WINTER 2014 ARIZONA Chapter
MS Connection Newsletter
many ways to help fight MS
INSIDE 3 THIS ISSUE:
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MS day at looking the capitol Ahead to Walk MS 2015
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calling all bike MS 2015 year-end volunteers ride to gold giving
managing your money with MS
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MS connection: winter 2014
CHAPTER news
welcome to our new board members! We are proud to announce the appointment of two new Board members to the Arizona Chapter Board of Directors.
take your involvement to the next level! Join in as an event-participant, volunteer, or donor! Connect with us online at: arizonaMS.org facebook.com/arizonaMS twitter.com/AZMSSociety instagram/arizonaMS
on the cover: There are many ways to help create a world free of MS! Read on to learn more.
Travis Beeman is a Senior Manager at KPMG with more than 15 years of professional experience. Over the last decade, Travis has served in the Phoenix, Arizona office and has provided financial statement assurance services to a variety of clients from small start-up companies to multibilliondollar global organizations. Travis is a Licensed Certified Public Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration (BABA) from the University of New Mexico (UNM). Previously he served on the Arizona Technology Council, as a Board Member of Childsplay, Inc., and the Downtown Tempe Community. Peter Arceo is the Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Casino Arizona and Talking Stick Resorts. An industry leader with over 20 years of first-hand casino and hospitality industry experience having held positions in Native American, private, and publicly traded companies. With a diversified background that includes working with some of the most notable names in the gaming industry, his specialties include strategic planning and analysis, marketing, property operations, and information technology. Peter holds a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Southern California (USC) and a Bachelors of Science (BS) from the University Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV). Welcome aboard!
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nationalmssociety.org | 1-800-344-4867
legislative conference
MS day AT THE CAPITOL It’s time to get involved in MS Activism! Each year the chapter brings individuals impacted by multiple sclerosis to the Arizona State Capitol to participate in the “MS Day at the Capitol” action day. Participants utilize scheduled meetings with their elected representatives to share their stories of life with MS and urge their legislator to support issues to important to the MS community. This year’s Day at the Capitol will be even more exciting because of the creation of the Ad Hoc Committee on MS Education & Awareness. The committee, comprised of appointed individuals with a vested interest in many aspects of the MS community, will work to make improvements in the lives of those impacted by MS in Arizona. To learn more about MS Day at the Capitol or to register to attend, please contact Erika Edholm at 480-455-3959 or erika.edholm@nmss.org. n
National Multiple Sclerosis Society Arizona Chapter 5025 E. Washington St., Ste. 102 Phoenix, AZ 85034 1-800-344-4867 Chairman: Marion Kelly Editor: Jessica Ishikawa Layout: April Nielsen © 2014 National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Arizona Chapter
Prep Workshop
Monday, February 23
6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Disability Empowerment Center 5025 E. Washington St.
Day at the Capitol Tuesday, February 24
9 AM – 3 PM Arizona Capitol Complex 1700 W. Washington St. Cost: $25 Cost includes a light breakfast, boxed lunch on Tuesday and all conference materials. 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 Multiple Sclerosis Society recommends that all questions and information be discussed with a personal physician. The Society does not endorse products, services or manufacturers. Such names appear here solely because they are considered valuable information. The Society assumes no liability for the use or contents of any product or service mentioned.
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MS connection: winter 2014
looking towards 2015
walk MS 2014 hits a home run! Walk MS hit a homerun this fall! We kick-started this Walk MS season with our 3rd Annual Walk MS: West Valley on Saturday, October 11th, then the 7th Annual Walk MS: Prescott on Saturday, October 18th. Next up was our 2nd Annual Walk MS: East Valley on Saturday, October 25th. We wrapped Walk season up with our 27th Annual Walk MS: Phoenix on November 1st. To date, we have raised more than $370,000.00 with over 4,000 participants, 275 teams and over 400 volunteers! The chapter would like to extend a huge “Thank You” to all of our amazing participants, teams, sponsors, committee members and volunteers for making these Walk MS events so successful. We look forward to seeing you again in 2015! Don’t forget that you can still donate to the 2014 East Valley, West Valley, Phoenix, and Prescott Walk MS events through December 31st to count towards this year’s walk totals! To get your motivation flowing, we have a little (but, BIG!) post-walk fundraising challenge for you. Every $50 you raise earns you a chance
to win a Northern Arizona Gift Basket full of gift cards to some great places valued at $600! Donations made by midnight on December 31st will count toward the contest. The winner will be announced on January 2nd, 2015. Get those fundraising dollars on your holiday shopping list and win some amazing New Year fun! n
Join us for Walk MS 2015!
