C O M M U N IT Y N E WS
UHealth MS Center For Excellence Launches #iamMS Initiative BY ANDREA CARNEIRO
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OR SUSAN FOX-ROSELLINI, HER ROLE WITHIN the UM Miller School of Medicine Department of Neurology goes far beyond her title as Executive Director of Development and Marketing. Fox-Rosellini, who was diagnosed with MS 20 years ago, has also become an inspiration and advisor for other MS patients looking for guidance. “When I was diagnosed [eight years ago], my mother’s friend told me I had to call Susan… she was very instrumental in giving me information,” says Nicki Friedland, who calls Fox-Rosellini a mentor. “In the course of our conversations we came up with this idea to do a fundraiser to raise awareness about the disease.” On November 16 that fundraiser, Shop to Stop MS, celebrates its eighth year with a night of food, drinks and entertainment at Saks Fifth Avenue Dadeland, as well as a new #iamMS campaign featuring Rosellini and Friedland as well as fellow South Floridians, Mary Arnold and Sidney Sterling, each telling the world their stories of life with MS. “We were looking for a way to have a larger outreach and thought of the #iamMS campaign,” says Fox-Rossellini. The campaign, featuring four videos rolled out over four weeks on the event’s Facebook page, shows each of the four women’s journeys and the ways in which they each live daily with the disease. “We represent different ages, different lifestyles,” says Friedland, a workout fanatic and mom to two sons. “We show the different faces of MS. I’m a mom raising two boys, you probably wouldn’t even know that I have MS just by looking at me. I think it’s important to know that not everyone with MS is in a wheelchair.” In addition to Fox-Rossellini, who is in her 60s and Friedland, the videos feature Arnold, a mom of three who has had to adapt to vision impairment due to the disease and University of Miami student and college cheerleader Sterling. “The biggest message that we want to impart is that you can have a ‘normal life’ and live with this disease,” says Fox-Rosselini. “We live with the disease because of the great medicines that are out there today.” Those advances are what both women say drives them to make the event bigger and better each year. This year, for instance, event participants will be able to “pre-shop” Saks in the two days before the event, giving them more time to socialize the night of while still supporting the cause with their purchases. This year’s event feature food and entertainment by local sponsors such as Fare to Remember Catering, Town Kitchen & Bar, Strada in the Grove, RA Sushi, Earl’s Kitchen + Bar, Elle Taco, Misha’s Cupcakes, Azucar ice Cream, Nothing Bundt Cakes, DJ Brooke G and PRP Productions & Entertainment. “When I was diagnosed 20 years ago I was giving myself daily injections, whereas today, someone like Sidney can take an oral medication,” says Fox-Rosellini. “We truly represent the tremendous evolution of the disease and life with it.” To view the #iamMS videos and for more information on the Shop to Stop MS event visit Facebook.com/umiamishoptostopms
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THE FLORIDA VILLAGER
11.2016