MS Connection: National MS Society- Georgia Chapter Vol 4, Issue 4

GEORGIA CHAPTER

MOVING TOWARD A WORLD FREE OF MS | VOLUME 4• EDITION 4

Georgia Chapter's Newest Fundraising Event!

See Page 16

THE TOUGHEST, MUCKIEST TIME YOU’LL EVER HAVE FOR A GOOD CAUSE. SERENBE 10950 HUTCHESON FERRY RD. PALMETTO, GA 30268

REGISTER NOW: MuckRuckusMS.org/Atlanta

In this Issue:

Gathering Table Page 3

A Walk to Remember Page 10

Walk MS Page 12

1-800-344-4867 Publication of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Georgia Chapter • 1117 Perimeter Center West, Ste. E101 • Atlanta, GA 30338 Chairman • William J. Holley II Secretary • Diane Flannery Treasurer • Keith Keller Chapter President • Roy A. Rangel Content Coordinator • Halley White Connections Editor • Jared Miley 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.

© 2012 National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Georgia Chapter

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Are you looking for a Self Help Group or Peer Supporter in your community?

Whether you just received a diagnosis of MS or have been living with it for a long time, the National MS Society, GA Chapter has great programs available to you where you can find support and experienced-based tips 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.

Peer Supporters are trained individuals living with MS, or are a family member of someone living with MS. Via the telephone, our Peer Supporters 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 Georgia Chapter Office at 1-800-344-4867 or e-mail Stephanie at stephane.shapiro@nmss.org See complete listing of Self Help Groups in Georgia on Page 19

GEORGIA CHAPTER

Georgia Chapter Welcomes the Newest Members of the Society

Congratulations to Ailena Parramore, our Director of Special Events, and her husband Chad!

Taylor Wesley Parramore May 1, 2012

Congratulations to Hilary LaMotte Burke, our Director of Clinical & Chapter Programs, and her husband Ned!

William 'Hawkins' Burke May 23, 2012

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NEWLY DIAGNOSED

The disease had entered Michael’s life when he was just a child, taking away his mother when he was 16. Now it was back for his wife.

Worried that I might not be able to walk for much longer, I asked myself the question, “Then to where should I walk now?”

THE GATHERING TAbLE

BY RONDA GIANGRECO

On July 26th, 2008, I was a 53-year-old woman who considered herself very fortunate. I was just back from my latest adventure at a cooking school in Italy. My husband, Michael, and I had spent the day wine tasting in Napa with friends. Life was good.

One day later I was a disabled woman.

Learning that your wife has been diagnosed with sudden onset multiple sclerosis would be difficult for any man to accept, but for my husband it was a particularly cruel twist of fate.

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My answer: to the kitchen! An avowed foodie, I always loved to cook. My kitchen is my sanctuary, where I can dispense with aggravations while surrounded by the aroma of bubbling soups and the comforting familiarity of my pots and pans. What better place to face the fear gnawing at my gut? It might not have been a conventional treatment plan, but why not attempt to triumph over MS with steaming plates of pasta?

However, when I made the audacious vow to my husband that I would host a dinner party every Sunday night for an entire year as a means of warding off this disease, he thought I had lost my mind. One would have to be a bit certifiable to think about cooking 52 dinners while living with a neurological condition, but a discussion about parties would be immensely more entertaining than one about motorized wheelchairs.

I would stare down MS with spatula in hand.

We began by inviting every friend we knew. The first six who accepted the invitation would join us at our home in Sonoma, Calif., for an evening of laughter, good food and plenty of great wine.

Throughout the year, we added people we had met at events, through friends, and even a woman I had struck up a conversation with in a grocery store aisle. Eventually, more than 130 people received our email invitation each week.

NEWLY DIAGNOSED

As we sat around our big, square dining table — referred to in the furniture industry as a “gathering table” — we heard stories that made us weak with laughter and others that brought tears to our eyes. We were given fresh insights into the people we thought we knew well, while we also formed dozens of new friendships.

I LEARNED FROM THE STORIES OF OTHERS THAT THE CHALLENGES WE ALL FACE HELP FORM THE CORE OF WHO WE ARE, GIVING US AN INSIGHT INTO THE STRENGTH WITHIN. There was the sweet, older neighbor who joined us for dinner one night and informed us that he had been Bozo the Clown in his younger days.

