Go Above and Beyond Every day I have the privilege of hearing about individuals who, despite being impacted by multiple sclerosis themselves, go above and beyond to help others. They are engaged at all levels of our organization.
National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyWisconsin Chapter Board of Trustees David Rodgers, Chair Briggs & Stratton Corporation Michael Lutze, Vice Chair Ernst & Young Tom Golden, Vice Chair M3 Insurance Solutions, Inc. Pamela Evason, Vice Chair Windermere Wealth Advisors, LLC James Rose, Treasurer Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP Robert Sowinski, Secretary Diversified Insurance Solutions Kenneth Minor, Past Chair Sonic Foundry, Inc. Colleen Kalt, President & CEO National MS SocietyWisconsin Chapter
Anne Brouwer McMillianDoolittle, LLP Robert Buhler Open Pantry Food Marts of Wisconsin, Inc. Dennis Christiansen Secured Retirement Strategies Group, LLC Robert Engel Retired, M&I Bank Paul Jones Harley-Davidson, Inc. Fr. James Kaestner Retired Wayne Larsen Ladish Company Foundation Martin McLaughlin Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, s.c. David Raysich Plunkett Raysich Architects Jeffrey Steren Steren Management/ McDonald’s Robyn Turtenwald Community Advocate
Recently, I met with nearly two dozen volunteers who lead our Walk MS committees. These special volunteers plan Walk MS events throughout Wisconsin while dealing with the personal impact of MS. Among them: • R ich from Cedarburg – he has one son with MS who has been relatively symptom free, but has watched another son struggle with the effects of progressive MS.
• D eb from De Pere – she’s one of three sisters in one family diagnosed with MS.
• A nd Erin from Fond du Lac – she uses a wheelchair, but is determined to walk at Walk MS again.
Our Walk MS committee members, and countless others, go above and beyond every day. Now is the time for all of us to join in, too.
Please donate whatever amount you are able this holiday season. Every donation funds critical research, programs and services for the more than 11,000 children, women and men living in Wisconsin and diagnosed with MS. Donate online at wisMS.org or contact the Chapter at 262-369-4400. Together we will create a world free of MS. In gratitude,
Colleen G. Kalt President & CEO
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 MS Society at nationalmssociety.org or 1-800-344-4867 to learn about ways to help manage multiple sclerosis and about current research that may one day reveal a cure. The National MS Society does not endorse products, services or manufacturers. Such names appear here solely because they are considered valuable information. The National MS Society assumes no liability for the use of contents of any product or service mentioned. Information provided by the 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 National MS Society recommends that all questions and information be discussed with a personal physician.
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The National MS Society is committed to creating a world free of MS.
Bringing It Home Wisconsin scientists awarded $646,000 grant to fund MS research
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he National Multiple Sclerosis Society is a leader in funding MS research and is the best investment in driving solutions and changing the world for people with MS. This fall, the Society committed nearly $19 million to support 54 new MS research projects, including a new study in Wisconsin, bringing the total investment in 2014 to more than $50 million.
Hao Zhang, Ph.D., an assistant professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin, received a $646,000 grant. Dr. Zhang, a biochemist who is interested in neuroscience, completed his postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Zurich Brain Research Institute before joining the Medical College of Wisconsin as a research scientist. He is studying whether blocking free radicals in an MS model provides clues to stopping disease progression. Free radicals, which are byproducts of bodily processes, are harmful to nerve cells in the brain. Nerve cell damage is also a marker of disability progression in MS. “We are looking at how KYC, an inhibitor of free radical production, can stop disease activity in an
MS model,” said Dr. Zhang. KYC, which Dr. Zhang developed, has also been studied in several other disease animal models including sickle cell disease and lung cancer, and is made of all-natural products. His co-investigator in this study is Bonnie Dittel, Ph.D., senior investigator at the Blood Research Institute BloodCenter of Wisconsin and recipient of the Society’s Volunteer Hall of Fame for Scientific Research in 2013. (For this year’s recipients, see page 18.) She was awarded a $450,000 grant from the Society in 2012 to study the effects of one of the immune system signaling molecules, CD86, in an animal disease similar to MS. “I’m really excited about this project, because we are studying a potential MS drug along with the basic science,” Dr. Dittel said. For details on all of the studies awarded grants this fall, visit nationalMSsociety.org/research/ Research-We-Fund. n
Hao Zhang (pictured), Ph.D., an assistant professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin, and Bonnie Dittel, Ph.D., at the Blood Research Institute BloodCenter of Wisconsin, received a $646,000 grant from the National MS Society in September.
