MOVING TOWARD A WORLD FREE OF MS | VOLUME 7 • EDITION 3
Volunteers Power the MS Movement Page 15
In this Issue: Meet Our New Staff Page 3-4
Your VOTE your VOICE Pages 6-7
MS Service Day 2015 Page 14
MS Connection 1-800-344-4867 PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY Georgia Chapter • 950 East Paces Ferry Road, NE Ste. 110 • Atlanta, GA 30326 Chairman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . William J. Holley II Vice Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Annette Mengert Secretary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cherise Mlott Treasurer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Keith Keller Chapter President . . . . . . . Roy A. Rangel
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society does not endorse products, services or manufacturers. Such names appear here solely because they are considered valuable information. The National Multiple Sclerosis 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 Multiple Sclerosis Society recommends that all questions and information be discussed with a personal physician. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society‘s mission is to mobilize people and resources, to drive research for a cure and to address the challenges of everyone affected by MS. © 2014 National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Georgia Chapter
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Are you looking for a Self-Help Group or Peer Supporter in your community? Are you looking for a Self-Help Group or Peer Supporter in your community? Whether you just received a MS diagnosis or have been living with MS for a long time, the National MS Society, GA Chapter, has impactful programs available where you can find support and experience-based guidance on how to live a productive and happy life with MS. Self-Help Groups meet regularly for educational and social purposes, allowing members to express feelings and provide support to one another. Members share a belief that positive personal change can happen through individual effort with the support of others. To find Self-Help Groups near you, call an MS Navigator at 1-800-344-4867 Peer Supporters are trained individuals living with MS, or have a family member living with MS. Via telephone, our Peer Supporters, called “MS Friends,” offer information, companionship, emotional support and encouragement to peers living with MS. There is no cost to participate in a Self-Help Group or Peer Support Program. To request services or if you are interested in starting a Self-Help Group or becoming a Peer Supporter, call the GA Chapter Office at 1-800-344-4867 or e-mail the GA Chapter’s Services Manager, Carole Anderson, at carole.anderson@nmss.org For general information about the support resources available through the National MS Society, please visit http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Resources-Support/ Find-Support.
See complete listing of Self-Help Groups in Georgia on Page 16.
Welcome Fay Gibson, Walk MS Manager
Join us in welcoming Fay Gibson as the new Development Manager for Walk MS at the National MS Society, Georgia Chapter. Fay is responsible for recruitment, cultivation and fundraising for Walk MS Georgia fundraising events.
to graduating in spring of 2015. Born on the Island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Fay now resides in Alpharetta, GA which she has called home since 2003.
Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2008, Fay started team BFF (Best Friends Forever) Against MS, participating in Walk MS events both in Atlanta and New York City. Since 2010, Fay and her team members have raising over $50,000 towards the fight against Multiple Sclerosis. Fay has over 10 years of experience in finance and human resources working in the housing industry for state and local housing authority agencies. Most recently, Fay returned to Georgia State University to pursue her BA degree in Managerial Science and looks forward TOLL FREE NUMBER 1 800 344 4867
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Accepting Nominations for MS Leadership Class 2015 Do you know one or two successful business professionals with a desire to help improve the lives of people living with multiple sclerosis (MS)? The Georgia Chapter of the MS Society is accepting nominations for the MS Leadership Class of 2015. The National MS Leadership Class is an opportunity for business professionals to sharpen their leadership skills by participating in leadership seminars and events with top executives in the Atlanta area. Class members will collaborate to contribute to our vision of a world free of MS through fundraising activities benefiting MS research. To inquire more about the MS Leadership Class program and schedule of events, go to www.msleadershipclass.org. Download the MS Leadership Class flyer to explore the benefits of joining the class and the commitments involved as a class participant. If you know someone who fits our candidate description listed on the flyer, click on the link “Nominate a leader to the 2015 MS Leadership Class� to complete your nomination. If you have any questions, please contact: Terri Cool, Fund Development Associate terri.cool@nmss.org. or (678) 534-3642
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LOOKING FOR AN INTERNSHIP?
The Georgia Chapter is recruiting qualified full or part time college students. Positions are unpaid, but the experience will be invaluable. Academic or community serNational Multiple Sclerosis Society- Georgia Chapter vice (non-court ordered) credit isInternship available. Application Internships are offered during the fall, spring, and summer semesters. This program provides the Thank student with that atwill furtherChapter! their skills and you for yourday-to-day interest in the experience Internship Program the Georgia complement their classroom learning.
The Georgia Chapter is looking for qualified full or part time college students. Positions are unpaid, but the experience will be invaluable! Academic or community service (non-court ordered) credit is available.
