MS. Now, by participating in a voting campaign, I help others in our oftoverlooked community to feel empowered to register their opinions and, hopefully, influence the political conversation.

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend a meeting and training for a nationwide campaign to get out the disability vote — thereby harnessing our community’s power to influence decisions of particular importance to us, like social security, Medicare, healthcare, affordable housing, accessible transportation, employment and funding for MS research. In that first meeting, we discussed the potential power of the disability vote and the challenges that we face in exercising that power. But it all starts with a simple first step: registering to vote.

First, though, we have to show up. Register to vote! Go to nationalMSsociety.org/voterinfo to learn how. Lauren Shryne’s involvement with the National MS Society focuses primarily on volunteering with the Government Relations Committee near where she lives in Somerville, Massachusetts, through which she connects with her elected representatives to support legislative initiatives that are important to people with MS. She is a lawyer, and voting really is one of her favorite things.

Though facing an incurable and unpredictable disease like MS is difficult, learning to advocate

GET CLOSE TO VOTING One way to join in the action is to be where the action is. Which is why Karen Kostelac, diagnosed with MS two years after casting her first vote, decided to go “all in,” working at polling locations, sometimes for more than 14 hours at a time. “I’ve helped people with everything from vision impairments to gait problems,” she says. She recommends that people living with MS take advantage of early voting accommodations. “The opportunity to vote early gets people in the door so they can take the time they need without being fatigued by long lines.” And don’t forget that activism doesn’t stop with voting — or an election. “Don’t forget to keep in touch with your elected officials,” says Kostelac. “Let them know that you are out there, you are following them, and that you’re an MS activist!” Visit nationalMSsociety.org/MSactivist to get involved.

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ADVOCACY

TELLING YOUR STORY The story of your own personal journey with multiple sclerosis has the potential to become your most powerful advocacy tool. And advocacy is how people affected by MS create positive change toward livingtheir best lives—today. Critical advocacy issues currently at stake include funding MS research and greater access to needed services for people living with the disease. But how do you harness years, or even decades, of your life toward the powerful goal of a world free from MS? To help MS activists best use their personal story, the National MS Society partnered with the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF), which works with citizen groups to educate them on how Congress works. With the CMF’s help, the Society introduced a new session on storytelling to the Society’s Public Policy Conference, which brings together MS activists and legislators in Washington D.C. each March.

7 STEPS TO CHANGE As part of the session, MS activists viewed a 7-minute video on storytelling and then

MS ACTIVIST ROBERT TAYLOR AND HIS WIFE, CHONG.

worked on a 7-step guide to crafting a personal story that would translate the impact of public policy on their lives. “The process is extremely easy to follow as long as you remember that you’re telling your personal story,” says MS activist Robert Taylor, diagnosed with MS in 2010. “Be honest, graphic and truthful.” Taylor developed and shared his own story at the PPC, “BE HONEST, which you can read GRAPHIC AND online at the link TRUTHFUL” below. Storytelling is a life-long advocacy tool that you can use for in-district visits, in your statehouses, in letter-writing campaigns and much more. Become an MS activist and create your own story toward powerful change by following the seven steps at www.nationalMSsociety. org/7stepactiviststory. Tell your story today.

11 GET INVOLVED

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

DANICA KING

CREATING HOPE & GIVING BACK

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Virginia – West Virginia Chapter is seeking curious, innovative and hardworking college students in the Richmond and Virginia Beach areas. Interns will work alongside the Mass Market Event teams to help promote, recruit and manage Walk MS and Bike MS events. The interns will have the opportunity to grow their communication, event planning and marketing skills. They will work with event participants, high level donors and volunteers to enhance the event experience in line with the mission of the National MS Society throghout Virginia and West Virginia The ideal intern must have strong people, organizational, written and oral communications skills as they will be a key point-of-contact with participants. Attention to detail and the ability to work in a fast paced, collaborative environment are critical. The internship terms will run from January to May/ June and May until September. If you or someone you know is interested in pursuing an internship at a nonprofit, please reach out to Casey Kasko: 434-971-1073 or casey.kasko@nmss.org.

“I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2010 and have been volunteering with the National MS Society for two years. I have volunteered for Bike MS & acted as an MS Activist at the Virginia General Assembly. With the gain of more free time, thanks to an early retirement, I have used my volunteer opportunities to share my story and stay active. I recently completed the 3-month Power Ex program through Sheltering Arms, where results were so excellent, I signed up for an annual membership. Attending sales meetings by MS drug companies as well as attending support groups keeps me knowledgeable and up to date with current MS news so I can spread the word to those I meet. This year, I have ventured out from solely volunteering to creating my own team for the Richmond MS Walk, MS King, and

HOPE TO GAIN SUPPORT AND CONTINUE TO GIVE BACK TO THE MS COMMUNITY.”

12 CHAPTER NEWS

BIKE MS: COLONIAL CROSSROADS

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from a beautiful weekend, we want to thank the over 700 cyclists and 150 volunteers who took to the roads of Virginia on June 4 & 5, 2016. Through their incredible efforts, the inaugural Bike MS: Colonial Crossroads has raised close to $850,000!!!