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A Fun Ride, A Great Cause Snowmobile enthusiasts ride for multiple sclerosis
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o you enjoy spending time outdoors? Snowmobiling on guided and groomed trails? Check out the MS Snowmobile Tour. It brings together snowmobile enthusiasts for a fun weekend that is all inclusive and fully supported. Held January 22-24, 2015, the ride will be headquartered at Lake of the Torches Resort in Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin.
The experience includes: • Guided rides on groomed trails • On-site mechanical support • Three-nights lodging
• F ree registration for first-time participants (use code MSSTrookie2015) • Meals at the resort and along the route • Evening entertainment • And more!
Participants pay a $45 registration fee and agree to raise a minimum of $650 – money that funds MS-related research. More than $7 million has been raised throughout the event’s history.
Snowmobile rentals are available.
Sign up at MSsnowmobiletour.org or 262-369-4400.
Two Raffles – Two Chances to Win Enter to win the 2015 Polaris Indy 600 “Freedom Sled,” Triton Trailer, cash prizes and more. Proceeds benefit the National MS Society.
Tickets are $10 each or three for $20
Tickets are $1 each or six for $5
GRAND PRIZE: FREEDOM SLED
GRAND PRIZE: TRITON TRAILER
2ND PLACE: $1,000 • 3RD PLACE: $750 4TH PLACE: 2016 MS Snowmobile Tour registration
2ND PLACE: $750 • 3RD PLACE: $500
Contact the MS Snowmobile Tour Volunteer Committee at MSsnowtourraffle@gmail.com or call the National MS Society-Wisconsin Chapter at 262-369-4400 or 800-242-3358 (Wisconsin only) to learn how to purchase tickets. The drawings will be held on January 24, 2015, during the MS Snowmobile Tour. You need not be present to win.
Visit MSsnowmobiletour.org for updates on where you can see the sled and trailer.
Making an Impact Your year-end donation will fuel MS research and more
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ear Scientist, I was wondering if you very nice people can find a cure to MS? That was the question a young girl asked in a letter she sent to the National MS Society-Wisconsin Chapter earlier this year. A cure can’t come fast enough for this daughter watching her father struggle with symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Advancements in MS research are happening at an amazing pace. The world’s largest gathering on MS research occurred this past September. More than 8,500 were in attendance and findings were presented on more than 1,000 research studies. Advancements in research in the last year have included: • A research team in San Francisco is using a new technology they invented to rapidly test more than 1,000 drug compounds that may stimulate the growth of myelin. The team has already launched a clinical trial of one compound they found in, of all places, an oral antihistamine. • Researchers have pinpointed a molecular signal that triggers the beneficial effects of gut bacteria in mice with an MS-like disease. This finding may set the stage for an oral treatment that “resets” the immune system to stop immune attacks in MS. • By comparing levels of two molecules in the brain, researchers have found a novel way of analyzing MRI results that may predict MS progression.
Pieces of the MS puzzle are coming together as scientists continue to look for ways to stop disease progression, restore function that has been lost and ultimately stop this disease forever. During this holiday season, please help build on that momentum by making a donation to benefit important research, programs and services. Donations are tax-deductible, but more importantly, they make an impact so that future generations never have to feel the impact MS can have on those they love. n Send your donation to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society-Wisconsin Chapter, 1120 James Drive Suite A, Hartland, WI 53029 or make an online donation at wisMS.org.
The Investment to End Progressive MS The International Progressive MS Alliance, founded in 2012 to focus on ending MS progression, has awarded its first round of grants, investing nearly $30 million in 22 research grants in nine countries. The grants fund pilot studies to begin filling knowledge gaps about progressive MS. This first round of grants include projects in these key areas: HC linical trials and outcome measures H Rehabilitation trials H Biomarkers of progression H Underlying pathology of progression H Gene studies H New disease model development The Progressive MS Alliance was established by MS organizations around the world, including the National MS Society. For details on the projects, visit ProgressiveMSAlliance.org.