Download & submit an internship application to Russell.Benton@nmss.org.
Internships are offered during the fall, spring, and summer semesters. This program provides the student with dayto-day experience that will further their skills and complement their classroom learning. Our team takes pride in our interns and considers them an extension of our staff. Available Internship Opportunities: Department Special Events
Chapter Programs & Services Administration
Concentration Communication/ Marketing Graphic Design Special Event Planning and Logistics Volunteer Management Community Outreach Client Services Program Management Business Administration Finance
Minimum Qualifications: Proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite Effective communication and strong interpersonal skills Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously and work independently Excellent organization with careful attention to detail Minimum of 10 hours/week is requested Application Instructions: All applicants should submit the following documents for consideration. (all materials should be submitted together) Internship Application (If you are applying for multiple internship positions, you only need to submit the application once ) Current resume and cover letter Two writing samples (ex. Press Release, Marketing piece, Article) Two letters of recommendation (one must be academic faculty) Completed applications should be submitted via hand or mail delivery to:
ATTN: Internship National MS Society- Georgia Chapter 950 East Paces Ferry Road NE, Suite 110 Atlanta, GA 30326TOLL FREE NUMBER 1 800 344 4867 | 5
Election Day is November 4 and polls will open from 7a.m. to 7p.m. Part of being an MS Activist is exercising your right to vote.
Georgia will be electing federal, state and local government representatives. The voter registration deadline is October 6, the fifth Monday prior to the election. Voter registration applications can be found on the Georgia Secretary of State website or your local election office or other government office. Georgia law requires all polling places to be fully accessible and equipped with poll workers that are trained to address the needs of all voters. On Election Day, Georgia polling places provide the following accommodations for voters with disabilities: • Not required to wait in line (9:30 am to 4:30 pm) • Voting assistance • Option of using an Accessible Touch Screen voting unit that will also allow a voter to vote while sitting in a chair or wheelchair. An audio ballot is available for voters who are visually impaired or blind. Voters are given headphones and a number keypad. • Magnifying feature is available on every touch screen voting unit that allows the voter to magnify the print on the ballot. Additionally, every polling place in Georgia is required to maintain a magnifying glass for use by visually impaired voters.
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Any voter can request a mail-in ballot. Mail-in ballots must be received by your county registrar no later than close of the polls on Election Day. If assistance is needed completing your ballot, the person helping the voter must sign an oath that is either printed on the mail-in ballot envelope or on the application for mail-in ballot, whichever is applicable. Georgia gives you the chance to vote in person before Election Day. It allows you to vote on a day and time that is convenient for you. Contact your county voter registration office for early/advance voting site locations and hours. A photo ID is required to vote in person. Acceptable forms of identification are: • A Georgia driver’s license, even if expired. • Any valid state or federal issued photo ID, including a free Voter ID Card issued by your county registrar’s office or by the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS). • Valid U.S. passport. • Valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U. S. Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority or other entity of this state. • Valid U.S. military photo ID. • Valid tribal photo ID. Additional information about accessible voting can be found on the Georgia Secretary of State website: http://sos.ga.gov/
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ADVOCACY
BECOME AN MS ACTIVIST BY A.B. MATTHIAS
I spent my formative years around a lot of complaining – mostly without action. An unlikely source of inspiration to be sure, but watching so much inaction somehow lit a fire beneath me. Turns out I don’t much care for feckless grumblings. And following an MS diagnosis at age 27, I resolved to use my story only in the context of driving progress.
WITHIN A FEW MONTHS I PARTNERED ON MY FIRST DISTRICT ASSEMBLY VISIT. NOT LONG AFTER THAT, I SAT DOWN WITH MY CONGRESSMAN TO TALK ABOUT FEDERAL FUNDING FOR RESEARCH. NOW THIS WAS ACTION. We each have our own approach to MS. And it isn’t exclusive to navigating symptoms on top of juggling life and uncertainty. It’s really about how we retain our sense of self amid all the chaos – holding onto our unique voice that empowers who we are and what we’re capable of in spite of this disease. This sense of empowerment is why I became an MS activist.