The entire table was awestruck when he burst into character. Then we discovered one of our friends had helped make The Allman Brothers’ rock band famous. Another had been on a plane with the terrorists a week before 9/11.

We had staunch conservatives sitting across from diehard liberals. We hosted Christian fundamentalists at the same table as a lesbian couple. And everyone learned there is more uniting than separating us.

By the time week 52 arrived, I had made gallons of marinara sauce, scores of ravioli and mountains of gelato. In doing so, I was able to conquer my fear of the future. I learned from the stories of others that the challenges we all face help form the core of who we are, giving us an insight into the strength within. The icing on the cake … I was still on my feet. MS didn’t win. I did.

I could never stomach my story being touted as yet another example of how merely thinking positively can change the course of your life, though. Anyone who has spent time in a hospital bed looking up at grim faces knows that there are some hurdles you cannot clear just by employing a perky disposition. The last thing I want to do is add to anyone’s burden by suggesting otherwise. My tale is not about bucking up.

Simply put, it is a story about learning that I had more grit and resolve than I had imagined.

I found that good friends are a powerful therapy, and I discovered that even though fate may shove you in a direction you don’t want to go, you can still find a means of traveling the road on your terms. n Ronda Giangreco has written a book about her year-long adventure called The Gathering Table — Defying Multiple Sclerosis with a Year of Pasta, Wine & Friends available at www.amazon.com. Sign up for her free monthly newsletter at www.thegatheringtable.net.

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LIVING WITH MS

GIVING CARE

BY TERRI KUCZYNSKI, M.DIV., CT

SOME WAyS TO RECHARGE ARE TO: 01Ask for help. Even simple things such as

getting a gallon of milk for you or providing respite care so you can take a walk around the block can make a big difference.

All of us give care throughout our lives, whether it is through holding a hand or helping with daily needs from transportation to bathing. We give care when we listen to another’s sadness and when we fix a meal. We give care when we send a card or manage medication.

02Join a support group or an Internet chat

Giving care to a loved one with MS can be very rewarding and at the same time unbelievably challenging. In some ways being a caregiver is like using a battery-powered drill. At first the drill is fully charged and the task at hand seems to be manageable. As the charge dies down, the task becomes more difficult until the drill just can’t continue. The only way to go on is to recharge the drill. If the caregiver does not recharge over time, even the smallest task becomes overwhelming.

04Do something — call a friend, write a letter,

RICk, DIAGNOSED IN 1991

room set up for carepartners. (See ‘Carepartners Connect’ on following page for suggestions).

03Take care of your body with proper nutrition, exercise and sleep.

read — that gives you a daily break from the caregiving role.

05Stay connected with community — don’t become isolated.

06Laugh. Watch funny movies or TV programs.

IF A CAREGIVER DOES NOT RECHARGE OVER TIME, EVEN THE SMALLEST TASk bECOMES OVERWHELMING. Just recently I visited a friend who was caring for her husband. We talked about the many difficulties of caregiving. She talked about her feelings of helplessness and shared that at times

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LIVING WITH MS

she felt a lot of anger, which in turn made her feel guilty. She went on to tell me that her husband’s physical care could be overwhelming, but keeping track of all the day-to-day activities of life sometimes seemed crushing. She felt weary and alone in this role that she was so unprepared for. After we talked, I walked out of the room and, when I turned to say goodbye, I saw her struggling to help her husband transfer from the sofa to a wheelchair. I then witnessed the true meaning of giving care. In the middle of the transfer, I saw them share a loving embrace.

It was very brief, but very intentional. At that moment I could not tell who was caring for whom. I saw two people caring for each other.

What a great way for both to recharge. n

Terri Kuczynski, M.Div., CT, is a patient/family counselor at the Rex Cancer Center in Raleigh, N.C. Originally published in CARE eMagazine, Eastern North Carolina Chapter

CAREPARTNERS CONNECT There is a wealth of ways for carepartners to connect online. Here are a few of them.