Start 2015 off right and get ready to walk in Tucson on Saturday, February 28, 2015! Join us for our 22nd Annual Walk MS: Tucson at Reid Park. We are expecting over 1,200 participants this year! For more information, contact Crystal at 520-325-0755 or crystal.blickfeldt@nmss.org. Get registered and donate today at:
walkMSarizona.org
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nationalmssociety.org | 1-800-344-4867
join the mission
WE NEED YOU TO Volunteer Our 2014 Fall Walk MS Season is finished and while it’s bittersweet to see the season end, we are so proud of the amazing success that came from each of the Walk MS events. We especially want to thank all the hard working volunteers who took time out of their schedule to help. All of our volunteers from Parking Lot Volunteers to VIP Tent Volunteers helped create four great events that help us work towards a world free of MS. We have so many wonderful volunteers that help us on a daily basis, we wouldn’t be able to do the work we do without their help. Two such volunteers have truly made a difference for all that they do. April Nielsen has worked tirelessly on the chapter’s graphic design work. Another great volunteer we would like to highlight is Pamela Burge. Her help coordinating all of our volunteers for our West Valley and Phoenix Walk MS events were vital to the events’ successes. These two volunteers have spent many hours helping our team and we are so grateful for them. Thank you for all your hard work.
Walk MS Tucson 2013
MS Service Day - 2013
Our upcoming events include: • MS Service Day
January 24, 2015 (varying locations) Enjoy the opportunity to directly help our clients by assisting with some light household chores or yard-work at our MS Service Day event. For some, household chores can be a burden due to mobility, fatigue, heat-sensitivity, or other MS-related limitations.
For more information, please contact Erika Edholm at 480-455-3959 or email her at erika.edholm@nmss.org.
• Walk MS: Tucson
February 28, 2015 Reid Park Help make our Walk MS: Tucson a success by volunteering! For more information on what volunteer jobs are available, contact Crystal Blickfeldt at 520-325-0755 or crystal.blickfeldt@nmss.org. n
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self help groups
MS connection: winter 2014 If you would like more information about Support Groups in your area, call 1-800-344-4867 and select option 1, or contact a listed leader.
CENTRAL PHOENIX
GLENDALE
EAST VALLEY
KINGMAN - resumed in october!
2nd Monday of the month, 10 AM First United Methodist Church 5510 N. Central Ave. Contact Judy: 602-953-9180
3rd Thursday of the month, 10 AM Grace United Methodist Church 2024 E. University Dr., #502 Contact Deb: 480-890-1488
Flagstaff 20s, 30s & 40s group - NEW!  1st Wednesday of the month, 6 PM Northern Arizona Healthcare Contact Jacque: 480-890-1488 or Emily: msmadestrong@gmail.com
Flagstaff - NEW!
1st Friday of the month, 1:30 PM Northern Arizona Healthcare Flagstaff Plaza Shopping Center Contact: Jacque or Emily at msmadestrong@gmail.com
GILBERT: Active with MS
Last Wednesday of the month, 5 PM Banner Neuro Wellness 207 N. Gilbert Rd., Ste. 205 Contact Mark: 480-518-5971 This group is open to all levels of activity.