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A.B. MATTHIAS STEPS UP AT THE SAN DIEGO MEDICAL CONFERENCE Rewind to winter of last year. After the third demoralizing exacerbation in less than 16 months, another round of frustrating calls with my insurance company, and parting ways with my second neurologist, I was hungrier than ever for positive action. There had to be a way to turn this madness into something worthwhile. So, while emerging from a steroid-induced haze, I reached out to the Society about its local Government Relations Committee. I was immediately struck by their enthusiasm. They brought me on board right away, helping me to get my feet wet by looking at different legislative and budgeting initiatives. Within a few months I partnered on my first District Assembly visit. Not long after that, I sat down with my congressman to talk about federal funding for research. Now this was action. In another six months, I landed in Washington, D.C. for the cherry on top of the advocacy sundae – otherwise known as the Society’s Public
Policy Conference. From the first moment of my arrival, the energy was undeniable. I felt it everywhere—from the 325 MS activists in attendance to the keynote speakers and panels, all the way to Capitol Hill. (And, yes, I’m talking about the same Capitol Hill notorious for partisanship and stagnant politics).
ALL YOU NEED TO BECOME AN MS ACTIVIST IS A PASSION FOR LEARNING AND A WILLINGNESS TO SHARE YOUR STORY IN THE CONTEXT OF DRIVING POLICY CHANGE. Speaking of politics, here’s a bit of motivation: I (and you!) don’t need to have any experience with politicians, policy or government to become an MS activist. MS activists are a diverse group in terms of background, education, experience and age. All you need is a passion for learning and a willingness to share your story in the context of driving policy change. At the Public Policy Conference, I witnessed the power of connections building. While on a congressional visit, an MS activist from my state delegation and I were lucky to meet a legislative director who shared a personal connection to MS and who showed immediate enthusiasm in our funding request for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH is important to our community because each year, the agency supports at least $110 million in MS research projects. Coupled with the $48 million the Society invested in MS research in 2013 and a few million that the Department of
Defense funds each year, this funding is critical to stop disease progression, restore function and, eventually, eradicate MS. Within days of our meeting on Capitol Hill, the legislative director invited us to attend a closed-door roundtable with two members of Congress to discuss the importance of medical research funding. So, just four days after our visit in Washington, I had the opportunity to sit around a table back home in San Diego with a group that included legislators, patient advocate groups and prominent members of the local research and biotech community. And in a press conference immediately following, I stepped up to the podium – with my congressman and fellow citizens standing behind me – and gave voice to the importance of research funding for people living with MS. This success story is just one of many, indicative of the important advocacy that MS activists engage in year-round—all over the country. Getting our faces and our stories out there, having a seat at the table with legislators and other influential elected officials, and sustaining this momentum is crucial to the fight against MS. And I’m proud to be a part of the effort. Get in on the action and help drive change! n A.B. Matthias is an avid paddle boarder, music lover, traveler, bookworm and aspiring novelist. Following her MS diagnosis, she resolved to utilize her gift for storytelling to fundraise and advocate on behalf of those who live with the disease. She works as a freelance writer in San Diego where she lives with her husband.
TOLL FREE NUMBER 1 800 344 4867
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What to make of mice in MS research? An internet search to find out more about MS, such as for the cause of MS, or treatments that might be effective, will inevitably pull up papers or articles that include mice or rodents, or “EAE” in Deborah Backus, PT, PhD the title. For instance, Director of Multiple Sclerosis Research The Eula C. and Andrew C. Carlos MS you might see a title Rehabilitation and Wellness Program at like this: “Progressive Shepherd Center multiple sclerosis CSF induces inflammatory demyelination, axonal loss, and astrogliosis in mice” ( Exp. Neurol. 2014 Aug 8). First question might be “what does a mouse have to do with MS?” Animal models have been used in MS research for decades. In fact, animal models, or the use of animals to mimic a disease or injury for research purposes, have been used for centuries in the medical field. “EAE” is one commonly used in MS. EAE stands for experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. This is the animal model used to try to understand the autoimmune (the body’s immune system attacking its own body) contributions to MS. It is no secret that MS is a complex disease. As a field, we still do not understand what causes MS, and there is currently no known cure. In order to be able to determine the cause of MS, or to find a cure, more research is needed. Sometimes, in order to answer a very specific research question, it is necessary to have very controlled conditions for the study. Often, controlling all the conditions in a human participant in research is difficult. Each human has a different body that functions within a different environment and support network – all of which impact them, and which can affect their nervous system and how it responds to an intervention, or treatment. Add to this the complexity of MS, and the fact that MS plaques can be located anywhere in the brain or spinal cord, and symptoms can vary tremendously across individuals with MS, and you have a very UNcontrolled situation. This makes it hard to interpret the findings from any given study. If changes are seen, are 10
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they due to the intervention, or are they due to where the MS plaques are located Or are they due to individual’s fatigue or pain or spasticity? Or are these changes due to the person’s physical characteristics, their environment, or the support they receive? Thus, animal models are often used in research. An animal model uses a living, non-human animal in a research study in order to better understand the disease or injury process, or response to intervention, without the complexity of the human experience. Furthermore, an animal model allows careful research without endangering a human being in the process. Furthermore, it is difficult to access human MS tissue. Autopsies are often not helpful since these come from people who have had MS for a long time. Animals used for research often have an inbred disease or one is caused. An experimental model refers to induced (or caused) models of disease, which closely resemble the human condition. EAE is an example of an induced model of MS in rodents. and is used as a model of inflammation in the brain. The features of EAE in mice closely resemble those in humans with MS. Mice with EAE have inflammation, demyelination, axonal loss and gliosis (scarring) in the central nervous system, similar to that in people with MS. The EAE model has been credited with leading the development of three medications approved for MS, glatiramer acetate, mitoxantrone and natalizumab. There are also criticisms of EAE. Therefore, other experimental models of MS have been developed. One example is Theiler’s Murine Encephalomyelitis Virus (TMEV) infection. TMEV causes a chronic, or long term, demyelination that looks very much like human MS. Some believe it is better than the EAE model. But both are used in research; both have advanced our understanding of MS.