PRESENTED BY THE PAGE AUTO GROUP A big change in our Virginia Bike MS series resulted in a big return and an amazing event. For 2016 we decided to combine our three Virginia rides into one ride with 2 starts â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one in Richmond and one in Smithfield. We came together for the overnight in Williamsburg. The Saturday Finish was phenomenal with the new Team Tent Village and a huge celebration of our cyclists, teams, volunteers and sponsors during our Evening Program. As we reflect on the miles behind us and smile at the memories

THE RESULTS ARE IN - OUR INAUGURAL BIKE MS: COLONIAL CROSSROADS WAS A HUGE SUCCESS!

MS CONNECTION: FALL 2016

The success of Bike MS comes from the dedication of the cyclists, volunteers, and sponsors who believe they can help create a world free of MS. Many thanks to the 2016 Bike MS sponsors:

PRESENTING TOP BIKE MS FUNDRAISERS - JEFF, DALE, JESSE AND GLEN

OUR TOP 5 TEAMS ARE: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

PEDALIN’ WITH GP – GLEN PIERCE: $68,267 CAPITAL ALE HOUSE – JOHN & MARTY POLK: $62,644 THE GRATEFUL TREAD – DALE DOBROTH: $39,454 TBA CLAMS – JOE & POLLY FREASE: $37,353 SPROCKET PROTECTORS – JOE BUSHY: $28,865

OUR TOP 5 FUNDRAISERS ARE: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

GLEN PIERCE - $22,345 JESSE RABEN - $12,810 JEFF KERR - $11,450 DALE DOBROTH - $10,495 BILL FITZGERALD - $9,200

REGISTER NOW: FOR THE LOWEST REGISTRATION RATE OF THE YEAR FROM NOW UNTIL OCTOBER 31, REGISTRATION FOR 2017 IS $20. ON NOVEMBER 1, REGISTRATION WILL GO UP TO $35. THE WEBSITE IS NOT OPEN YET. THE BIKE MS WEBSITE WILL BE OPEN OCTOBER 15. PLEASE VISIT MSVIRGINIA. ORG TO REGISTER FOR 2017 OR CONTACT KARLA MCCARRAHER AT 757-319-4253 OR KARLA.MCCARRAHER@NMSS.ORG

DAVIS DRUG & SPECIALTY COMPOUNDING STONE BREWERY We also could not do it without our Bike Shop Sponsors who provided bike mechanics along the route for the weekend of the ride. Thank you to:

AGEE’S BICYCLES BIKE BEAT CARYTOWN BICYCLE COMPANY CONTE’S BIKE SHOP CYCLE ED GONZO GEARS MOLLY’S BICYCLE SHOP OLD TOWNE BICYCLES PEDAL POWER PERFORMANCE BICYCLES SCAT BIKES

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EVENTS

BIKE MS: COUNTRY ROADS RIDE 2016 BIKE MS: COUNTRY ROADS RIDE 2016 – QUICK ROUTE CHANGE MAKES FOR A GREAT 1-DAY RIDE IN MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA We had to make a difficult decision earlier this summer. Our Bike MS: Country Roads Ride normally takes place in the counties of Greenbrier and Pocahontas in West Virginia. Unfortunately those counties were devastated by the June severe flash flooding. After speaking with local officials and seeing the destruction of the area, we have decided the roads and Greenbrier River Trail posed a safety risk to our Bike MS cyclists. In an effort to continue our support of those living with multiple sclerosis (MS), we decided to move Bike MS: Country Roads Ride to Morgantown, WV. With the move to Morgantown, cyclists experienced new sites and roads along the Monongahela River in our 1-day event. We offered road and trail route options. Road route cyclists experienced the challenge they’ve come to expect from Bike MS: Country Roads riding through the northern part of West Virginia heading into Pennsylvania with a 25, 45, and 60 mile route options. Trail trek cyclists rode the Mon River Trail up to 47 miles, experiencing the recreated refuge used in Colonial Virginia, Prickett’s Fort, as well as beautiful views of the river. As an adaptation of the Queen/King of the Mountain, cyclists had the option of the Mellon Chapel Challenge climbing 6 miles while gaining 1100 feet before heading back downhill to experience the fun of the Finish Line at the Waterfront Place Hotel. We hosted close to 100 cyclists, 18 teams and 28 VIPs for this remarkable 1-day ride. We have raised over $100,000 to help the National MS Society and the 12,000 people living with MS in Virginia and West Virginia.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR GENEROUS SUPPORT:

MON COUNTY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB

QDOBA MEXICAN GRILL

GO-MART STORES

STARBUCKS

THIS RIDE WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF OUR CYCLISTS, VOLUNTEERS, STAFF, FRIENDS AND FAMILY! THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND FOR MAKING THE 26TH ANNIVERSARY OF BIKE MS: COUNTRY ROADS RIDE SUCH A SUCCESS!

15 LIVING WITH MS

FINDING NEW MEANING

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your options carefully before disclosing — once information is given, it cannot be taken back. For more on disclosure, visit nationalMSsociety.org/ disclosure. Also visit nationalMSsociety.org/ employment to learn more about your rights at work under the ADA.