Those caring for someone with MS can create their own website or visit another’s at www.CaringBridge.org. Here, carepartners can keep an online journal and photo gallery, ask for help with tasks, and post updates for friends and family who in turn can post messages of support.

Today’s Caregiver at www.caregiver.com includes a map, clickable by state, of area support groups, and a special section where caregivers can post their tips for others. It also offers articles and information on everything from nutrition tips to long-distance care.

The Well Spouse Association at www. wellspouse.org is a nonprofit membership organization that offers peer-to-peer support and educates healthcare professionals and the general public about the unique challenges that “well” spouses face every day.

The National Family Caregivers Association at www.thefamilycaregiver.org provides an online forum for caregivers to post questions or talk to others in similar situations.

The Society’s online community at www.MSconnection.org offers a secure place for carepartners to connect. Members can create a personal profile to share posts, updates, blogs, photos, videos and links, and search for other members by demographics, shared interests and more. The Society also offers a page for carepartners at www.nationalMS society.org/carepartners with information and resources on accessible housing, hiring home help and more. Carepartners can also participate in the Society’s Online Peer Connections program, www.nationalMS society. org/onlinepeerconnections. Here they select a peer support volunteer from an online database and arrange to speak one-or-one via email or telephone on an agreed-upon topic. All conversations are confidential.

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ADVOCACY

MS ACTIVISTS MEET SENATOR MARy LANDRIEU (AT RIGHT)

Photo credit: Joe Shymanski

ADVOCACy

CONTINUING CONNECTIONS

BY RENEE VANDLIK

This spring, MS activists helped raise awareness for MS issues at the Society’s Public Policy Conference and MS State Action Days. Activists travelled to Washington, D.C., or converged at more than 30 state capitals across the country to advance federal and state policies and programs that could impact the lives of people with MS. Hundreds kept in-person appointments with their elected officials and linked their experiences with MS to important policy and program priorities.

So, what’s next? How do we remain on the frontline to drive change? We can continue to create connections — with lawmakers, the media, and each other.

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Make plans now. Schedule an appointment or attend an in-district listening session. Summer months are ideal for meet ’n’ greets when legislators return to their districts. Are you unclear about the public policy priorities in our state?

Contact us to learn more. To learn more about federal priorities, visit www.nationalMSsociety. org/advocacy.

Remember to write a “thank you” note to officials for meeting with you and follow up on any unanswered questions or promises. Did you take a picture during your visit? Include it with your handwritten note. Or, upload your picture and post your status on Facebook, Twitter or your blog. Find and follow your lawmakers on Facebook and Twitter, too.

Tell your family, friends and neighbors why you’re an MS Activist. Connect. Follow www.MS Activist.blogspot.com and keep track of our nationwide MS activism progress on Twitter at: @MSActivist.

Join an MS Community at www.MSconnection .org. Here, it is all about making meaningful connections, with easy access to the best content and resources the MS community can bring. Find information about the topics most important to you, share experiences, connect with people the way you want, and have expert MS information and opinions right at your fingertips.

Learn more about current events, the economy and social and political priorities. Become an informed voter. And, cast your ballot in November! n Renee Vandlik is the Society’s director of State and Local Government Relations.

MONEY MATTERS

Work around Your MS with Assistive Technology Financed

by Credit-Able

BY JACQUELINE WILKS

For individuals without a disability, technology makes things easier; for those with a disability, technology makes things possible. Credit-Able, a program of the Center for Financial Independence & Innovation (CFII), is Georgia’s Alternative Financing Program for Assistive Technology. CFII’s mission is to make independence affordable for individuals with disabilities.

MS is a life-changing diagnosis, but it doesn’t have to mean the end of an active life. Making your life more than MS is possible with planning and Assistive Technology (AT ).

MS causes the body to work harder to pass information down nerve pathways, so utilizing AT can reduce fatigue and help you conserve energy for other activities throughout the day.

• Tub and wall grab bars help with maintaining balance in the bathroom.

• Magnifying devices help correct visual problems related to MS when writing and reading.

• Wheelchairs and electric scooters provide mobility.

• Lifts and transfer boards help with getting in and out of bed, an automobile, wheelchair or bathtub.

• Electronic organizers and Smartphones help with scheduling and daily living activities.