1st Tuesday of the month, 12 PM First Southern Baptist Church 10250 N. 59th Ave. Contact Deborah: 623-974-6944
3rd Saturday of the month, 12:30 PM Kingman Regional Medical Center Cholla Room 3269 Stockton Hill Rd. Contact Pati: 928-530-9982
NORTH SCOTTSDALE
2nd Tuesday of the month, 4:30 PM Scottsdale Senior Center 10440 E. Via Linda, Room 8 Contact Lisa: 480-860-2367
phoenix: African American group 3rd Thursday of the month, 6:30 PM Disability Empowerment Center 5025 E Washington St., Michele: 480-284-8867 or at mic1966@msn.com
PRESCOTT/PRESCOTT VALLEY
2nd Thursday of the month, 11 AM Residence Inn - Lee Boardroom 3599 Lee Cir., Prescott Contact Alan: 928-710-1257 or Larry: 928-775-7334
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nationalmssociety.org | 1-800-344-4867
Sierra Vista
4th Wednesday of the month, 11 AM Country House Cafe 4373 Arizona 92 Contact Judie: 520-378-4400
SIGNIFICANT OTHERS
Please call Lois at 602-672-9234 for meeting time & location.
SUN CITY
1st Thursday of the month, 10:30 AM First Presbyterian Church 12225 N. 103rd. Ave. Contact Judy: 623-972-3941 or Karen: 623-584-8575
TUCSON CENTRAL GROUP
2nd Wednesday of the month, 6 PM Center for Neurosciences 2450 E. River Rd. Crystal: 520-325-0755
TUCSON middle ablers + Active adults
Last Wednesday of the month, 6 PM - 8 PM Northwest Neurospecialists Clinical Research, LLC 5860 N. La Cholla Blvd. Kimberly: 520-331-8710
TUCSON NORTHWEST GROUP
2nd Wednesday of the month, 10 AM Casas Adobes Congregational Church 6801 N. Oracle Rd. Contact Cindy: 520-887-8905 or Carol: 520-797-0405
TUCSON young & unstoppables teen & young adults Last Tuesday of the month, 6 PM – 8 PM Northwest Neurospecialists Clinical Research, LLC 5860 N. La Cholla Blvd. Contact Ricca: 520-906-0445
YUMA group empowerment for ms 3rd Saturday of the month, 9:30 AM Yuma Rehabilitation Hospital 901 W. 24th St. Contact Crystal: 520-325-0755
DON’t SEE A support group IN YOUR AREA? Join us for a statewide skype group! 1st Tuesday of the month, 3 PM Meet & connect using Skype from any location in Arizona! Call Eldene at 480-860-9359 for more details on how to participate from the comfort of your home.
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MS connection: winter 2014
save these dates
phoenix calendar of events Annual Meeting Tuesday, January 6 6 PM – 8 PM Mayo Clinic Hospital 5777 E Mayo Blvd. Program Fee: $5
MS Service Day
Saturday, January 24 9 AM – 12 PM Locations will vary depending on applications.
Will be video-conferenced to locations outside of Phoenix. Call Erika for more information.
Boys Night Out
Tuesday, January 13 6 PM – 8 PM Disability Empowerment Center 5025 E Washington Street, Phoenix
No Boys Allowed - phoenix Tuesday, February 17 6 PM – 8 PM Disability Empowerment Center 5025 E Washington St.
Everyday Matters
Saturdays, January 24 – February 21 10 AM – 12 PM Arizona Chapter Office 5025 E Washington St. Ste. 102 Cost: $25 per family
20s & 30s Squad - tempe Wednesday, February 11 6 PM – 8 PM Dave & Buster’s Tempe Marketplace 2000 E. Rio Salado Pkwy.
There will be Happy Hour pricing until 7 PM.
For more information on programs happening in the Phoenix Metro area, contact Erika Edholm at (480) 455-3959 or erika.edholm@nmss.org.
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nationalmssociety.org | 1-800-344-4867
save these dates
southern arizona events calendar Depression & MS - tucson Saturday, January 10 10 AM – 12 PM La Frontera 502 W. 29th St.
Chair Yoga - Tucson
Six-week course Thursdays, Beginning December 4 11 AM – 12 PM Casas Adobe Church Cost: $15 for 6-weeks Contact Robin at bird_rainwater@hotmail.com
Cognifitness - Tucson Tuesdays, March 3 – April 21 6 PM – 8 PM Center for Neurosciences 2450 E. River Rd. Cost: $30
Tucson FUNDRAISERs Walk MS: Tucson Bowl-a-Thon
Sunday, January 18 Tucson Bowl 7020 E. 21st St. (22nd & Kolb Rd.)