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Don’t Let Wisconsinites with MS Lose Support Changes to the tax check-off program could erase $75,000 Changes to the income tax donation program – which go into effect in 2015 for the 2014 filing – could erase $75,000 or more in financial assistance for those with MS. That will affect the quality of life for some people diagnosed with MS and put them at a greater risk in being able to maintain their independence.
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recently enacted change to Wisconsin’s tax check-off program will require each tax check-off organization or cause to generate at least $75,000 in donations each year or else they will be cut from the program. The change will go into effect based on donations made through the 2014 state income tax forms. That means if multiple sclerosis does not generate at least $75,000 from donations designated on this year’s state tax forms (the ones that must be filed by April 15, 2015), multiple sclerosis will be removed from the program and those with MS will lose tens of thousands of dollars in available financial assistance. Less than $56,000 was contributed to MS through last year’s income tax forms.
If you work with a tax preparer
Why the Program is Important
Remember, your donation is tax deductible.
• Every dollar donated stays in Wisconsin to help Wisconsin residents diagnosed with MS.
If just $7.50 was given for every person in Wisconsin diagnosed with MS, more than the required $75,000 would be raised.
• The funds help those in need of financial assistance in paying for products or services that will improve their quality of life or help them maintain their independence. • It provides tens of thousands of dollars in assistance each year for those who need it most.
What You Can Do If you file your own taxes 1. Find the section on your print or electronic tax form titled “Donations.” 2. Select “multiple sclerosis.”
3. Indicate the amount you want to donate. 4. Ask your friends and family to “Make a Mark for MS” on their tax forms, too.
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1. L et him/her know you want to make a donation for multiple sclerosis through your tax form and how much to designate.
2. B efore signing off on your prepared tax return, verify that the donation has been designated. 3. A sk your tax preparer to let others know about the option. 4. Ask your friends and family to “Make a Mark for MS” on their tax forms, too. Some residents have reported that their tax preparer did not know about the tax check-off program option. Therefore, it’s important to ask.
Please make a mark for MS on your tax return this season! n
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Jon Straumfjord
Enter with Confidence
MS Navigator program helps local man maintain independence
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s a substitute teacher, Jon Straumfjord has to travel long distances through school hallways, which can be an exhausting task due to his multiple sclerosis. He also is a church musician and does the grocery shopping for his family. To make these tasks easier, he wanted a travel scooter to help give him more mobility. When his insurance would not cover the expense, he turned to the MS Navigator program at the National MS Society-Wisconsin Chapter.
Through the program, Straumfjord received financial assistance to help with his purchase of a travel scooter that dismantles Pa g e NO CO 2 of 2 MMAS for easy transport in the back of his vehicle. He said, “If I ; NO C ENTS have concerns about walking distances within a building, .00 .00 I can simply get out my scooter and enter with confidence.”
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Now, Straumfjord can teach, shop and travel much more easily than before he had the scooter. “I would like to express my deep gratitude and appreciation to the donors that made this equipment available to me. It was certainly a great relief to know that there are people who were willing to help me in my time of need.” n
Donations for multiple sclerosis made through the tax check-off program (called Make a Mark for MS) are used for products and services that help those diagnosed with MS improve their quality of life and maintain their independence. That includes funding to help with travel scooters, motorized wheelchairs, accessibility modifications for houses or vehicles, physical therapy and more.
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Applying Online for Social Security Disability
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early half of all new Social Security disability applications are now being submitted online. The Social Security Administration (SSA) plans on increasing online applications over the next few years by making the online application process somewhat easier and filing in person or by telephone a bit more difficult. (An application for SSA’s welfare disability program, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), however, still needs to be submitted on paper.) If you are comfortable navigating the Internet, you can complete the online application for Social Security disability by yourself. You don’t need to hire a lawyer. Go to SSA’s website on the Internet at socialsecurity.gov, click on “Benefits,” and then click on “Apply for Disability.” Click on “Disability Planner” to find the “Adult Disability Checklist,” to help you gather the information you need ahead of time.
