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MS connection: summer 2013
Letter from the president Jim roberts Friends,
Connect with us online: New Jersey Metro Chapter www.nationalMSsociety.org/NJM Email: njminfo@nmss.org Like us: www.facebook.com/pages/ National-MultipleSclerosis-Society New-Jersey-MetroChapter/117041902295 Follow us: @MSNJMetro Watch us: www.youtube.com/user/ NewJerseyMetro Production of this newsletter is generously supported by:
It’s hard to believe that over half of our year is over and that events such as Walk MS and Bike MS: Coast the Coast and other key events like Musical Moments for MS and Women on the Move as well as the MS Spring Golf Classic are behind us. A still-sluggish economy here in New Jersey coupled with the continued aftermath of Superstorm Sandy have certainly created challenges for the New Jersey Metro Chapter, just as they have for many others throughout the state. I’m proud to say that our team has stepped up to minimize these challenges. Our April 14 Walk MS had over 1,000 more participants than last year, welcoming 12,500 walkers to 12 sites throughout New Jersey and creating additional awareness of MS as a result. Bike MS: Coast the Coast participants battled cool, windy and rainy conditions in May as they rode their bicycles from West Long Branch to Cape May in an effort to raise over $1 million dollars. Nearly 200 golfers swung their clubs at Ridgewood Country Club, raising nearly $300,000 in the process. And Musical Moments and Women on the Move held last fall combined to raise over $1 million! Even with all of this success we have heard the struggles that our fundraisers are facing in raising funds for this great cause, which has resulted in some difficult cutbacks for our chapter. With just four months left to our fiscal year, we need your help more than ever! How can you help? We have some wonderful opportunities ahead, including MuckFest MS being held on June 15 at Essex County South Mountain Reservation in West Orange, NJ, Bike MS: Hops to Hops on September 15 and Bike MS: Great Country Ride on September 21-22. For those who prefer less physically challenging events, consider supporting the beautifully regal On the Move luncheon on Thursday, September 19, which will honor our friend Beth Stavola, or the Women on the Move Luncheon on November 8th. Come on out, have some fun, and raise important funds to support programs and services as well as important MS research! For more information on our upcoming events, please visit our website at: www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/NJM/index.aspx. Hope to see you and be well! Jim Roberts