Anqunette Jamison still wakes up at 4 a.m. every morning, a habit she developed thanks to her job as the news anchor for Fox 2 Morning News in Detroit. “I still feel like I should be getting ready to go to work,” she says. However, she’s been on doctor-recommended medical leave because of her multiple sclerosis, diagnosed in 2013. “I took a test on WebMD, ‘Do you have MS,’” she remembers. “I scored 8 out of 10.” So she “Googled” a neurologist and made an appointment. After an MRI and spinal tap, Jamison’s diagnosis was confirmed. “It’s a slow transition into not being ‘on’ all the time,” she says. She disclosed her MS to her employer; however, despite her coworkers’ support, she found managing the demands of her job, which included a live four-hour newscast every morning, challenging. Although there may be reason to disclose medical information and specific benefits to doing so, disclosing has immediate and long-term implications for your employment. In addition, while employers are legally required to provide job accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), sometimes getting them to comply with the law may not be so easy. Know your rights and weigh

ANQUETTE JAMISON WITH HER HUSBAND, RICHARD

So, for the time being, Jamison is working on stress management, yoga and volunteer opportunities. “I hope to become more involved with the National MS Society,” she says. She has already emceed three Walk MS® events and, with her husband Richard, plans to participate in Bike MS® this year. She also maintains an active Facebook presence and Twitter feed, with 25,000 followers combined, and she plans to start a blog about her MS. Richard and their two dogs help keep her attitude positive. “The dogs get me out of the house,” she says. “And they make me laugh.” As does her husband. “Someone told him that arguing with me causes brain damage,” she jokes. “So he holds his tongue more and I do too.”

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ADVOCACY

TELLING YOUR STORY BY MARCELLA DURAND Staying on a diet can be tough even under the best of conditions—which holiday gatherings of family and friends definitely aren’t. But there are ways to stay strong. Following are some tips that may help you steer toward healthier holiday eating. 1. Plan ahead. Look at your schedule for the next month or so, and identify where you’d most like to be and what you’d most like to do, keeping in mind what will be easiest on you and your eating needs. If you’re hosting, plan a simple menu that includes fruits and vegetables—which can be easier to prepare than other dishes. For instance, prewashed salad can just be put in a bowl with some olive oil and vinegar on the side, while grapes make a sweet and easy after-dinner treat. 2. Control your environment. Try skipping that large holiday party in favor of a small potluck gathering of friends and family. That way, you’ll have more control over what food will be in front of you. Bring a salad or plate of raw-vegetable crudités to ensure that a healthy and delicious option will be available. Fill your own plate to ensure you’re not overserved. If you must go to the large party, snack on something healthy ahead of time so you don’t arrive starving.

TRY ADDING VEGETABLES TO YOUR HOLIDAY MEALS. 3. Say no. It’s OK to say no to second servings, desserts, another glass of wine or even staying too long. If you find yourself sticking close to the food table and stuffing yourself because a party is too loud and conversations too difficult to follow, don’t feel bad about leaving early— your hosts will appreciate the time you were there. 4. Manage expectations (and be easy on yourself ). If you eat something you shouldn’t, it’s not the end of the world—everyone lapses occasionally. Take control by selecting special treats that you’ll really enjoy, such as a bit of cheese or a special dessert. And then balance them out with more salad or other healthy options. 5. Substitute. Swap olive oil for butter, fish for meat, vegetables for stuffing, and fruit and nuts instead of dessert. The possibilities are endless for healthy and delicious alternatives! To learn more about healthy eating and MS, visit nationalMSsociety.org/diet. Marcella Durand is a writer and editor who lives in New York City.

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EVENTS

ANNUAL 8K FOR MS TRAIL RACE On July 23rd, 2016, 150 Runners came out to the Third Battle of Winchester Battlefield. Despite the grueling heat, these runners were determined to battle it out on the race course, and raise money for a cause so close to all of our hearts. This was a trail race measuring up to 4.97 miles (8k). This was the hottest year yet, but our top finisher Sam Phipps ran it in 33:09. The first female to finish was Stephanie Golden at 39:15. These are impressive times, because this is a challenging trail race and the heat was 93+ degrees. This year we provided Pledge Sheets to participants who wanted to raise money on their own to donate to the NMSS. We had one woman hold a softball tournament and she raised $600 for our race and another woman was able to get family and friends to raise $40. Every little bit counts and as a whole the race was able to raise $3,000. We will continue to hold this event.

NEXT YEAR WILL BE THE 4TH ANNUAL 8K FOR MS TRAIL RACE! FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO WWW.8KFORMS.COM

PROGRAM - NATIONAL MS SOCIETY AND CAN DO

MS WEBINAR TELELEARNING SERIES The 2016 MS Webinar & Telelearning Series brings together a collaboration of MS experts to help you build strategies to live your best life with MS. Each free webinar and telelearning program features two presenters with time for Q&A. Join us online or by phone at 8pm EST on topics including:

• SEPTEMBER 13, 2016 – HEALTH INSURANCE • OCTOBER 11, 2016 – SUPPORT PARTNERS & FAMILIES

• NOVEMBER 8, 2016 – DIET AND NUTRITION • DECEMBER 13, 2016 – IMPORTANCE OF SLEEP

MS CONNECTION: FALL 2016

EVENTS

REFRESHING MOUNTAIN CAMP SPECIAL THANKS TO THE ziMS FOUNDATION FOR SUPPORTING CAMP! Approximately 70 children whose parents have MS went to Refreshing Mountain Camp in Lancaster County, PA on June 16-19, 2016. A variety of activities highlighted this year’s camp included: hiking, swimming, sports, camp fires, arts and crafts. Intertwined with the fun and social activities campers had an opportunity to learn from each other about MS in a supportive environment. The ziMS Foundation was founded by Washington Nationals star Ryan Zimmerman. Multiple Sclerosis is a disease quite close to Ryan’s heart. In 1995, his mother Cheryl was diagnosed with MS. Ryan looks at his mother’s condition as an influence on his development as a person. It forced Ryan and his brother, Shawn, to assume responsibilities in his home at an earlier age than most of their peers. The Society’s MS Kids camp exemplifies how the the ziMS foundation has given back to children affected by MS. The Foundation is dedicated to the treatment and ultimate cure of MS by funding comprehensive support and educational programs. Over the last five years the Foundation has raised more than $500,000 and supported many of the Society’s programs and services.

A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES HIGHLIGHTED THIS YEAR’S CAMP INCLUDED: HIKING, SWIMMING, SPORTS, CAMP FIRES, ARTS AND CRAFTS. INTERTWINED WITH THE FUN AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES CAMPERS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER ABOUT MS IN A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT.

MS CONNECTION: FALL 2016

RESEARCH

NEW EVIDENCE ON GUT BACTERIA Researchers in multiple sclerosis have uncovered new evidence that gut bacteria, also called the “microbiome,” may play a role in MS. In a study published in Nature Communications (June 28, 2016), Harvard researchers found significant differences between the gut bacteria of people with MS and people without MS. Even more intriguingly, they found differences between the bacteria in treated and untreated people with MS.

PROMISING POSSIBILITIES The investigators, led by Drs. Sushrut Jangi and Howard L. Weiner, with colleagues from Harvard’s Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, used advanced genetic tools to look at gut bacteria in 60 people with MS and 43 people without MS. In the group with MS, 32 were treated — that is, they had received interferon or glatiramer acetate for at least six months —while 28 were untreated, meaning they had not received steroids (for one month), interferon or glatiramer acetate (for three months), or other treatments (for six months).

The MS Microbiome Consortium, a comprehensive analysis of gut bacteria in people with MS to determine factors that may drive progression and develop probiotic strategies for stopping progression. To learn more, visit imsms.org.

A BREAKTHROUGH THERAPY In exciting news for people living with a progressive form of MS, the experimental therapy ocrelizumab has been granted Priority Review Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, with a decision target of December 28, 2016. Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, filed for approval of ocrelizumab to treat

The results of the study showed increases in bacteria associated with inflammation in people with MS. These correlated with differences in the activity of genes related to the key pathways related to immune activity in MS. Also, the differences in certain types of gut bacteria between treated and untreated people with MS suggested that treatment may help normalize some of the MS-related changes seen in gut bacteria.

primary progressive and relapsing MS in

The National MS Society continues to support research in this area, most recently

by 24 percent in 732 people with primary

June 2016. The designation was granted based on phase III trial results presented at the European Committee for Treatment and Research in MS in 2015. Compared to placebo, ocrelizumab significantly reduced the risk of progression of clinical disability progressive MS.

MS CONNECTION: FALL 2016

RESEARCH

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE The National Multiple Sclerosis Society has committed $25.3 million to 60 new MS research projects that hold promise toward stopping MS, restoring lost function and ending MS forever. In addition, funding for one-year grants for 11 new pilot projects will allow MS researchers to investigate high-risk, high-potential strategies to understand, treat and manage MS. Studies that delve into genetic and environmental risk factors for MS include how vitamin D might protect individuals from developing the disease and how the influence of genes on immune cell activity might be a clue to stopping or preventing MS. Other studies are focusing on a range of strategies to stop MS progression or restore function. Following is a sampling of these promising projects.

THE WHY OF PROGRESSIVE MS Despite advances that have produced diseasemodifying therapies for relapsing forms of MS, treatments for progressive MS have remained elusive. To address that gap, the Society is supporting a large-scale study, SUMMIT (Serially Unified Multicenter Multiple Sclerosis Investigation), to leverage extensive information from longterm monitoring of more than 1,000 people

THE NATIONAL MS SOCIETY HAS ALSO RENEWED ITS SUPPORT OF PEDIATRIC MS RESEARCH.

with MS to understand factors that lead to progression. The five-year study will bring together two MS Centers of Excellence, Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the University of California, San Francisco, to develop a database of invaluable information that will be open to researchers anywhere in the world. Another study, led by Dr. Claudia Lucchinetti and Charles Howe, PhD, at the Mayo Clinic and Foundation in Rochester, Minnesota, will conduct “metabolic profiling” of people with MS in order to better understand the role that metabolic stress, which spans a variety of problems in cells, including energy deficits and failure to recycle unneeded proteins, may play in MS progression. An interesting study at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis explores the role that sex differences may play in the transition of relapsing-remitting MS, the most common form of the disease in women, to secondary progressive MS. Researchers have

21 found that the entry of harmful immune cells into the brain during MS is partially mediated by a molecule called S1PR2, which occurs in high levels in women with MS. Blocking S1PR2 in mice with an MS-like disease appears to improve disease severity in female, but not male, mice.