No one animal model is going to answer all questions related to MS. What we learn from animal models does not always translate into humans. But animal models do provide the basis for human research. By the time a study gets to the human stage, there is at least some insight about how to make the intervention of interest safer for the human, so as to not cause irreversible harm or death. Adequate animal studies are required before an FDA approved trial can progress to a Phase 1 trial in humans. Before progressing to a trial in humans, the FDA reviews the preclinical studies completed in animals to decide whether it is reasonably safe for the company, or researchers, to move forward with testing the intervention or treatment in humans. Some may have ethical concerns about the use of animals in research. Therefore there are other non-human methods employed. You might see “cell culture” or “in vitro” studies were used to answer a research question. These provide an alternative to sacrificing the whole animal, using the tissue from the animal without harm. The advent of imaging studies has also improved the ability to perform human studies without harm to that human. Ultimately, however, with a disease as complex as MS, there is a need for multiple ways to study the etiology (cause) and options for treatment and cure. There are also rules for doing research in animals. The Animal Welfare Act was put into place in 1966. It is a key law that regulates the care and use of animals in research. Research facilities that participate in animal research must have a veterinarian on staff to provide routine veterinary care. The Animal Welfare Act also regulates all housing, feeding, handling, sanitation, ventilation, and sheltering of all animals used in research. Similar to research in human participants that has to be reviewed by an institutional review board, animal studies must be reviewed by a committee that is made up of at least one experienced scientist, a veterinarian, and an individual who is not affiliated with the
institution (such as a local veterinarian, minister, or employee of the local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). This committee for review of animal research studies is called the Institutional Care and Use Committee (IACUC). The job of the IACUC is to review the research studies in animals, and approve or disapprove protocols. It also provides oversight for every research study to help ensure that animals are not subject to unnecessary pain and distress. Research scientists are often required to use state-of-the-art methods for doing the research to prevent pain or distress in animals used for research purposes. So, although at times difficult to understand, and perhaps not something that you would do, it is important to remember that the work that has been done in
animal models of MS has advanced the medical and rehabilitation fields. This research has led to the development and testing of the disease-modifying therapies and medication for reducing the symptoms of MS. Much of this has led to a longer and more functional life for people with MS. For additional information about the Animal Welfare Act and its regulations for biomedical research institutions the following websites are very useful. Useful websites: http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/legislat/usdaleg1.htm and http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/legislat/regsqa.htm
TOLL FREE NUMBER 1 800 344 4867
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Relat ionship Matters Couples Workshop
8 HOURS TO A LIFETIME OF RELATIONSHIP SATISFACTION If you want to love more, argue less, and communicate better in your relationship, you are not alone. Couples living with MS often find it difficult to balance their many aspects of life with the unpredictability of MS. The National MS Society has developed a workshop for couples facing these challenges. This workshop has received great reviews from a variety of couples, including couples who are dating, newly diagnosed, or those that have been living with MS for an extended amount of time. The Georgia Chapter, National MS Society is hosting a Relationship Matters workshop for couples living with MS in the metro Atlanta area in the month of October. The workshop will be held on Saturday, October 18, 9:00am -4:00pm at the Georgia Chapter office, lunch provided. The Relationship Matters workshop will be facilitated by Carole Anderson, M.A., Services Manager, who has many years’ experience working with couples’ issues. A maximum of fifteen couples will be accepted. Covered parking is available, and the MARTA transit station is connected to our building. A workbook will be provided. REGISTER BY CALLING: Georgia Chapter Office 678-672-1000.