• Vehicles modified with hand controls and low-energy steering wheels keep you connected to the community.

Even the Nintendo Wii video game console can be used as Assistive Technology! Credit-Able financing covers all of these devices.

Credit-Able and CFI understand that living with MS is expensive. There is no minimum income requirement for a Credit-Able loan. The only qualifications applicants must meet in order to be considered are: 1) A person with a disability, or someone purchasing the equipment on behalf of a person with a disability; and 2) A legal resident of Georgia and of the United States.

Visit CFII’s website (www.thecfii.org) to download a Credit-Able application and learn more about other programs we offer throughout Georgia.

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RESEARCH

CONNECTING THE DOTS: VITAMIN D AND MS

BY DR. LINDA BUCHWALD

Exciting new research is beginning to identify both genetic and environmental factors involving vitamin D that could increase one’s risk for developing MS and could influence disease progression. Research is also targeting vitamin D as a potential therapy, with clinical trials being planned or already underway to determine whether it can prevent or treat MS.

THE LATITUDE EFFECT There’s a long-standing observation that population rates of MS increase the farther away one is from the equator and from the sun, exposure to which is our major source of vitamin D. Could the two be connected?

Researchers have been exploring that very question.

Studies of who gets MS have confirmed that higher levels of sun exposure and higher blood levels of vitamin D were both associated with decreased risk of a first demyelinating event— often the first indicator of developing MS. In addition, there is evidence that high levels of vitamin D in utero and during adolescence and adulthood also have a positive effect on reducing the risk of developing MS. Other research suggests that vitamin D may have an effect on the inflammatory processes that occur during MS flares. In a small safety study at St. Michael’s hospital in Toronto, researchers found that immune T cells involved in MS attacks were suppressed in people who had higher blood levels of vitamin D.

GENES, VITAMIN D AND MS Studies done in families where multiple individuals have MS have resulted in new information that potentially links genetic factors related to vitamin D activation.

In December, Canadian and British researchers

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RESEARCH

published the results of a study that set out to look for rare genetic changes that could explain strong clusters of MS in some families. They studied DNA in 43 individuals selected from families with four or more members with MS. The team compared the DNA changes they found against existing databases, and identified a change in the gene CYP27B1 as being of interest.

The CYP27B1 gene plays an important role in converting Vitamin D to a biologically active form. The researchers then looked for the same rare gene variant in over 3,000 families of unaffected parents with a child with MS. They found 35 parents who carried one copy of this variant along with one normal copy. In every one of these 35 cases, the child with MS had inherited the mutated version of the gene.

THE ROAD FORWARD Further research now underway will determine if vitamin D may have preventative as well as disease-modifying effects. In EAE, the animal model of MS, vitamin D supplementation prevents and slows the progression of the disease, while vitamin D deficiency worsens the disease. We also know that high vitamin D levels in people with MS have been associated with decreased risk of exacerbations and less severe disability.

To what extent vitamin D can influence the course of MS once someone’s been diagnosed is still unclear; however, research is being planned to clearly define the role of vitamin D in the prevention, progression and treatment of MS. For instance, researchers at Johns Hopkins University are leading a multicenter controlled clinical trial

funded by the Society to determine whether high-dose vitamin D added to standard therapy with Copaxone further reduces disease activity in people with MS. (To learn more about this trial, which is still recruiting participants, visit www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01490502.)

What is clear is that vitamin D deficiency is extremely common in many parts of the country.

The optimal approaches for vitamin D supplementation in the general population and in those with MS have not been established, yet it is important that everyone take a minimum daily amount of vitamin D supplement. I recommend at least 2,000 IU and no more than 4,000 IU per day for my own patients with MS; however, official recommendations are lower (see www.ods.od.nih. gov/factsheets/VitaminD-QuickFacts), so ask your healthcare providers what they recommend for you. Due to the inherited risk of MS and the possible preventative effect of vitamin D supplementation, also discuss the possible implications of vitamin D deficiency and supplementation for your children. n Dr. Linda Buchwald is chief of Neurology at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Mass., and the medical director of the Mount Auburn Hospital Multiple Sclerosis Care Center. She is a trustee of the Society’s Greater New England Chapter and Clinical Advisory Committee member.