Here are a few tips to consider as you’re completing the application: • The most tedious task is gathering the names, addresses and phone numbers of all relevant medical care providers and dates of treatment. Approximate dates of treatment are okay. Correct medical provider names, clinic name and addresses, are important; telephone numbers are less important but if you have the number, include it. The application has a place for the patient ID number for each medical care provider, but nothing bad will happen if you leave this field blank.
BY ATTORNEY THOMAS E. BUSH Wisconsin’s Tom Bush shares SSDI expertise gleaned over 20 years.
• It is SSA policy to gather medical records only about one year prior to the date you became unable to work. You don’t need to provide earlier medical history, though you can if you want to – just don’t expect SSA to gather those records. • The application provides space for you to list your last five jobs, but you don’t need to list jobs you did more than 15 years ago. Include beginning and ending dates for the jobs. • The data you enter won’t be saved unless you proceed from page to page using the “Next” button provided at the bottom of the screen. Using your browser’s back button invites disaster, as does simply closing your browser without first making sure the data you entered has been saved. Even navigating using the tabs provided by SSA at the top of the screen won’t save your data. • When you’re entering the names and addresses of your doctors, you cannot enter periods or commas. Thus, you must enter “151 N Main St” rather than “151 N. Main St.” • You can submit your “electronic signature” on a medical authorization form that allows SSA to gather your medical records. Otherwise it is necessary for you to print the authorization form, sign it and mail it to your local Social Security office. • You do not have to complete the application in one sitting. Once you have entered some basic information, print out the re-entry number. If you exit the application without finishing and you don’t have your re-entry number, you will have to start over with a new application. • Once you are finished, print the confirmation number and a copy of all the information you submitted. Use the confirmation number to check on the status of your application. n
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This Pearl is a True Gem Pearl Capello controls the radio waves to keep cyclists safe
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earl Capello only had a half-hour to chat. “I’ve got lunch plans at noon,” she said, speaking from her winter home near the Manatee River in Florida. It’s just one entry in the busy 87-year-old’s regular schedule. If she’s not baking, cooking or planning parties every month for her fellow retirees, she’s teaching quilting to neighbors while working on her own quilts for family members, and also maintaining the monthly newsletter distributed to 376 retirees she knows from the 40 years she spent working at Johnson Controls in Milwaukee. All of that is taking place during what Capello considers her slow time of year. Come May when she migrates to America’s Dairyland for the summer, things really get busy. That’s when she picks up where she left off as an Amateur Radio (also known as Ham Radio) operator.
Call Sign WB9BZC
According to the National Association for Amateur Radio website: “Amateur Radio (Ham Radio) is a popular hobby and service in which licensed Amateur Radio operators (hams) operate communications equipment. They all have in common a basic knowledge of radio technology and operating principles.” The National Multiple Sclerosis Society-Wisconsin Chapter is one of many non-profit organizations
that rely on Ham Radio operator volunteers to provide communication during events involving a large number of people, such as fundraising events like Walk MS, Challenge Walk MS and Bike MS: TOYOTA Best Dam Bike Tour.
This summer marked Pearl Capello’s 28th year as a Capello explained that National MS Society volunteer. the primary purpose of Ham Radio operators is to supply emergency communication for government agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) during times of disaster, such as a flood or tornado.
“When your phones, TVs and radios are out, what do you have left? Amateur radio, and amateur radio always gets through,” said Capello, whose Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) call sign* is WB9BZC. The operators often volunteer at non-profit events because it gives them the chance to sharpen their skills and do something they enjoy – communicating with others. Continued on Page 10
* A call sign is a unique identifier, similar to broadcast radio call letters, issued to every licensed Amateur Radio operator.
As head of net control, Pearl Capello (seated third from left) leads the coordination of dozens of Ham Radio operator volunteers during the Bike MS: TOYOTA Best Dam Bike Tour weekend. MS Connection | 9
Continued from Page 9
Communicating as Community Service That’s what first attracted Capello when she became an Amateur Radio operator in 1969. She was in her 40s, married and living in Milwaukee. “I thought it would be fun to talk to people around the world. But then I got a taste of community service and was hooked.”