Come out and bow to raise money for MS!
MS Pamper Yourself Day
Wednesday, February 11 Salon business hours Greentoes Nail Salon 529 N. 6th Ave. Pamper yourself with a massage, facial, or mani-pedi and raise money for Walk MS. Greentoes will be donating 50% of the proceeds!
20s & 30s - Tucson Wednesday, January 21 6 PM Maloney’s 213 N. 4th Ave,
For more information on programs happening in Southern Arizona, contact Crystal Blickfeldt at (520) 325-0755 or crystal.blickfeldt@nmss.org.
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Northern arizona events calendar
MS connection: winter 2014
Arizona MS Day at the Capitol
Monday - Tuesday, February 23 & 24, 2015 See page 3 for more details
aqua exercise - Flagstaff
Wednesdays, 12 PM – 1 PM NAU Wall Aquatic Center 705 S. San Francisco St., Fees: $2 per-week; $3/parking. To register, contact Sherry Oberhardt at 928-853-5379 or S.Oberhardt@hotmail.com.
Stretch and Laugh Chair Yoga Flagstaff
Wednesdays, 10:45 AM – 11:45 AM Thorpe Park Community Center 245 N. Thorpe Rd. $2 per class To register, contact Melinda at 928-527-8604. For more information on programs happening in Northern Arizona, contact Lynette Hoyt at (480)455-3962 or lynette.hoyt@nmss.org.
jumpstart program ®
Save the date! Registration for this program opens December 15, 2014. Date: Saturday, February 7, 2015 Location: Four Points Sheraton-South 10831 S. 51st St., Phoenix A free one-day program for people with MS and their support partners to learn and get a JUMPSTART on their health and wellbeing! To learn more about Can Do MS JUMPSTART Programs, visit www.mscando.org/jumpstart.
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nationalmssociety.org | 1-800-344-4867
RESEARCH focus on
progressive MS The achievements of Dr. Barry G.W. Arnason, the 2014 recipient of the Dystel Prize for Multiple Sclerosis Research, are many, and include such significant contributions as laying the groundwork for the development of immune-directed therapies and understanding how the different components of the immune system work in MS. However, some of his discoveries hold particular significance for people with progressive forms of MS.
Understanding progressive MS
Much MS research has focused on the role of T cells, which are a specific type of white blood cell that somehow become turn on the central nervous system and produce damaging inflammation. However, “I don’t think T cells have much to do with progressive MS,” said Dr. Arnason. “I think the problem is activation within the central nervous system of microglial cells, and that activation is the key to potential treatments of progressive MS.” Dr. Arnason made these comments in the opening lecture at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of MS Centers in San Diego, while emphasizing that MS research focus more on progressive MS. Dr. Arnason’s research into progressive MS has also helped to uncover evidence that damage to the spinal cord leads to the increased activity of certain docking sites on immune cells, suggesting a vicious cycle of immune changes, damage and increased immune activation.
Along the way, Dr. Arnason also contributed to the better understanding of other disorders such as Guillain-Barré syndrome and myasthenia gravis.