This article originally appeared in the Greater New England Chapter’s Spring 2012 MS Connection.

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WAYS TO GIVE

A WALk TO REMEMbER

BY APRIL BROWNLEE

Tim Cook is doing something big. Something 2,180 miles big. Something 14 states big. Something five-and-a-half months big. Something Appalachian Trail big.

“Big issues require big actions. I wanted to do something that was challenging. Not that my challenge is anything like the challenges people living with multiple sclerosis day to day have to deal with,” says Tim. His wife, Cathy, was diagnosed with the disease in 2010.

CATHy AND TIM COOkE

On March 7, Tim left his home in the Texas Panhandle town of Canyon and embarked on his big adventure. He calls it “Hike MS-AT2102.”

Tim will spend nearly six months hiking the Appalachian Trail — one of the longest continuously marked footpaths in the world. He began walking the trail in Georgia and hopes to finish up in Maine by mid to late September.

“About 2,000 to 3,000 people attempt to hike the entire trail each year and about 10 percent of them actually finish,” he says.

To ensure his big idea was really, really big, Tim decided to raise the stakes. With the aid of the National MS Society’s new Do It Yourself (DIY) fundraising tool, Tim met his initial goal of $7,500 and is now aiming for $10,000.

Tim knew a trek of this magnitude would require time, careful planning and lots of training. But first, he had to convince Cathy. “I’ve had the Appalachian Trail in the back of my mind since I was much, much younger. I started putting it all together and deciding maybe this would be a great challenge,” says Tim. His plans began to really take shape when Cathy didn’t shoot down the idea.

“It’s huge!” says Cathy. “It’s not a five-and-a-half month vacation. It’s a sacrifice for him. I’m sure it’s a wonderful adventure, but who chooses to sleep on the ground and eat ramen noodles for that long and walk for eight hours a day?

Maybe for a week or two, but half a year? His passion really touches me,” she says.

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WAYS TO GIVE

Months of living in almost complete isolation has to get to a guy. But Tim, who admits he sometimes talks to himself when he’s alone on one of the three 20-mile practice hikes he takes each week, says he’s prepared. “It gives me time to contemplate and pray. I can get lost easily in that.”

Tim plans to average about 15 miles a day, but will take it a little bit easier in the beginning until he gets his “trail legs.” He’ll suit up with about 21 pounds of gear, plus food. To keep his load light, he won’t even pack an MP3 player. And, yes, he expects he’ll be eating a lot of ramen noodles. When he gets to civilization — about every week — Cathy, who works for Southwest Airlines, will fly out to meet him.

“IT’S NOT A FIVE-AND-AHALF MONTH VACATION. IT’S A SACRIFICE FOR HIM. I’M SURE IT’S A WONDERFUL ADVENTURE, bUT WHO CHOOSES TO SLEEP ON THE GROUND AND EAT RAMEN NOODLES FOR THAT LONG AND WALk FOR EIGHT HOURS A DAy?” “I’ll go out there and take him into town for food and a bed and a shower,” says Cathy. “And a giant margarita!” laughs Tim. “And a giant margarita,” Cathy agrees.

Cathy will have their dogs, Willie and Waylon, to keep her company. But the couple, who met in 2003 and were married in 2004, are prepared

TIM AT THE GEORGIA/NORTH to miss each other. “Part of what will keep me going is that I’ve got many, many names I’m taking with me ... many people to think and pray about who inspire me,” Tim says. “When I don’t want to go on, I’ve got these people in my pocket who choose to go on every day and that’s going to give me courage. They’re my motivation.

And Cathy is my inspiration, certainly.”

Cathy will update Tim’s DIY Fundraising page and social media pages throughout his hike to keep followers up to date.

You can follow or donate to Tim Cook’s big adventure at www.hikeMS-at2012.org. And start your very own adventure by visiting the National MS Society’s DIY website at: www. doityourselfMS.org. n April Brownlee is a senior manager for Development, focusing on Walk MS and Bike MS events in the South Central Region’s Amarillo office.

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WALK MS

Walk MS: 2012 Margy, diagnosed in 2006

dollar by dollar, Walk MS is Changing lives.