Capello volunteered her radio services with the Society beginning in 1986 – the year she retired. She had no knowledge of what MS was then. Over the years she has come to know much more about the disease while helping with Walk MS events and Bike MS: TOYOTA Best Dam Bike Tour. Now she leads the central communication hub, referred to as “net Pearl Capello (left) “got a control,” for the annual taste of community service August bike ride. and was hooked” as an Amateur Radio operator. “The whole aura of the She’s been on the air ride is super nice. It’s a waves for 45 years. two-day event, so it’s a lot of involvement and covers a lot of territory in the state,” she said. “It’s well organized and I like working with the people. That’s what keeps me coming back. I have made a lot of friends, met a lot of people. We had 15 people as ham operators when we started. Now it’s close to 50!”
Those operators provide on-the-spot communication. “If someone gets hurt, if someone needs something, we’re spread along the route and are in constant communication,” she explained, describing how the radio operators relay messages to each other and then to the right support personnel. “It’s a matter of minutes and there will be someone there, whether it’s mechanical, physical, anything at all. That keeps them safe and that’s the primary purpose of the communications.”
Maintaining Control and Helping Others
As the head of net control, all radio traffic from the rest stops and support vehicles passes through Capello and her five-person crew. It’s a way of ensuring orderly communication and that all FCC regulations are maintained. Yet it’s not policing the rules or operating the equipment or even the mystique of having the potential to talk to people around the world that she enjoys the most. “I found out its much more fun to be involved with people and help them,” Capello said. “I am very proud of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service,” she added. “I only hope that if there ever is an event that commands my talents, that I am able to respond and help wherever possible. Meanwhile, we practice and learn and, hopefully, teach others.” n
Circle of Distinction Award Longtime volunteer Bob Schmidt was given the Circle of Distinction award posthumously for generating a cumulative total of $1 million to fund MS research. He did this through his involvement in the MS Snowmobile Tour, volunteering as a guide, growing his own team of riders and steadily fundraising in the process. His wife, Mary, and three of his four children, Shelly Wilz, Robyn Bscherer and Ann Clermont, accepted the award at the Society Leadership Conference, in November.
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Pictured left to right, Society President and CEO Cyndi Zagieboylo, Robyn Bscherer, Shelly Wilz, Mary Schmidt, Society Board of Trustees Chair Eli Rubenstein and Ann Clermont.
Fall Events Cap Off Walk MS 2014 W
FALL
SPRING
alk MS events were held in four communities this fall: Rhinelander, Waukesha and, new this year, Oshkosh and Stevens Point. More than 1,500 people gathered in September, joining the more than 10,000 who rallied at 16 walks in spring – all to show their support of those living with multiple sclerosis. In total, more than $1.4 million was raised at the 20 Walk MS events held throughout Wisconsin in 2014.
Appleton – Sunday, April 26 – Appleton North High School Cedarburg – Saturday, May 2 – Cedarburg High School De Pere – Sunday, April 19 – West De Pere High School Eau Claire – Saturday, April 25 – UW-Eau Claire Davies Center Fond du Lac – Saturday, May 2 – Marian University Janesville – Sunday, May 3 – Palmer Park Kenosha-Racine – Saturday, May 9 – UW-Parkside Sports & Activities Center La Crosse – Saturday, April 25 – La Crosse Center Madison – Sunday, May 3 – Location TBA walkMSwisconsin.org Marshfield – Saturday, April 25 – Wildwood Park or walkMS.org Menomonee Falls – Saturday, May 2 – Menomonee Falls High School Milwaukee – Sunday, May 3 – Summerfest Grounds Oconomowoc – Saturday, May 9 – Fowler Park Platteville – Sunday, May 3 – UW-Platteville Ullsvik Hall Sheboygan – Sunday, April 26 – Blue Harbor Resort Wausau – Saturday, May 2 – Central Wisconsin Convention & Expo Center
Register for Walk MS 2015 at
Oshkosh – Sunday, September 13 – Location TBA Rhinelander – Sunday, September 20 – Rhinelander High School Stevens Point – Saturday, September 19 – Location TBA Waukesha – Sunday, September 13 – Frame Park
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To Your Credit | PART TWO Ways to monitor and improve your score Continued from the Fall edition of MS Connection
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our credit score will have a direct impact on not only your ability to access credit but also on the price you will pay for it. Continually monitoring your credit and finding ways to improve your score will prove very beneficial.