Training the future
Dr. Arnason is also planting the seeds for highquality MS care in the future. His institution, the University of Chicago Medical Center, at which he is the James Nelson & Anna Louise Raymond Professor of Neurology, recently received an Institutional Clinician Training Award from the Society. These awards provide five years of funding to support the establishment of a world-class training program, thereby attracting the best MS clinicians over multiple years. The Dystel Prize is awarded jointly by the National MS Society and the American Academy of Neurology. The award is made possible through a special fund established in 1994 by the late Society National Board member Oscar Dystel and his late wife Marion in honor of their son John Jay, an attorney whose promising career was cut short by progressive disability from MS. To learn more about Dr. Arnason and past Dystel recipients, visit www.nationalMSsociety.org/dystel. n
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MS connection: winter 2014
LIVING WELL WITH MS
MS Service day What a Difference a Day Makes: MS Service Day is a way that volunteers, businesses, civic organizations, and family and friends can make a change in the lives of people with multiple sclerosis by completing projects for them. Volunteers will be assigned a specific project location, where together with staff member(s) will complete the wish list of someone living with MS. We need your help to make this happen! If you are a person living with MS, who is in need of household tasks or improvements (yard work, painting, organizing, cleaning, etc.),
please contact the chapter to receive an MS Service Day application. We are also looking for volunteers who are interested in participating in MS Service Days around the state! For more info on how to get involved, contact: Erika Edholm, Programs and Advocacy Coordinator at (480) 455-3959 or erika.edholm@nmss.org. n
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nationalmssociety.org | 1-800-344-4867
peddling on
bike MS 2015: Ride to Gold Get ready for a ride to remember! Hundreds of cyclists from across the state are gearing up for the new Bike MS: Ride to Gold! This ride will start in Peoria, Arizona with our overnight and festivities happening in the old gold mining town of Wickenburg! The 29th Annual Bike MS will take place, May 2 & 3, 2015. The chapter is off to a great start with Bike MS: Ride to Gold! We are excited about the coming
year and all the changes that will come along with the new event location. With all of the new changes, the chapter hopes to raise more than $430,000 to support research and local programs for more than 8,000 Arizonans living with MS. Participants will receive a great value, as the fees for Bike MS are minimal. Registration is only $35 through the end of the year, so don’t delay, and get yourself registered today! This fee pays for your full weekend and includes: five full meals, full support on the route, frequent complimentary rest stops, and more! There is also a minimum fundraising requirement of $250. This minimum helps the chapter continue its mission of finding a cure for MS and providing Arizonans affected by MS the programs and services they need to live quality and fulfilled lives. We hope by moving the ride-start to the Valley, we’ll be able to draw a larger crowd and continue to grow momentum for Bike MS. The ride will begin at Peoria Sports Complex with cyclists still able to choose from multiple route options. We look forward to the coming year and hope you’ll come out and ride with us! For more information, to donate, or to register visit bikeMSarizona.org. n
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MS connection: winter 2014
women against multiple sclerosis
Let’S do lunch
Our 2015 Women Against MS (WAMS) Luncheon will be held Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa. Guests will enjoy a wonderful lunch while watching an inspirational program emceed by Tara Hitchcock. We are expecting more than 400 attendees. Thanks to the funds raised by the WAMS luncheon, the National MS Society, Arizona Chapter offers an extensive variety of programs, services and resources for people living with MS, including family members, caregivers and other members of their support systems. We have adapted our community programs to include support groups, including but not limited to 20s & 30s Squad, No Boys Allowed and Boys
ending on a good note
year-end giving Imagine you are Athena; you are a 39-year-old attorney, married with a four-year-old daughter and a newborn baby. After years of unexplained clumsiness, blurred vision, and bladder difficulties, the neurologist tells you that you have MS. You’re told you have an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system, and it could stop you from moving altogether. While the medication helps, you still need a cane, and sometimes a scooter for long distances. With your generous support, the National MS Society is funding cutting-edge research and there
Night Out. These programs cater to the specific needs of our clients in the community. We have also implemented a Newly Diagnosed Program; a Caregiver Conference; and several new exercise programs, including Yoga for MS. To get involved with our 2015 WAMS Luncheon event, please contact Brandee Wessel, at (480) 455-3958 or via email at brandee.wessel@nmss.org. n are now eleven disease modifying drugs available. But they’re not enough, because they’re not a cure. Symptom management isn’t enough. Athena, her daughter, and every family affected by MS deserves a cure. You can help the National MS Society achieve that goal. Please put your compassion to work by making a year-end gift. In our quest to create a world free of MS, no stone can be left unturned and no promising-path can be left unexplored. Let’s keep MS research “moving” forward “faster.” Please give a tax-deductible gift today! To make a year-end donation, visit us at www.arizonams.org. n
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Money Matters
Managing your money with MS Gloria Dady had envisioned spending the rest of her working life taking care of people. She never expected that, in her 50s, multiple sclerosis would force her to start drawing on her retirement nest egg. It was unsettling — until she reached out for help from the National MS Society. Through the Society’s partnership with the Society of Financial Service Professionals, people affected by MS can get free financial counseling from trained professionals through the Financial Education Partners (FEP) program. Doug Head, CLU, ChFC, a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Tukwila, Wash., is one such volunteer. Head helps people plan for a life with MS by talking about basic budgeting, different ways to save, how to maximize health insurance benefits and more. But he lends more than his number-crunching know-how. He and other FEP volunteers also offer hope that any financial challenge can be tackled with patience and planning. “Dealing with the challenges of MS often leaves people feeling that their finances have gotten away from them,” Head says. “The first thing I ask is, ‘What are your two or three major financial concerns?’ This helps us focus on what’s really important to them.”