Nine Walks‌One Destination‌A World Free of MS

THANK YOU! We want to thank everyone who participated in Walk MS: Georgia 2012. Whether you walked, volunteered, or donated financially, we appreciate your contribution.

This year marked our largest Walk MS Season ever with over 6,000 registered participants, 440 teams, more than 400 volunteers. Together we raised over $600,000 towards a world free of MS! Here are a few snapshots from this year.

Walk MS: Savannah

Walk MS: Athens

Walk MS: Atlanta 14

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WALK MS

Walk MS: Augusta Walk MS: Columbus

Walk MS: Rome

Walk MS: Albany

Walk MS: Marietta Every step. Every person. Every second spent and dollar raised. They all add up to an experience unlike any other: Walk MS. This is our time to unite and stand strong. Together we will change lives.

If you have any questions regarding Walk MS, please contact Laurie Palmer, Walk MS Development Manager, at (678) 501-6631 or laurie.palmer@nmss.org.

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BIKE MS BIKE MS

Don’t just ride, Bike MS. BIKE MS PROMO

Bike MS: COX ATLANTA RIDE /// SEPTEMBER 15-16, 2012 /// 2 days

www.bikeMSgeorgia.org

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BIKE MS

Join Us for the 26th Annual Ride at Callaway Gardens WHAT: The Bike MS: Cox Atlanta Ride is an extraordinary two-day ride for cyclists and all those seeking a personal challenge and a world free of MS. WHEN: September 15-16: Bike MS: Cox Atlanta Ride, 8:00 a.m. start each day WHERE: Cyclists start and finish both days of the ride at Callaway Gardens. The routes traverse the beautiful Georgia countryside with figure-eight lengths of approximately 35-mile, 65-mile and 100-mile options on Day One and 25-mile and 65-mile options on Day Two. WHY: With an anticipated 1,500 cyclists raising over $1 million, the Bike MS: Cox Atlanta Ride is a fun, healthy and memorable way for cyclists to raise money and awareness for research and support programs to help create a world free of MS.

Get Involved: VOLUNTEER at bike MS: Cox Atlanta Ride 2012 September 15-16 @ Callaway Gardens

Volunteers are the reason our programs and fundraisers succeed! being a volunteer is fun and helpful. It is your chance to join the movement. you can volunteer for an hour, an evening, a day, or the whole weekend.

There is only one requirement: a desire to something about MS NOW!

visit www.bikeMSgeorgia.org for more information TOLL FREE NUMBER 1 800 344 4867

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MUCKRUCKUS MS

5 MILES, MENACING CHALLENGES, MUCKING GLORY.

OCTOBER 6, 2012

SERENBE 10950 HUTCHESON FERRY RD. PALMETTO, GA 30268

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MUCKRUCKUS MS

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society - Georgia Chapter will host the inaugural MuckRuckus MS Atlanta, Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012 at Serenbe, 45 minutes south of Atlanta.

MuckRuckus MS Atlanta is an event in which participants will encounter an unforgettable course featuring five miles of water, mud, and muck with challenges that will test their endurance and strength while achieving the common goal of raising funds in support of programs and research to cure MS. MuckRuckus MS Atlanta is open to participants as young as 14-years-old with two divisions, recreational and competitive. The recreational division is great for those who just want to get dirty for a good cause and while the competitive division is for those that want to show off their athletic ability and are up for a challenge against other participants.

Registration for the event is $50 with a minimum fundraising amount of $100. Funds raised support not only research to finding a cure for Multiple Sclerosis but also to provide direct financial assistance , respite care, educational programs, and more for Georgians affected by MS. “Chances are you do know someone living with MS. Over 200 people every week are diagnosed with MS in the United States and most are in their 20’s,” said Georgia Chapter Program Services Manager, Stephanie Shapiro, MSW. At the conclusion of the course participants will be able to enjoy a festival to celebrate their accomplishments with family and friends. The festival will include live music, food, a beer garden and an MS experience tent, where you can learn more about the challenges of living with MS. MuckRuckus MS Atlanta is the perfect opportunity to have a little fun in the mud and muck while supporting a great cause. Register and learn more by visiting www.MuckRuckusMS.org/Atlanta or by calling 1-800-FIGHTMS.