RESTORING LOSSES Research dedicated to restoring what’s been lost in MS focuses on understanding how nerves and their protective myelin coating normally work, how we can repair those critical tissues, and how restoring function may also include new strategies to manage common issues of MS. One study at John Hopkins University is focusing on a promising compound that may improve cognitive function in MS. The compound, a molecule called GCPII, was shown in mouse studies to improve cognitive performance, but only in very high doses administered via injection. Now, with the help of a drug discovery team with expertise in GCPII pharmacology, investigators are synthesizing and evaluating 20 to 30 new compounds to try to create an oral version. If they are successful, the compound could move to clinical trials to prove its safety and benefits. Another study at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix hopes to follow how a type of immune cell called a Natural Killer (NK) cell interacts with brain cells, possibly interfering with the repair process. These cells have been found to remain in the brains of people of MS and in mice with an

MS CONNECTION: FALL 2016

MS-like disease; eliminating NK cells in the latter was found to significantly improve their recovery.

LIVING WITH MS Restoring function may also include new lifestyle and wellness approaches. Studies focusing on these areas include an international multicenter trial of an online program to reduce MS-related depression. While depression is a common symptom of MS, MS symptoms such as fatigue, cognitive challenges and mobility issues can make it difficult to attend in-person therapy sessions. The online program, called Deprexis, can be used in an individual’s home, eliminating the need for travel. Preliminary results have already indicated that the program may reduce depression in MS and researchers are now conducting a phase 3 trial at five MS centers in the U.S. and Germany in 400 people with MS. Recent research has also suggested that some individuals with MS have difficulty in “emotional processing” — specifically, recognizing emotions from people’s facial expressions. A team at Kessler Foundation Research Center in West Orange, New Jersey, is examining the effects of an intervention aimed at improving emotional processing. The intervention includes interactive training and a computer program to help improve facial affect recognition. To learn more about MS research and stay up to date on current studies, visit nationalMSsociety.org/research.

MS CONNECTION: FALL 2016

LIVING WITH MS

ARROW JULY 28, 2007 - AUGUST 6, 2016 In October of 2008 I got the call to come to Service Dog Project in Ipswich, MA to see if I was a match for a 15 month old 150 pound mantle named Arrow. My first night in the guesthouse with him sleeping by my bed was memorable because I was awakened by the puffs of air on my face. I opened my eyes to see a huge head four inches from mine. He was smelling me, trying to figure out who I was. I stroked his head and told him what a sweet boy he was, after which he went back to his bed. That was the start of a beautiful eight year relationship that lasted until Saturday when we put Arrow to rest due to several incurable medical issues. My heart aches with emptiness, but is also filled with gratitude for the life we had together. He gave me the opportunity to trade my cane for a Dane, allowing me negotiate my balance issues due to MS with confidence and pride rather than fear and embarrassment. He was my constant companion. Together we went shopping, to doctors appointments, to restaurants, for long daily walks, to meetings, and dog parks. He accompanied me to Capitol Hill every year for MS Public Policy Day where he caught the attention of senators and congressmen and helped promote the MS cause. He was with me on stage when I gave speeches at MS fundraising luncheons and dinners. He was always a “huge” hit, needless to say. He won the hearts of my family, friends, and countless strangers with his magnificent size and gentle manner.

MOSTLY I WILL MISS HIS DEVOTION TO ME. I AM BLESSED TO HAVE HAD THE HONOR OF BEING THE FOCUS OF HIS ATTENTION AND SERVICE ALL THESE YEARS. THANK YOU, CARLENE, AND ALL THOSE AT SDP FOR THE INVALUABLE GIFT OF MY DEAR ARROW. - VALERIE “TOGETHER WE WENT SHOPPING, TO DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS, TO RESTAURANTS, FOR LONG DAILY WALKS, TO MEETINGS, AND DOG PARKS. HE ACCOMPANIED ME TO CAPITOL HILL EVERY YEAR FOR MS PUBLIC POLICY DAY WHERE HE CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN AND HELPED PROMOTE THE MS CAUSE.”

23 GET INVOLVED

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

MS CONNECTION: FALL 2016

MS NIMOS MS Nuts in motion of Suffolk Fourth Tuesday of the Month 12:30 – 2pm Bon Secours Health Center, 2nd floor Conference Room 5818 Harbor View Blvd Suffolk, VA 23435 Leader: Patrice Beale 757-372-1401 patricelb@icloud.com Cheryl Scott Cherylascott@cox.net We are MS Winners First Thursday of the Month 5:30 – 7pm Riverside Doctor’s Hospital 1500 Commonwealth Avenue, Williamsburg, VA 23185 Leader: Jeanette Ashlock 757-968-7358 wearemswinners@gmail.com

CENTRAL VIRGINIA Bon Secours Multiple Sclerosis Support Group Second Thursday of the Month 6:30 – 8pm St. Francis Hospital Cancer Center Conference Room, First floor. 14051 St Francis Boulevard, Midlothian, VA 23114 Leader: Nick Canderelli ncander64@msn.com

PROGRAMS IN THIS SECTION ARE NOT ORGANIZED BY THE NATIONAL MS SOCIETY

EASTERN VIRGINIA Multiple Sclerosis Educational Group Fourth Tuesday of the Month 5:30 pm The Multiple Sclerosis Educational Group is your opportunity to exchange information and coping strategies and get the latest on MS research and treatment in a comfortable and confidential environment. This program is designed for MS patients, caregivers, and families. Riverside Medical Office Building, 12200 Warwick Blvd., Newport News, VA 23601 Neurosciences Conference Room The group is offered by Riverside Center for Neurosciences and meets on an ongoing basis. For information call 757-875-7880. Sentara Princess Anne MS Support Group Third Thursday of the Month 5 - 6pm Sentara Neurology Specialists 1950 Glenn Mitchell Drive, Suite 200, Virginia Beach, VA 23456 Dr. Michelle Kuczma’s MS Group Patient Facilitator: Merrily Allen Jackson For more information, please call 757-507-0604.