Gloria Dady with her grandchildren Dady appreciated talking to a finance professional who could explain everything clearly and compassionately. Head discussed strategies to lower her tax payments and keep her retirement savings intact, even as she drew on it for income. Over the past four years, Head has offered free financial advice to more than 100 people who have been referred to him by the Society. “The people I’ve met are wonderful,” Head says. “I’ve been inspired by their journeys.” People living with MS can talk in person or over the phone with FEP volunteers about financial topics such as insurance analysis, retirement, estate planning and legal planning. To learn more, visit www.nationalMSsociety.org/ financialplanning or call an MS Navigator at 1-800-344-4867 n This article was originally written by Liz Murtaugh Gillespie of Moore Ink. PR & Fundraising Communications and was published in the Spring 2014 issue of the Greater Northwest Chapter’s MSConnection.
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make a difference
CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE WITH DIY FUNDRAISING A Do it Yourself (DIY) Fundraising event gives people an opportunity to raise awareness and funds for the MS movement in new and creative ways. Use your talents and interests to raise awareness and funds for the National MS Society! There are endless ways to get involved. Host a fundraising event, start a grassroots fundraising campaign with email or take on a personal challenge of your choice! Every dollar counts in our mission to create a world free of MS. Your dollars will help fund cutting-edge research, drive change through advocacy, facilitate professional education, and provide programs and services to help people with MS move their lives forward! To register your event visit MSarizona.org and look for Do It Yourself Events! n
Funding the Mission
Support the chapter just by shopping!
Enroll in the Fry’s Community Rewards Program today and help support the chapter. Please remember, if use the rewards program, you need to re-enroll each year. Here’s how: 1. Go to https://www.frysfood.com/topic/ community?activePage=communityrewards-2. 2. Select ‘Sign-In. 3. Enter your email and password then select ‘sign in.’ 4. Select ‘My Account’, you should see Account
Summary at the top. 5. Scroll down, Click ‘ENROLL’ under Community Rewards. If prompted, enter personal information. 6. Under Find Your Organization, enter National Multiple Sclerosis Society 7. Under Select Your Organization: Select box next to National Multiple Sclerosis Society 8. Then select ‘save changes.’ If registered correctly, you should see your organization information listed under ‘Community Rewards’ on your Account Summary. n
nationalmssociety.org | 1-800-344-4867
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in memoriam
George Bohnert George H. Bohnert, age 68, of Scottsdale, AZ passed away on February 13, 2014 due to complications of multiple sclerosis. After serving in the US Navy, George graduated from Fairleigh Dickenson University in Madison, NJ. George was employed by Prudential Property and Casualty in Arizona and New Jersey in various management positions for 30 years. Following retirement from PRUPAC George was the Development Director at Horses Help in Phoenix; a horse riding facility for the disabled. George also served on non-profit boards in the Phoenix area including Daring Adventures where he served as Board President, Volunteer Center of Maricopa County and the National MS Society, Arizona Chapter. George was a participant in Walk MS for 20 years as well as serving as its coordinator several years ago. This year, Team NO Blarney!, led by Peg Bohnert, honored George in their Walk MS efforts. Despite being a full-time wheelchair user, George set the bar high and never missed a walk, albeit from a wheelchair. George was a man who touched many lives both in his professional life and in working with youth and non-profits. He enjoyed coaching youth soccer, refereeing and Little League baseball. He was an avid Red Sox
fan. Once he became disabled, he continued to enjoy hand cycling, kayaking and horse riding. As a disabled horseback rider, he was honored as the Adult Equestrian of the Year by NARHA, North American Riding for the Handicapped Association. George exemplified that, even facing progressive MS, there was a rich life to be lived, even from a wheelchair. His wheelchair liberated him! George taught us all a life lesson with each day he lived. One of his favorite expressions was “who I am makes a difference� and George certainly made a difference. Those who knew and loved him will miss him greatly. n
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MS connection: winter 2014
in memoriam
fond remembrance of lynn hartline One of Lynn’s favorite activities was passing out stuffed animals, specifically MS Bears, to children along the Bike MS routes. For the first few years of her riding career, she would toss stuffed animals to kids from the back of a tandem. She would admit that sometimes she would toss two at the same time because “my aim isn’t that great and the kids love it”.