BY PAM EVASON, CFA, CPA Pam Evason is Managing Director at Windermere Wealth Advisors, LLC and serves on the Wisconsin Chapter Board of Trustees.
Monitor your credit. First and foremost, it
is essential to continually review your credit report and credit scores. This will allow you to understand your current situation, correct any inaccuracies and modify your behavior if necessary. You can request a free copy of your credit report from each of the three main credit score bureaus once per year (via annualcreditreport.com). There are several other companies online that also offer access to your credit reports or continual credit monitoring; however, many include a considerable fee so be sure to understand the terms upfront. Once you obtain your credit report, carefully review it against your records and have any noted mistakes or inaccuracies corrected immediately.
Improve your credit. If you are unhappy with your current situation, there are many steps you can take to begin making positive changes upon reviewing your credit report and related score. A few suggestions to consider: • Improve your payment behavior. Payment history is the largest contributor to your credit score. Adjust your behavior if possible to begin making payments on time. • Monitor balance levels. Take care not to spend to your credit limits. Be mindful of your utilization ratio (amount of credit you use as a percentage
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of amount available to you) and lower that ratio if possible. • Build up (or rebuild) credit history. Even if you’ve used credit inappropriately in the past, the fact remains that credit needs to be used in the correct way for a period of time in order to improve your score. • Space out your borrowing. To the extent possible, space out your requests for new credit. • Settle with collectors. Based on recent changes, credit scores no longer penalize you for failing to pay a bill once it has been settled via collections. If possible, work to resolve any outstanding debts as soon as possible.
“ ... there are a few key concepts you can master and a few key actions you can take to make significant progress with your credit.” In summary, while there is a lot to know and understand about this important concept, there are a few key concepts you can master and a few key actions you can take to make significant progress with your credit. n This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional guidance and assistance in planning your financial future. The matters discussed here are provided as a starting point for further discussions with an investment professional familiar with your specific situation. Windermere Wealth Advisors, LLC, is an investment advisory firm located in Milwaukee, Wis. If you have questions or comments, please contact Pam at 414-716-6150 or pam.evason@ windermerewealth.com.
MS Scholarship Program Funds Higher Education Updated eligibility criteria opens scholarships to more applicants
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ultiple sclerosis shouldn’t stand in the way of an education. Through the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s scholarship program, qualified students who have been diagnosed with MS or who have a parent with MS can apply to receive a scholarship to help them achieve their dreams of going to college. The 2015-16 scholarship program includes updated eligibility criteria. New this year, individuals who have MS or have a parent with MS can apply during any year of undergraduate study at an accredited postsecondary school. Additionally, students will need to be enrolled in at least six degree credit hours per semester.
2015
Scholars are selected on the basis of academic performance and potential; leadership and participation in school or community activities; work experience; educational and career aspirations; financial need and an essay on the impact of MS on the applicant’s life. n
For complete details, to apply for a scholarship and for additional resources for students with MS, visit nationalMSsociety.org/scholarship. The deadline for submitting an application is January 15, 2015.
Grants Support Research, Programs and Services The Wisconsin Chapter thanks the following organizations for the grants recently awarded in support of research, programs and services that are critical to people affected by MS. • $10,000 Olive I. & Eunice J. Toussaint Foundation, Inc. • $7,000 A.O. Smith Foundation, Inc. • $5,000 Racine Community Foundation • $3,000 Jerome J. And Dorothy H. Holz Family Foundation • $1,500 The Hinrichs Foundation • $500 Ann Marie Foundation, Inc. In total, $27,000 was received in gifts and grants from July to September. If you are connected to a foundation that you would like to suggest for a grant opportunity, or for more information on how you can help, contact Cindy Yomantas at 262-369-4431 or cindy.yomantas@nmss.org.
AUTOS-4-MS
Help drive MS away donate your vehicle today!
When you donate your car, truck, motorcycle, boat or trailer to the National MS Society, you can feel good knowing 100% of the proceeds go directly toward benefitting people with MS. Proceeds fund vital research into the cause, cure and treatment of MS as well as programs and services for people living with MS.