Bon Secours Multiple Sclerosis Support Group Third Monday of the Month 1 – 2pm Memorial Regional Medical Center MOB 1, Community Conference Room, First floor 8260 Atlee Road, Mechanicsville, VA 23116 Leader: Kimberly Pinna Kimberly.pinna@bshsi.org Positively Moving MS Forward Third Monday of the Month 6:30 – 8pm Chester Presbyterian Church 3424 W. Hundred Road Chester, VA 23831 Leader: Crystine Baynard Webmaster/Email Contact Rashad Stone rashadstone@comcast.net

WESTERN VIRGINIA Valley Health and Wellness Center Support Group First Friday of the Month 6 pm Valley Health Wellness Center (Conference Room A) 401 Campus Blvd, Winchester, VA 22601 Leader: Betsy 540-327-3967 or winchestermsgroup@yahoo.com Roanoke Valley MS Support Group Fourth Thursday of the month 6:30- 8 pm Roanoke Valley Association of Realtors (RVAR) 4358 Starkey Road, Roanoke VA Leader: Suzanne 540-404-1167 Winchester, VA Support Group First Friday of the Month 6:00 – 7:30pm Valley Health Wellness and Fitness Center 401 Campus Blvd, Winchester, VA 22601 (Conference Rm A) Leader: Betsy 540-327-3967

MS CONNECTION: FALL 2016

SELF HELP GROUP LISTING

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT 1-800-344-4867 UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. EASTERN VIRGINIA

CENTRAL VIRGINIA

Tappahannock Neurological Support Second Monday: 10:30 am Beale Baptist Church Leader: Sharon 804-580-7315 Joan: 804-443-9226 Chesapeake Group Third Tuesday: 7 pm Lifestyle Fitness Center at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center 800 N. Battlefield Blvd., Chesapeake, VA Leader: Margie 757-482-3247 Suffolk Group Third Wednesday: 6:30-8 pm Magnolia United Methodist Church 1764 Wilroy Road, Suffolk, VA Leader: Willie Ann 757-539-0139 Southside Group (Call for full list of Dates & Locations) Fourth Wednesday: 3-4:30 pm Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library 4100 Virginia Beach Blvd., Va. Bch. Leader: Peter 757-671-1971 Gloucester Group First Wednesday: 10:30 am-12:30 pm Riverside Wellness and Fitness Center 7516 Hospital Drive, Gloucester, VA Leader: Barbara 804-695-9950 African American Inspirational Group First Thursday: 11 am Hampton Public Library, 936 Big Bethel Road Leader: Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Andre 757-660-3455 VeeGee 757-696-2540 Peninsula Evening Group Second Thursday: 5:30 pm Sentara Careplex Hospital (York River Entrance, Conf. Rm. C) 3000 Coliseum Drive, Hampton, VA Leader: Kendrick 757-408-9751 Diana 757-358-0284 CENTRAL VIRGINIA

Tuckahoe Morning Group MS & Neurological Support Second Monday: 10:15-11:30 am Tuckahoe YMCA, 9211 Patterson Ave, Henrico, VA Leader: Darlene 804-346-2040 Hopewell Group Second Thursday: 10-11:30 am River View on the Appomattox (201 Eppes St.) Leader: Melanie 804-526-9129 Petersburg Evening Group Third Thursday: 6-8 pm Southside Regional Hospital, Third Flr Classroom Leader: Quennette 434-246-6007, 804-731-9069 Smyelin MS Support Group (Chesterfield) Third Wednesday: 12-2 pm Chesterfield Fire Station #4 2600 Polo Parkway, Midlothian, VA Leader: Sheila 804-739-8488 Sharon 804-794-7589 South Hill Empowerment Group Third Thursday: 5:30-7:30 pm Community Memorial Health Center 125 Buena Vista Circle Leader: Starr 434-378-2031 Richmond Weekend Group Second Saturday: 11:30 am-1 pm HealthSouth Classroom, 5700 Fitzhugh Ave. Leader: Lorenzo 804-921-9712 Richmond (VA Home) For those with advanced MS Every Monday: 11 am 1101 Hampton St. Leader: Judi 804-359-4093 The Invincibles Third Tuesday: 7-8:30 pm HealthSouth Fredericksburg, 300 Park Hill Drive Leader: Belinda 540-373-4377 MS Options Support Group Second Tuesday: 12-1 pm Meadows Presbyterian Church 2200 Angus Road, Charlottesville, VA Leader: Lisa 434-296-5964 MS Lunch Bunch Fourth Thursday: 11:30 am-1 pm