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PROGRAMS

2012 Teleconference ScheduleMark Your Calendars All Teleconferences take place from 7:30 –8:30pm EST

July 10, 2012 Multitasking: Living with MS While Parenting Young Children Parenting wasn’t easy before MS. Learn tools on how to balance parenting while managing your MS. August 14, 2012 Vitamin D and MS Learn the importance of Vitamin D and why it is crucial to have your Vitamin D level checked.

September 11, 2012 Remyelination and MS This teleconference will look at the exciting research being done at the University of Central Florida on remyelination.

The topics you want. The convenience you need. Learn about MS NOW. Register Today by calling 1-800-344-4867 or visiting www.nationalMSsociety.org/gaa

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Self-Help Groups Georgia “Metro” Atlanta Based Self-Help Groups: African Americans with MS Self-Help Group Contact: JoAnn: (404)-932-2662 Berean Seventh Day Adventist Church 291 H.E. Holmes Drive Atlanta, GA Meets the 2nd Saturday of every month from 3 p.m. -5 p.m.

Atlanta Women's Self-Help Group Contact: Kristin (404)-351-0205 {ext. 110} MS Center of Atlanta 3200 Downwood Circle Suite 550 Atlanta, GA Meets the 4th Tuesday of every month from 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. (no meetings in November or December)

Perimeter Atlanta Area: “Dine and Discuss:” Partners and Spouses Information and Share Group” Contact: Jan (404)-579-6782 LA Madeleine-Perimeter 1165 Perimeter Center West Atlanta, GA Meets the 2nd Thursday of every month from 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Snellville Self-Help Group Contact: Vicki (770)-978-1517 Emory Eastside Medical Center 1700 Medical Way SW Snellville, GA Meets the 4th Saturday of every month from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Outside “Metro” Atlanta Based SelfHelp Groups:

Decatur Self-Help Group Contact: O.J. (770)-256-2516 Green Forest Community Baptist Church 23250 Rainbow Road Decatur, GA 30030 When do we meet? Meets the 2nd Saturday of every month from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Albany Self-Help Group Contact: Janet (229)-435-2517 Phoebe Putney NW Conference Center 2336 Dawson Road Albany, GA Meets the 1st Monday of every month from 6 p.m.- 8 p.m.

Lawrenceville Women's Self-Help Group Contact: Karen (678)-975-7167 McKendree Methodist Church 1570 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Rd Lawrenceville, GA 30043 Meets the 2nd Saturday of every month from 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

Albany -African American Self-Help Group Contact: Colette (229)-395-4150 Chosen to Conquer, Inc. 1120 W. Broad Avenue Suite C-1. Albany, GA 31707 Meets the 2nd Saturday of every month from 12 p.m.-2 p.m.

MS Institute at Shepard Self-Help Group: “S.H.E.P.S” Contact: Kate (404)-402-0368 MS Institute at Shepherd 2020 Peachtree Road Atlanta, GA Meets the 2nd Saturday of every month from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Athens MS Family Contact: (706)-353-0606 Athens Neurological Associates 1086A Baxter Street Athens, GA Meets the 3rd Thursday of every other month from 6 p.m.- 7 p.m. in Jan, Mar, May, July, Sept and Nov

TOLL FREE NUMBER 1 800 344 4867

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Augusta MS Self-Help Group Contact: Erin (706)-721-1411 Georgia Health Sciences - MS Center 6th Floor 1120 15th Street Augusta, GA Meets the last Monday of every month from 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Newton County Self-Help Group Contact : Jean (678)-346-0740 OR (724)822-8507 Newton General Hospital Auditorium Covington, GA Meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month from September to May from 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Cartersville “Bartow County Self-Help Group” Contact: Towanda (770)-687-1663 650 Henderson Dr. Cartersville, GA Meets the 4th Thursday of every month from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Peachtree City: “Let's Lunch: MS Group for Working Professionals” Contact: Lynn (612)-655-9901 or lynn.meloche@gmail.com Atlanta Bread Company Peachtree City, GA 30269 Meets one Saturday per month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (call Lynn for specific dates)

Camilla Self-Help Group “Mitchell County MS Self-Help Group” Contact: Lucas (229)-224-5979 Mitchell County Hospital-Community Room 90E. Stephens Street Camilla, GA Meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 6 p.m.-7 p.m.