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We are a few days away from the 2014 Bike MS: Cox Atlanta Ride!! We are still in need of hardworking volunteers to help make this event a success. Bike MS will take place at the beautiful Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia on September 20th and 21st. We are recruiting volunteers for Friday the 19th through Sunday the 21st to help with event setup, food and beverage, parking, hydration, first aid, break points, bike compound, motorcycle marshals, support and gear (SAG) vans, event breakdown, and the list goes on. For more information on volunteering at Bike MS contact: Rusty Benton russell.benton@nmss.org 678-534-3588
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Get Ready for MS Service Day 2015 Do you have multiple sclerosis (MS), or know someone living with MS? Have daily chores and tasks around your home, or around the home of someone you know, become too difficult or costly because of MS? Each year the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Georgia Chapter hosts its annual MS Service Day with the help of our community partner, The Home Depot. On MS Service Day teams of volunteers are assigned to member homes to complete such tasks as yard work, deep cleaning inside the house and/or garage, interior/exterior painting, organizing closets, moving furniture, packing/storing items in garage or attic, handyman chores, and much more‌ This year, MS Service Day is Saturday, March 7, 2015. If you live in Fulton, Gwinnett, DeKalb, or Cobb County, please call 1-800-344-4867, email carole.anderson@nmss.org or visit MSGeorgia.org to download an application or for more information on how you or someone you know can receive services on MS Service Day. The deadline to submit an application is September 30, 2014!!!
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Help Us Connect with Newly Diagnosed Members! The Georgia Chapter is recruiting volunteers to call members who have been newly diagnosed with MS. Training is required. Date, time and location of training are TBD, and lunch will be provided. Contact: Carole Anderson, Services Manager 678-672-1000 carole.anderson@nmss.org RAMPING UP FOR FALL The National MS Society, Georgia Chapter is partnering with the Buckhead Rotary Club for a ramp building event! Members and homes in the Gwinnett County district are the primary demographic, but homes located in Metro Atlanta will be considered. Please contact: Carole Anderson, 678-672-1000 or carole.anderson@nmss.org. ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A SELF-HELP GROUP LEADER OR CO-LEADER? Self-help groups bring together people who share a common life experience for support, education and mutual aid. The benefits of self-help groups to their members include: • • • • • • •
Learning new information and strategies for confronting problems Finding reassurance and support from others with similar life experiences Developing personal insights and achieving personal growth The opportunity to be helpful to others Learning to express feelings better and to be more sensitive to the feelings of others Feeling empowered and more self-confident in coping with challenges Developing a connection to a community, personal identification with a social group and less personal isolation
Please contact Carole Anderson, 678-672-1000 or carole.anderson@nmss.org for information. TOLL FREE NUMBER 1 800 344 4867
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LIVING WITH MS
FIFTY STATES AND A WHEELCHAIR BY GLORIA LEPIK CORRIGAN
About 25 years ago, I realized that I needed a meaningful plan to make the most of family recreation. At that time, there were hints that I “might have MS” and that it “might affect my future options.” Fortunately, this didn’t weigh on my plan, which was to get to all 50 states by age 50. When my adventure began, I was in my early 30s, working full-time and had two young children. And I thought I could handle it all.
ON TRACK In fairness, my starting point was already nicely up the curve. I was born in Ohio, along the Michigan border. And living in the Northeast made it easy to knock off New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, and even Maine, without anyone having to invest too much time or money. Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida were all part of a spring break drive. Then I visited Tennessee, Arkansas and Texas during a visit to relatives in San Antonio. I had already taken college trips to California and later, Indiana.
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GLORIA AND HER FAMILY IN HAWAII. Business travel took me to Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Alabama, Louisiana, Arizona, Colorado and Washington. I added Wyoming, Idaho and Montana during a family trip to Yellowstone. By age 40, I had reached about 39 states. I was on track!
ENTER FOOT DRAG Who hasn’t tried to ignore the impact of MS symptoms? But a few face-forward falls, nearly missed flights (who can run for a connection when their legs feel like lead weights?) and badly twisted ankles took me to the neurologist and a definitive diagnosis of MS. The next few years, I went from using a cane, to a rollator and then a scooter. But I continued to work, travel and rack up states. I made a side trip to Utah when visiting a friend in Las Vegas, Nevada. Then another friend got married in New Mexico. Frequent flyer points allowed
me to travel to Alaska with my mother and sister. Then I added a side trip to Oklahoma during a business trip to Dallas, and another to Iowa during a trip to St. Louis. I began traveling with my scooter, breaking it down to fit in rental car trunks. As my legs grew weaker, I started using portable hand controls to drive. But by 2000, MS affected me enough that working full-time was no longer possible. Three years and five states short of my goal, MS appeared to have pulled the plug.