Lynn Hartline’s life is best defined by exceptional kindness, unselfish giving, and an unconditional love for her children. Everything she did was ultimately about “making memories” with her family and friends. Even though Lynn was a single mom with three children of her own, her home was always open to other kids who needed a strong shoulder, a sympathetic ear, or simply a hug to make it through difficult times. She was “mom” to many kids as they grew up. Lynn was also an avid cyclist and a loyal rider in Bike MS rides in California and Arizona. She was often a Top Fundraiser and truly enjoyed riding to find a cure for MS. She also rode in other charity rides to help support those organizations’ efforts.
Tragically, on May 17, 2014, Lynn was fatally injured in a cycling accident during a Bike MS. She died a few hours later surrounded by love. Lynn’s family would like to thank the riders in the Bike MS for the cards, letters, and prayers they received after the accident. They were also very touched by the number of riders who left their riding medals at the location of the accident. Some of those medals are hanging on Lynn’s “Ghost Bike” which was erected at the accident site. Lynn is survived by her three children, one grandchild, her mother, her brother, and an extended family. n
nationalmssociety.org | 1-800-344-4867
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in memoriam
remembering the “turtle whisperer” Dorothy, moved in with them.
Sandy Stinson was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1987. She passed away due to complications of MS on January 6, 2014; she was 58. Sandy is survived by her two daughters and five grandchildren. She was particularly close to her granddaughter Alexis (19), spending a lot of time with her when Alexis was small and Sandy was still able to drive and get around on her own. She would take her to school and pick her up and spend the rest of the day with her. Sandy worked for the phone company and never missed a day of work until she had to go out on disability in 1995. In 1996, Sandy moved in with her sister, Lynn. They moved to a more compatible house in 2003, where Sandy’s mom,
Sandy and her family did their first Walk MS in Phoenix in 1990. At that time it was 16 miles and she walked the whole thing! Sandy’s family has been participating in walks since then, although not always as a team. They formed the “Turtle Whisperers” team three years ago when the West Valley Walk MS began. Their team name came from their pet tortoise they named Mike. Mike would always come over to Sandy when he heard her voice and crawl around her feet and under her wheelchair. So, Sandy was dubbed the “Turtle Whisperer”. Sandy was a “people collector”. Everyone she came in contact with became her friend. Sandy will always be known as a very thoughtful person. She put other people’s needs above her own. Sandy’s sister, Lynn, said of Sandy “As a quadriplegic, she never felt sorry for herself, even though she had every reason to. Even after a long hospital stay, she donated bed pillows to the intensive care unit because she wanted the patients to be comfortable”. n
Arizona Chapter 5025 E. Washington St. Ste. 102 Phoenix, AZ  85034
mark your
2015 calendar January 6: Annual Meeting 24: 2015 MS Service Day February 28: 2015 Walk MS: Tucson March 2 - 8: 2015 MS Awareness Week April 29: 2015 WAMS Luncheon May 2 - 3: 2015 Bike MS: Ride to Gold 27: World MS Day
See more events and programs at http://calendar.arizonaMS.org.