Columbus, Georgia- “Chattahoochee Valley Self-Help Group” (Currently under construction) Cumming Self-Help Group Contact: Anthony “Tony” Franklin (678)-455-4139 Northside Forsyth Hospital 1400 Doctor Bldg. Cumming, GA Meets the 1st Saturday of every month from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Douglasville Self-Help Group Contact: Stephanie (770)-577-0408 First Presbyterian Church Parlor Room Douglasville, GA Meets the 3rd Thursday of every month from 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Macon Self-Help Group - Hope Floats SelfHelp Group Contact: Marty (478)-742-9011 Pine gate 300 Charter Blvd Macon, GA Meets the last Monday of every month from 6 p.m.-8 p.m.

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JOIN THE MOVEMENT: nationalMSsociety.org

Thomaston Self-Help Group-“T.A.M.S. SelfHelp Group” Contact: Sherry (706)-472-3273 OR (706)975-9762 American Pie Pizzeria of Thomaston 710 N. Church Street Thomaston, GA Meets the 3rd Thursday of every month from 12:30 p.m.-2 p.m.

Thomasville MS Self-Help Group Contact: Mike (229)-346-9746 Plaza Restaurant-Thomasville, GA Meets the 3rd Tuesday of every month from 6 p.m. -- 8 p.m.

Valdosta MS Self Help Group Contact: Barbara (229)- 247-7792 Smith Northview Hospital-4810 North Valdosta Road Valdosta, GA Meets the 3rd Thursday of every month at 6:30 p.m.

Vidalia Self-Help Group “Looking Good SelfHelp Group” Contact: Paula (912)-538-0142 Tree House 723 North Street W. Highway 292 Vidalia Meets the 2nd Tuesday of every other month from 7 p.m.-9 p.m.

Co-Leader is Tony Walmsley. 478-279-9343

Waleska Self Help Group Contact: Jennifer (352)-231-3351 Cherokee Outdoor Family YMCA. G. Cecil Pruett Community Center Family YMCA 151 Waleska St. Canton, GA 30114 Meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. ***Start Date TBD*** Warner Robins Self-Help Group – “Middle GA Self-Help Group” Contact: Michelle (478)-335-4675 Houston Medical Center, LL, North Tower 1601 Watson Blvd. Warner Robins, GA Meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Woodstock MS Self-Help Group Contact: Zaida (770)-485-4226 St. Michael the Archangel Church 490 Arnold Mill Rd. Woodstock, GA 30188 Meets the 3rd Saturday of every month from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. (No meetings in July or August) This group starts its meetings with a short opening prayer

Savannah, Georgia Based Self-Help Groups: Pooler Self-Help Group –“Pooler’s Positive Movers and Shakers: MS Share & Support Group” Contact: Andraya: (912)-658-9629 or PoolersPositiveMS@gmail.com ***The time and location for this group is TBD*** Please contact Andraya for additional information.

Savannah Self-Help Group –“PRYME” Contact: Virginia (912)-355-5832, vmorriso@bellsouth.net One of the rooms in St. Joseph Hospital.

For more information, contact Virginia.

Meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. Please call Virginia to confirm location and meeting dates.

Telephone Based Self-Help Group: Statesboro Supports Contact: 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 678-672-1000 OR 1-800-FIGHTMS.

TOLL FREE NUMBER 1 800 344 4867

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NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID City, ST Permit # (No.)

Georgia Chapter 1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite E101 Atlanta, GA 30338

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

aMERICAN mASSAGE THERAPY ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEERs AT BIKE ms Over a dozen members of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) joined the Georgia Chapter May 5-6 at the 2012 Bike MS: Deloitte.

Atlanta to Athens Ride.

After the 82-mile ride, cyclists were able to take a deep breath of relaxation, thanks to AMTA. At the finish line in both Athens and Atlanta, event participants enjoyed massage therapy provided by the AMTA Outreach Team.

“It’s a way to give back to those who are already giving so much of their time,” said Ben Glosson, outreach chairman of AMTA.