ADJUSTING THE DREAM Over the next five years, my symptoms steadily worsened. I needed my power chair all the time. And with six hospitalizations in eight months, my future looked anything but bright. However, in 2007, I tried a new medication that worked better for me. I started doing more around the house. I started using paratransit to go out. Everyone saw the difference. Gloria was back! Traveling away from home still looked impossible. But my husband Kevin said, “Sure you can! Sure we can!” He picked up my dream and helped me to dust it off. However, we did adjust it a little. If I couldn’t hit 50 states by 50, I could still try for 50 by 60.
Dakota and Wyoming. We put 1,200 miles on a rented wheelchair-accessible van and discovered that national parks are free for people with disabilities. All of the airlines and hotels we used went out of their way to help us. The trip was flawless. Now I needed to hit only three more states! The following year, a dear friend offered me a great opportunity. If I could fly to Atlanta, she would take me on a road trip. So I flew alone for the first time since using a wheelchair and we drove to Mississippi. Only two more states to go! In May 2013, after taking a quick tour of Portland, Oregon, my husband and I boarded a flight to Maui, Hawaii, where we met up with our daughters. Together, in my 50th state, we celebrated the achievement of my goal, plus our 30th wedding anniversary and (1 month early) my 60th birthday. Would I rather not have MS? You bet! Would I rather walk than ride? Absolutely! But my life has been colorful and fulfilling, and I am very grateful. MS almost robbed me of my dream. But with the loving support of my family and friends, I won this round. n To learn more about traveling with MS, visit www.nationalMSsociety.org/travel.
THE FINAL FIVE In 2009, we pulled together an amazing trip to Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota, North
Gloria Lepik Corrigan has lived with MS for over 30 years.
TOLL FREE NUMBER 1 800 344 4867
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MS EXPO
Coastal Georgia
Moving Forward,
Stop Disease Progression, Restore Function and End MS FoREvER Saturday, September 27, 2014 TIME:
9am - 3pm - Educational programs Vendor exhibits will be available throughout the day
*A complimentary lunch will be provided WHERE: Marriott Savannah Riverfront 100 General McIntosh Boulevard Savannah, GA 31401 (Downtown) TOPICS: The Coastal Georgia MS Expo offers an extensive variety of educational programs, healthcare resources, vendor exhibits and connection opportunities for people living with and affected by MS, including family members, caregivers and other members of their support systems. This program has been generously supported by Biogen Idec and Questcor Pharmaceuticals. You must pre-register for this program by September 22, 2014. To register please call 678-672-1000 / 1-800-344-4867 (select option 1) or register online at www.MSgeorgia.org.
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To make a reservation, please call 1-800-344-4867or register online at www.MSGeorgia.org
TOUR OF 2015 CHAMPIONS January 15-18
The Alamo
San Antonio Tour of Champions is a special weekend-long opportunity for top fundraisers from across the Southeast Region to meet, share ideas, and celebrate their accomplishments. Become a Champion in advancing the mission of the National MS Society by raising a minimum of $7,000. Raise a minimum of $10,000 and bring along a guest at no additional cost. The Society covers travel, hotel, and group activities. This fun weekend includes: Roundtrip airfare to San Antonio, Texas Three night stay at the Wyndham Riverwalk Hotel arriving Thursday and departing Sunday Welcome reception honoring top fundraisers
Flamenco Dancer
Leisure scenic bike tour through downtown San Antonio Walking tours and shopping along the famous Paseo del Rio & the Mexican Market Square A networking brunch A celebration dinner Saturday evening
For more information or to sign up as a participant, contact:
San Antonio Riverwalk
Brett AlixHipsely Moore Brett.Hipsley@nmss.org Bike MS Manager (678) 534-3589 Alix.Moore@nmss.org TOLL FREE NUMBER 1 800 344 4867 (678)534-3651
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CHALLENGE WALK MS: SAVANNAH MARCH 6-8, 2015
3 DAYS. 50 MILES. CONNECT TO END MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS LEARN MORE: challengeMS.org or 1.800.344.4867
