Riding & Voting to End MS

For the second year, MS Activists were back at the Bike MS: Deception Pass Classic ride, asking cyclists and volunteers to learn more about advocacy and cast their vote for the issue they think should matter most to our politicians.

We collected 26 letters to members of Congress, requesting support for two initiatives that impact people with MS: improved access to mobility equipment like power wheelchairs, and enhancing research and data on neurological diseases like MS.

In addition, more than 100 people participated in our bean poll, casting their vote on what they think is the most important thing politicians could be doing to help people living with MS. And the results are in!

Thanks to our MS Activists who helped staff the booth and raised awareness about the work we do to support the MS community. Interested in getting involved? Learn more!

#KeepUsMoving was @BikeMSWashington. Where is it going next?

This past weekend, we hosted over 2,000 cyclists in Skagit County for our annual Bike MS. MS Activists were out in force at the ride, helping out in a number of ways. Some, like Lisa and Martin Boon, help feed the cyclists. Others, like Emily Cole and Dr. Lily Jung Henson did the ride. Still others like Dorthann Cloud and Linnea Nasman helped us recruit 30 new members for our online Action Alert Network. A big thank you to all those who participated!

MS Activist Dr. Lily Jung Henson (on back), with her husband John Henson

More and more, I'm reminded that one of the biggest keys to our success as an advocacy organization is our ability to raise awareness about MS and the issues that most impact people with MS. So having an event with 2,000 cyclists is a great way to get the word out there. But it's not nearly enough and we need your help.

Can you help us spread the word about the #KeepUsMoving campaign? While you may not realize it, transportation is an issue that affects absolutely every single one of us. If you drive on a road, take a ferry, walk on a sidewalk, or take a bus - government decisions regarding transportation affect you every day.

And it impacts people with MS in an especially unique way. For example, I just was talking to a co-worker of mine, Molly, whose dad lived with MS. Molly told me how MS impacted her life. As her dad's MS progressed, it became apparent that her family needed a modified van that could fit her dad's wheelchair. The van cost $75,000!!!! Instead of paying for Molly's college education, her family spent their savings to pay for Steve's van. It shouldn't have to be that way.

MS is sure expensive, and our transportation system doesn't make it easy for someone with MS to get around. Can you help us do two things today?

1) Find more stories like Molly's. Stories don't just inspire us to think differently, they inspire politicians to act! Share your story with us at MSconnection.org or let me know your story (jim.freeburg@nmss.org) and we'll share it with others.

2) Spread the word. Yesterday, we sent out an Action Alert email to everyone on our list, asking for their help with this effort. Can you forward it to your friends with MS who may have a good story to tell? Or if you didn't get the email, send me a note at jim.freeburg@nmss.org and I'll pass it along to you.

Thanks!

Answer the call - become an MS Volunteer

Earlier this week I was honored to be invited to the Greater Northwest Chapter's Annual Meeting in Seattle. The positive and exciting information shared regarding the "state of the chapter" reinforces my belief that the National MS Society is a strong and efficient organization that is committed to supporting everyone living with MS and, ultimately, a life free of MS.

Awards were presented for Corporate Partner of the Year, Distinguished Service, MS Achievment, and close to my heart - Volunteer of the Year.  This year the award for Volunteer of the Year went to a dear friend of mine (and probably of a lot of you too) - Trevis Gleason. You may know Trevis from numerous speaking engagements and his blog for Everyday Health (http://www.everydayhealth.com/blog/trevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms/).

What you may not know is that Trevis is kind of considered the best "ask" in the business and he has been known to open a lot of wallets for MS with his efforts. This time when Trevis got up to accept his award and "ask" something of all of us, it wasn't to open our wallets, but to ask all of us to commit to promoting Volunteering with the MS Society. He asked us all to commit 20 minutes per week telling our story and encouraging as many people as we can to volunteer. You can do that - right?

There are so many different opportunities to contribute to the work of the National MS Society - participate in the Walk and BikeMS, work in the office a few hours per week, help with a support group (or start your own), provide peer support or, like I do, get involved in Advocacy. We need all the voices we can get contacting our federal, state, and local representatives to educate them on the needs of the MS Community. Join us in Olympia for the Day of Activism in January - our legislators pay attention to those orange scarves! http://www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/was/volunteer/index.aspx

Please honor my friend Trevis and his wish to increase the volunteer efforts at the National MS Society. As someone famously said "it takes a village" and we ARE that village - 20 minutes is all we ask.

Hope to see you in Olympia! - Holly

Holly Hawker
Chair, Activism Committee