Your vehicle donation is tax deductible. Refer to your tax professional for specific details. For answers to all your questions and to start the donation process, please visit www.AUTOS4MS.org or call our office at 1-877-672-8864. MS Connection | 13
The Power of Pin Ups Splashing the walls orange for multiple sclerosis
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ocal grocery stores, gas stations, banks, bars, restaurants and other businesses cover the walls in orange by selling MS Pin Ups, getting people in the community involved in raising awareness and funds for multiple sclerosis.
Personal Connection The Culver’s on Westowne Avenue in Oshkosh
has sold and displayed MS Pin Ups for the past several years. Some employees have also participated in Walk MS with one of the restaurant’s regular customers, who had noticed the Pin Ups on the wall and disclosed that she had recently been diagnosed with the disease. So when restaurant general manager Heather Verwiel’s dad was diagnosed with MS in 2008, she knew how she’d raise money and awareness for the disease. She said, “I wanted to raise money and I remembered we sold those circles the year before.”
Now, Pin Ups are a regular part of the restaurant’s spring décor. “The walls were filled with green and orange!” she said. (Green is the signature color of Walk MS). To encourage sales, she said, “My managers and I made a game of it – whoever sold the most Pin Ups got a free meal.” They also put out jars for customers to donate their loose change, raising around $300 this year. Verwiel joined the Walk MS: Oshkosh volunteer committee chaired by Cheryl Almberg, that regular customer she now calls a lifelong friend.
Community Partnership The Texas Roadhouse in Waukesha ran a successful Pin Up campaign this year, too. Megan DeValk, local store marketer, said, “Our goal at Texas Roadhouse is to always make a positive impact within our community and form meaningful partnerships with local organizations. We have thousands of guests walk through our doors every week, and selling and displaying the MS Pin Ups were great ways to add to the cause and raise awareness for MS.” Selling Pin Ups also created a fun competitive atmosphere for servers, according to DeValk, adding to the success of the campaign. “The whole front of our restaurant was bright orange,” she said. “It also made people curious, allowing for conversation with them as to what we were doing.”
Andy the Armadillo, mascot from Texas Roadhouse in Waukesha, participated in Walk MS: Waukesha. The restaurant sold Pin Ups and held a benefit night for MS. MS Connection | 14
In addition to selling Pin Ups, the Waukesha Texas Roadhouse also held a benefit night with a portion of the proceeds donated to the National MS Society, and Andy the Armadillo, the restaurant mascot, helped hand out peanut bags at Walk MS: Waukesha. DeValk said, “It was so great to work with the Society and start this awesome relationship.” n
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Stay Strong 7th annual Challenge Walk MS celebrates inner strength
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ou never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice. That was the theme that more than 200 Challenge Walk MS participants rallied around September 19-21 during the annual walk through Door County with a goal of raising $425,000 for MS-related research, programs and services. Highlights included:
Everyone who registers for 2015 receives a free training T-shirt!
• More than 70 first-time participants • An in-person thank you from MS researcher Dr. Nancy Monson • Five individuals, including two first-time Challenge Walkers, raised more than $10,000 each • 49 participants joined the Celebration Club by raising $2,500 or more • Themed rest stops brought walkers face-to-face with zombies, Batman, pirates, Saturday Night Live’s most famous characters and true tailgate fare including freshly grilled brats Be part of the experience that’s been called life changing. Sign up now for Challenge Walk MS 2015. Visit challengewalkMSwi.org or call 262-369-4400 for details and to register.
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Thank You, 2014 Sponsors Event sponsors partner with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, allowing more funds to go toward the critical research, programs and services that make a difference in the lives of people affected by MS.
Wisconsin 2014
CHICAGO REGIONAL COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS
CHICAGO REGIONAL COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS
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Presented by your Milwaukee- and Madison-area TOYOTA dealers: Wilde, Smart, Russ Darrow, Ruda, Racine, Kenosha, Jack Safro, Hesser, Heiser, East Madison, Don Jacobs, Andrew
Door County 2014
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How We Move It Wisconsin Chapter News and Notes
Wisconsin residents Kelly Malucha, R.N. and MS Certified Nurse, and Alexander Ng, Ph.D., F.A.C.S.M., were inducted in the National MS Society Volunteer Hall of Fame during the Society’s Leadership Conference, November 6-8. Malucha, pictured on the left with National MS Society Board of Trustees Chair Eli Rubenstein, was inducted for her efforts in programs and services. Dr. Ng, pictured with National MS Society President and CEO Cyndi Zagieboylo, was inducted for his work in MS research.