For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.MSwineevent.org 20
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SELF-HELP GROUPS GEORGIA METRO ATLANTA BASED SELF-HELP GROUPS African Americans with MS Self-Help Group Contact Info: JoAnn: (404) 932-2662 Email: joanndicksonsm@bellsouth.net Location: Berean Seventh Day Adventist Church 291 Hamilton E. Holmes Drive Atlanta, GA 30318 When do we meet? Meets the 2nd Saturday of every month from 3:00pm - 5:00 pm Atlanta Women’s Self-Help Group Contact Info: Kristin (404) 351-0205 {ext. 110} Location: MS Center of Atlanta 3200 Downwood Circle NW, Suite 550 Atlanta, GA 30327 5th floor lobby When do we meet? Meets the 4th Tuesday of every month from 6:30pm - 8:00pm (No meetings in November and December) Decatur Self-Help Group Contact Info: O.J. (770)-256-2516 Email: ojf2@yahoo.com Location: Green Forest Community Baptist Church 3250 Rainbow Road Decatur, GA 30034 When do we meet? Meets the 2nd Saturday of every month from 10:00am - 12:00pm Lawrenceville Women’s Self-Help Group Contact Info: Karen (678) 975-7167 Location: McKendree Methodist Church 1570 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Rd Lawrenceville, GA 30043 When do we meet? Meets the 2nd Saturday of every month from 10:30am - 12:00pm This group will not be meeting until September MS Institute at Shepherd Self-Help Group: “S.H.E.P.S” Contact Info: Rachael (404) 457-4582 Email: rtakei@mac.com Co-Facilitator: Kate Brunson (404) 402-0368 MS Institute at Shepherd 2020 Peachtree Road Atlanta, GA 30309 When do we meet? Meets the last Friday of every month from 11:00am - 12:00pm
Perimeter – Atlanta Area: “Dine and Discuss: For Partners and Spouses” (This is a “Care Partner Group” not meant for individuals living with MS) Contact Info: Jan (404) 579-6782 Location: La Madeleine Restaurant at The Perimeter 1165 Perimeter Center West Atlanta, GA 30346 When do we meet? Meets the 2nd Thursday of every month from 7:00pm - 8:30pm Snellville Self-Help Group Contact Info: Vicki (770) 978-1517 Email: Thepomeroys@gmail.com Co-Facilitator: Lois: (770) 339-6520 Location: Eastside Medical Center 1700 Medical Way SW Snellville, GA 30078 When do we meet? Meets the 4th Saturday of every month from 10:00am - 12:00pm OUTSIDE “METRO” ATLANTA BASED SELF-HELP GROUPS Albany Self-Help Group Contact Info: Janet (229) 435-2517 Email: jkhancock45@yahoo.com Location: Phoebe Putney NW Conference Center 2336 Dawson Road Albany, GA 31701 When do we meet? Meets the 1st Monday of every month from 6:00pm - 8:00pm This group does not meet in September Albany-African American Self-Help Group Contact Info: Colette (229) 395-4150 Location: Chosen to Conquer, Inc. , 1120 W. Broad Ave., Suite C-1, Albany, GA 31707 When do we meet? Meets the 1st Saturday of every month from 11:00am - 1:00pm Athens MS Family Contact Info: Siri Baker (706) 353-0606 Email: sbaker@athensneuro.com Co-Facilitator: Danielle (706) 983-9802 Email: depps@athensneuro.com Location: Athens Neurological Associates 1086A Baxter Street Athens, GA 30606 TOLL FREE NUMBER 1 800 344 4867
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SELF-HELP GROUPS GEORGIA When do we meet? Meets the 3rd Thursday of every other month from 6:00pm - 8:00pm in the months of Jan, Mar, May, July, Sept and Nov Augusta MS Self-Help Group Contact Info: Erin (706) 721-1411 Location: Georgia Health Sciences - MS Center 6th Floor 1120 15th Street Augusta, GA When do we meet? Meets the last Monday of every month from 6:00pm - 7:30pm Cartersville “Bartow County Self-Help Group” Contact Info: Towanda (770) 344-8887 Email: tobme3@gmail.com Location: IHOP, 640 E. Main Street, Cartersville, GA 30121 When do we meet? Meets the 4th Thursday of every month from 6:30pm - 8:30pm Camilla Self-Help Group “Mitchell County MS Self-Help Group” Contact Info: Lucas (229) 224-5979 Location: Mitchell County Hospital-Community Room, 90 E. Stephens Street Camilla, GA When do we meet? Meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 6:00pm – 7:00pm Columbus, Georgia “Chattahoochee Valley Self-Help Group” Contact Info: Lori (706) 575-6925 Email: lorikiker@yahoo.com Location: Columbus Regional Hospital When do we meet: This group’s schedule changes monthly; please call Lori for updated times and days. Cumming Self-Help Group Contact Info: Anthony (Tony) (678) 455-4139 Email: ravengreen@comcast.net Location: Northside Forsyth Hospital 1400 Doctors Bldg., Cumming, GA When do we meet? Meets the 1st Saturday of every month from 10:00am - 12:00pm