25 Martha Jefferson House, 1600 Gordon Ave, Charlottesville, VA Leader: Kitty 434-293-3573 Care Partner Support Group Fourth Saturday: 2-4pm HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital 515 Ray C. Hunt Drive, Charlottesville, VA Leader: Ray 434-962-5643 Lynchburg Self Help Group Third Thursday: 6- 8 pm (Call for Location) Leader: Diana 434-485-6558

SOUTH WESTERN VIRGINIA Roanoke Day Group Second Tuesday: 1:30- 3 pm Rebos Club, 4231 Garst Mill Road, Roanoke VA Leader : Lew 540-312-0388 Lexington/Rockbridge Self Help Group Second Thursday: 5:30 pm-7 pm RE Lee Memorial Church (Library) 123 W Washington St, Lexington City, VA Leader: Susan 540-460-7091 New River Valley Support Group First Tuesday: 6:30-8 pm Montgomery County Dept. of Social Services 210 Pepper St S Ste B, Christiansburg, VA Leader: Jeff 540-230-3430 Smith Mountain Lake Self Help Group First Wednesday: 12-1 p.m. 15353 Moneta Rd, Moneta, VA Leader: Ken 540-576-3330 (Does not meeting months that have a J). Augusta County MS Support Group Third Thursday: 6-8 pm Shenandoah Nursing & Rehab Center 339 Westminister Dr, Fisherville, VA Leader: Sandra 540-294-3063 Co-Leader: Cheryl 804-678- 8280 Peer Assisted and Led Support Group (PALS) Second Monday: 6:15 pm 1820 Heritage Center Way, Harrisonburg, VA Leader: Carol 540-432-9858 Twin County MS Support Group Second Tuesday: 7 pm Carroll County Public Library 101 Beaver Dam Rd. , Hillsville Leader: Regina 276-766-9228

MS CONNECTION: FALL 2016

WEST VIRGINIA Made Strong Support Group Third Thursday: 6-7:30 pm 200 Fernandez Drive, Beckley, WV Leader: Melinda 304-890-6284 Bluefield/Princeton Support Group Fourth Tuesday: 7 pm Call for location (Bluefield, WV) Leader: Doug 304-753-9126 Women’s MS Support Group Second Monday: 7 pm Emmanuel Baptist Church 1401 Washington Street , W. Charleston, WV Leader: Jan 304-744-1994 Huntington Group First Tuesday: 6-8 pm Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center 2nd Floor Conference Room 1400 Hal Greer Blvd., Huntington, WV

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES ON THE PHONE MSFriends: Peer Telephone Support 866-673-7436, 9 am–Midnight ET

CHAT ROOM & BOARDS MSWorld - www.MSworld.org

ONLINE PEER CONNECTIONS MSConnection - www.MSconnection.org Connect with others on a discussion forum, join an online support group, or make a one on one peer connection via email (telephone support also available if needed).

MS CONNECTION: FALL 2016

2016 WALK MS VIP FUNDRAISERS We want to thank and congratulate the following Walk MS fundraisers who all raised at least $750 individually. Collectively these 149 VIP’s raised more than $343,500 this year – over half of ALL the fundraising. We are so proud and grateful to you for your hard work and dedication!

JEFF GRAFFEO VALERIE KIRKMAN AMANDA MALLORY DONNA UTSUNOMIYA RIC HERSH DOUGLAS YOCOM GREG ORLICK LEE NELSON BRIAN MILLER JANET DRIGGERS RHONDA JONES KOLDEN BUEHLER KAREN SMITH LISA HOLLIER TAYLOR BUEHLER ANGIE PARRISH LYDIA MAYO ANGELA SHAW RANDI WHEELER MARNI COOPER JANE SHOWALTER LEISA MULLEN JOHN HESS BETH KITCHEN MARILYN SKIDMORE KYLE YOCOM LORRAINE ELIA MADELINE MASON BELITA THOMAS ASHLEY FIELDS

TIFFANY BRUNO ELLEN MINTZ JOHNSON TRICIA ROOP NANCY BORIACK ROSALIE ISENBERG SARAH MCCOY CONNIE TAYLOR MALINDA FOSTER SUSAN MYERS BECKY FLAHERTY KATIE COLLETT SARAH HAMFELDT RANDY PENNINGTON MERLE HIRSCHMAN BEVERLY OSBY COURTNEY DUNITHAN LORI ROBINSON MELISSA SAUNDERS ANITA BRADLEY JAN STONER CHARLES FORZA STEVE GRAY JENNIFER HILL CRYSTAL DILLON ROB HAMFELDT THERESA CALABRESE NANCY YOCOM MARY TUCCI BROOK MANNS AMANDA SIMMONS

UGHONDI HAMLOR STEFANIE LACKS NANCY METCALFE KELSEY BABLE BLAIR CHEWNING DAVID AUBREY JEANNIE MORRIS TAMMY LANCIANI JENNIFER RAFUSE JAMIE HARVEY DORLA SMITH RYAN LEYDET LORI JACKSON STEPHANIE BUXHOEVEDEN NAN WALL BRANDY MARTIN LINDA SNIDEMILLER KELSEY BOWMAN KATE SCHAEFER JOANNE FRANK KELLY OLSEN JOY WEIKLE CAROLE WILLIAMS HELEN BUTLER JAMIE EDMOND DEBBIE BOWDEN GLORIA SAWHNEY KIMBERLY CAMPBELL CARA OLIVO AMY FARRIS