Upcoming Telelearning Events The National MS Society’s free telelearning series provides information and guidance on current matters essential to living one’s best
life with MS. November’s focus will be on planning for the future, including legal and financial advice. January’s webinar will center on answering your questions about MS research with speakers from the National MS Society. February will emphasize how to handle different situations in the workplace while living with MS, ranging from legal basics to changes in cognition and fatigue. March’s topics include bladder and bowel symptoms, as well as information about working from home. Visit nationalMSsociety. org/telelearning or call 800-344-4867 for more information. MS Connection | 18
The Power of Positive Thinking Dr. Bhupendra Khatri, the founding medical
director of The Regional MS Center in Milwaukee, believes in the power of positive thinking. He has authored a book called Healing the Soul, which offers words of encouragement for those who believe in the power of mind and spirit in the face of life’s most difficult challenges. Dr. Khatri’s book is available on Amazon.com, in e-book format and in bookstores. Visit henschelHAUSbooks.com for additional information.
2015 CALENDAR OF EVENTS MS SNOWMOBILE TOUR January 22-24
MS AWARENESS WEEK March 2-7 MS SUMMIT March 7 PUBLIC POLICY CONFERENCE March 9-11
Raising Funds for MS Through Endurance Events Finish MS provides endurance athletes with the
DE PERE Saturday, April 19 EAU CLAIRE Saturday, April 25 LA CROSSE Saturday, April 25 MARSHFIELD Saturday, April 25 APPLETON Sunday, April 26 SHEBOYGAN Sunday, April 26 CEDARBURG Saturday, May 2 FOND DU LAC Saturday, May 2 MENOMONEE FALLS Saturday, May 2 WAUSAU Saturday, May 2 JANESVILLE Sunday, May 3 MILWAUKEE Sunday, May 3 MADISON Sunday, May 3 PLATTEVILLE Sunday, May 3 KENOSHA-RACINE Saturday, May 9 OCONOMOWOC Saturday, May 9 OSHKOSH Sunday, September 13 WAUKESHA Sunday, September 13 STEVENS POINT Saturday, September 19 RHINELANDER Sunday, September 20
Wisconsin 2015
opportunity to end MS through fundraising while embarking on physical fitness challenges. Individuals or teams can sign up with Finish MS after registering for an endurance event of their choice and use the Finish MS tool to fuel their fundraising efforts. Those who use Finish MS will have the ability to connect with others, tell their story and check on their fundraising progress. They will also receive a singlet when they pledge to raise $100. Visit finishMS.org for more information and to register.
MS CONNECTION IS A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETYWISCONSIN CHAPTER.
MS WORLD DAY May 27
Editor: Amanda Gasper Krueger Content Editor: Maureen Waslicki raphic Design and Production: G Amy Malo and Joan Hartin
n n n
BIKE MS: TOYOTA BEST DAM BIKE TOUR August 1-2
To comment or share a story idea, call 262-369-7173 or email amanda.gasper@nmss.org
CHALLENGE WALK MS September 18-20
National MS Society-Wisconsin Chapter 1120 James Drive, Ste. A, Hartland, WI 53029 262-369-4400 1-800-242-3358
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wisMS.org
TOLL FREE
Door County 2015
JOIN THE MOVEMENT
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wisMS.org • info.wisMS@nmss.org 800.242.3358 • 262.369.4400 MS Connection | 19
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Use Your Year-end Gift to
Put the Pieces Together Discoveries. Advancements. Breakthroughs. The pieces of the MS puzzle are coming together at a remarkable rate. Be part of that momentum this holiday season with your tax-deductible donation to the National MS Society-Wisconsin Chapter. Help fund the research, programs and services critical to every person connected to MS by making a gift today with tomorrow in mind.
Visit wisMS.org to make your year-end donation.