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Douglasville Self-Help Group Contact Info: Stephanie (770) 577-0408 Location: First Presbyterian Church Parlor Room Douglasville, GA When do we meet? Meets the 3rd Thursday of every month from 7:00pm - 8:30pm Macon - Hope Floats Self-Help Group Contact: Marty (478) 742-9011 Location: Pine Gate 300 Charter Blvd Macon, GA When do we meet? Meets the last Monday of every month from 6:00pm - 8:00pm Peachtree City/ Fayetteville: “Let’s Lunch: MS Group for Working Professionals” Contact Info: Bill Clements (770) 631-4194 Email: bclements59@att.net Lynn (612)-655-9901 Email: lynn.meloche@gmail.com Location: Piedmont Fayette Hospital 1279 Hwy 54 West, Fayetteville, Ga. 30214 Conference Room D 3rd Flr. ( West side entrance) When do we meet? Meets the last Saturday of the month from 11:00am - 1:00pm Thomaston “T.A.M.S. Self-Help Group” Contact Info: Sherry (706) 472-3273 or (706) 975-9762 Location: American Pie Pizzeria of Thomaston 710 N. Church Street Thomaston, GA When do we meet? Meets the 3rd Thursday of every month from 12:30pm – 2:00pm Thomasville MS Self-Help Group Contact Info: Mike (229) 346-9746 Location: Plaza Restaurant - Thomasville, GA When do we meet? Meets the 3rd Tuesday of every month from 6:00pm - 8:00pm Valdosta MS Self Help Group Contact Info: Barbara (229) 247-7792 Smith Northview Hospital 4280 Location: North Valdosta Road Valdosta, GA 31602 Located in the cafeteria of the hospital When do we meet? Meets the 3rd Thursday of every month at 6:30pm
SELF-HELP GROUPS GEORGIA Vidalia Self-Help Group “Looking Good Self-Help Group” Contact Info: Paula (912) 538-0142 Email: nonerves@bellsouth.net Location: Tree House, 723 North Street West Highway 292 Vidalia, GA When do we meet? Meets the 2nd Tuesday of every other month from 7:00pm - 9:00pm Waleska Self Help Group Contact Info: Jennifer Email: jjaress1@gmail.com Location: Cherokee Outdoor Family YMCA G. Cecil Pruett Community Center Family YMCA 151 Waleska St. Canton, GA 30114 When do we meet? Meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 6:00pm - 7:30pm Warner Robins “Middle GA Self-Help Group” Contact Info: Michelle (478) 335-4675 Email: msmidga@yahoo.com Location: Houston Medical Center, North Tower 1601 Watson Blvd. Warner Robins, GA When do we meet? Meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 6:30pm - 8:30pm Woodstock MS Self-Help Group Contact Info: Zaida (770)-485-4226 Location: St. Michael the Archangel Church inside the main church building 490 Arnold Mill Rd., Woodstock, GA 30188 When do we meet? Meets the 3rd Saturday of every month from 11:00am-1:00pm (No meetings in July and August) This group starts its meetings with a short opening prayer
SAVANNAH BASED SELF-HELP GROUPS Pooler Self-Help Group “Pooler’s Positive Movers and Shakers: MS Share & Support Group” Contact Info: Andraya: (912) 658-9629 or PoolersPositiveMS@gmail.com Savannah Self-Help Group –“PRYME2” Contact Info: Virginia (912) 355-5832 Email: vmorriso@bellsouth.net One of the rooms in St. Joseph Hospital For more information, contact Virginia When do we meet? Meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6:00pm Please call Virginia to confirm location and meeting dates. TELEPHONE BASED SELF-HELP GROUP Statesboro Supports Contact Info: Carolyn: (912) 531-0416 This is a telephone support group. Please contact Carolyn for additional information. The National MS Society is a secular organization, welcoming those of every faith, and those that espouse none. Please contact the Self-Help Group leaders prior to attending a group meeting to assure that the meeting time, date, and location are accurate. Groups occasionally change their meeting schedules to participate in other National MS Society events. Please note, our Self Help Group leaders are volunteers who have been trained by the National MS Society. They are not necessarily licensed mental health providers. Please respect their role as a volunteer and contact them during reasonable hours of 8am-8pm. If you are facing an immediate crisis please dial 911. For more information on attending Self-Help Groups or starting Self-Help Groups in your community please call 678-6721000 OR 1-800-FIGHTMS
TOLL FREE NUMBER 1 800 344 4867
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