REBECCA IRVIN MELISSA SIMPSON MARY GARGARELLA AMY MCCOY MELISSA KREILING DONNA GALLOWAY JOHN LINDEMANN KEVIN HARRIS BILL ARNST LEIGHTON BROWN KRISTIN DOHERTY TERESA COTTON-CAUDILL ASHLEY CARWILE OLIVIA HILTON MEGHAN PCSOLYAR MICHAELA GLOVIER NICHOL MACHASICK SHANNON FRANKART ALADRIENE JOHNSON PAIGE RUTTER RONALD FORMOSA KIMBERLY HARPSTER TOM COFFEY JEFFREY PROULX JOHN LOPER PHILLIP NICHOLS AIMEE RUDY SUSAN CHILDRESS EMILY CONRAD CINDY MCKENZIE

SAVANNAH TO TYBEE ISLAND, GEORGIA MARCH 3-5, 2017

MS CONNECTION: FALL 2016

3 DAYS. 50 MILES. PROGRAMS CONNECT TO END ® MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS TAKE CHARGE

Savannah 2017 CHARISSA SFORZA TIFFANY BREEDEN REBECCA KIMBLE STEPHANIE LONG MELODY HARSHMAN STEVE KONOPKA DONNA MCCOY DEAN GALLUP DONNA BOLEY GABRIELLE BORDEN ANNE PUTNAM JOYCE PRATT CYNTHIA DEL BUONO SHELLY SHELTON STACY KITCHEN CHAD HARCUM KASEY DUTROW LYNETTE POLING PAUL KINGSTON LARA WEST TERRI HAGUE BOB TUCCI BARBARA BARKER-KRANK LINDSAY SURBER VERONICA HARAN CONNIE JACKSON MISTY ADAMS JAMIE MESTA SARAH CLINGERMAN

TWO DAY PROGRAM

LEARN MORE: challengewalkMS.org or 1.800.344.4867

CAN DO MS and the National MS Society partnered to bring TAKE CHARGE® to Norfolk, VA from September 30 – October 2. TAKE CHARGE® is considered the premier wellness program in the nation and incorporated MS education, experiential activities, interaction with our medical staff of MS experts, and time for participants and their care partners to engage together in a small group setting throughout the weekend. TAKE CHARGE® provided participants and their support partners with an educational model that promotes learning and experience.

MARCH 3-5, 2017 | SAVE THE DATE!

The TAKE CHARGE® Program is sponsored Nationally by Novartis, Biogen; Genetech Inc; Sanofi Genzyme; Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals Autoimmune and Rare Diseases; and Mellam Family Foundation. Special thanks to Teva Pharmaceuticals for locally supporting the program. For more information on CAN DO MS please visit : http://www.mscando.org/

THE WEEKEND EMPOWERED PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR SUPPORT PARTNER TO TAKE ACTIVE CHARGE OF THEIR MS AND TAILOR LIFESTYLE STRATEGIES TO HELP THEM LIVE FULL LIVES. USING A WIDE RANGE OF EXPERIENTIAL AND ACTIVE LEARNING PROGRAM ELEMENTS TAKE CHARGE® ADDRESSED THE WHOLE PERSON, WHOLE HEALTH AND WHOLE COMMUNITY ASPECTS OF MS DURING A WEEKEND DEDICATED TO WELLNESS

Virginia West Virginia Chapter 4200 Innslake Drive Suite 301 Glen Allen, VA 23060

SAVANNAH TO TYBEE ISLAND, GEORGIA MARCH 3-5, 2017 SAVANNAHTO TOTYBEE TYBEEISLAND, ISLAND,GEORGIA GEORGIAMARCH MARCH3-5, 3-5,2017 2017 SAVANNAH SAVANNAH TO TYBEE ISLAND, GEORGIA MARCH 3-5, 2017 SAVANNAH TO TYBEE ISLAND, GEORGIA MARCH 3-5, 2017

3 DAYS. 50 MILES. DA YS.50 50 MIL ES. 33CONNECT DAYS. MILES. 3 DAYS. 50 MILES. TO END 3 DAYS. 50 MILES. CO NN ECT TO END CONNECT TO END CONNECT TO END SCLEROSIS 3MULTIPLE DAYS. 50 MILES. CONNECT TO END MU LTIP LESCLEROSIS SCL MULTIPLE ERO SIS MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS CONNECT TO END MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS 1.800.344.4867

SAVANNAH TO TYBEE ISLAND, GEORGIA MARCH 3-5, 2017

LEARN MORE: challengewalkMS.org or 1.800.344.4867

Savannah 2017 LEARN LEARN MORE: challengewalkMS.org or 1.800.344.4867 MORE: challenge LEARN MORE: challengewalkMS.org 1.800.344.4867 walkMS.orgoror Savan nah 2017 Savannah 2017 MULTIPLE 2017 Savannah LEARN MORE: challengewalkMS.org or 1.800.344.4867 SCLEROSIS Savannah 2017

Savannah 2017

LEARN MORE: challengewalkMS.org or 1.800.344.4867