GEORGIA CHAPTER
MOVING TOWARD A WORLD FREE OF MS | VOLUME 7 • EDITION 3
Bike MS: Cox Atlanta Ride September 20 - 21, 2014
In this Issue: Meet Our Interns Page 3-4
2014-2015 Georgia Scholars Pages 5
Dr Backus’ Research Corner Page 6
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 it for a long time, the National MS Society, GA Chapter has impactful programs available to you 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 to our Programs & Services Interns
Programs & Services Department
Hi, my name is Kyle Murphy and I will serve as one of the interns this summer. My primary role is to assist members access the many services offered by the Georgia Chapter, and to offer guidance through the financial assistance process. I will also assist the Services Manager, Carole Anderson in dayto-day operations. I am a native of Cumming, Georgia and I will graduate with my undergraduate degree in General Studies this coming spring from the University of North Georgia. I plan to attend graduate school to obtain my Masters in Public Health after completing my undergraduate work. This is my first experience working with a non-profit organization and I am anxious to learn as much as possible. I look forward to helping the Society as much as I possibly can during my time here. I’m excited to start making a difference in our quest to cure MS! Hello! My name is Jenny Kneisel and I am one of the summer interns for Programs & Services. I recently moved back to Atlanta after living in Milledgeville for five years. I received my Bachelors in Community Health Education and Human Services from Georgia College and State University. I am currently working towards my Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling through Texas Tech University and Health Sciences Center. I have a passion for health and wellness and strongly believe in incorporating the seven dimensions of wellness when providing services for individuals. I always knew I wanted to be in the allied health field, but was not sure which direction I wanted to take. While interning for a case manager during my undergrad, I realized that was an area I enjoyed and would like to pursue. I am very thankful for this opportunity to gain experience and put to practice the knowledge and skills I have accumulated through my schooling. I look forward to meeting and working with ya’ll!
Hello! My name is LaTasha Williams! In 2010, I graduated from Albany State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. After college, I secured a job at JLA, USA Laboratory as a Laboratory Analyst in the chemistry department. In July 2011 I moved back to Atlanta and began my journey at Metamerix Clinical Laboratory as a GC/LCMS Laboratory Technologist in the Toxicology Department. In February of 2014, I accepted my current position at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention as an Organic Analytical Toxicology Chemist. While pursuing my undergraduate studies in Albany, Georgia, I learned that the city was voted as one of the top ten poorest cities in the United States. As a consequence of poverty, Albany has poor educational systems, high unemployment and crimes rates, and lastly not up to par health care. After experiencing how residential zip codes determine the type of health care one receives, I was determined to make a difference. From that moment on, I decided to pursue a career in public health, emphasizing on helping citizens in poverty stricken communities. In August 2013 I began the Masters in Public Health program at Mercer University. My ultimate goal is to become either an Epidemiologist or a Health Scientist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These next few months I hope to gain exponential experience in public health and acquire an array of skills that will prepare me for my career.
Hello, my name is Noah Olanrewaju, and I will serve as one of the Programs & Services interns for the summer. I was born and raised in Nigeria and speak a total of seven languages, English being my native tongue. I graduated from Herzing University with a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management and have worked in the healthcare industry for over 10 years. In August I will begin the Health Service Administration graduate program at Central Michigan University. I am excited about this internship opportunity and look forward to further developing skills in grant writing, and financial planning as well as gaining a wealth of knowledge about the operations of a non-profit organization TOLL FREE NUMBER 1 800 344 4867
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Welcome Jacquelyn & Kelsey as our Hi, my name is Kelsey Special Events Interns Baker and I will serve as
My name is Jacquelyn Lee and I will be one of the Special Events interns this summer. I was born and raised in Georgia, and have resided here since birth. This past May I graduated from Georgia State University, with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing, and a minor in Hospitality. My professional goal is to develop a career in special events, with a focus in non-profits. My passion for helping others and finding a cure for MS is what steered me to intern with the Society. I’ve already learned so much during my short time here. I’m looking forward to the additional knowledge I will gain in the upcoming months. I can already tell it’s going to be a great summer here at the National MS Society, Georgia Chapter.
your special events intern this summer. My role is to aid in promoting special events, particularly Bike MS. I will also help with marketing efforts by writing e-communications leading up to the Bike MS event. I was born and raised in Marietta, Georgia, and will start my senior year at Georgia College this coming fall. My major is Communications and I will also get my nonprofit certificate to become a certified nonprofit professional (CNP). After graduation I plan to do international missionary work and later start a career with a nonprofit organization. My family and I have been connected with the Society for the past ten years. After a good friend and neighbor was diagnosed with MS, a weekend at Callaway Gardens for Bike MS has become a family tradition. The past three years I have participated as a cyclist. It has proved to be quite a challenge, but riding for people living with the disease and raising money for a great cause makes the climb worth it. I am so excited for this opportunity to intern and connect with each of you!
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 service (non-court ordered) credit is available. Internships are offered during the fall, spring, and summer semesters. This program provides the student with day-to-day experience that will further their skills and complement their classroom learning. Download & submit an internship application to Russell.Benton@nmss.org 4
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Congratulations to our Georgia Scholars The Georgia Chapter congratulates the 25 recipients of its 2014- 2015 scholarship program: David Carver, Paige Davis, Sydney Donaldson, Tyler Favors-Wood, Ashley Grussenmeyer, Stephen Haas, Bianca Hughes, Lauren Hunter, Autumn Kirkendall, Jazzmine Leake, Austin Merideth, September Moosa, Julia Newton, Christopher Pettis, Alexis Polston, Hannah Ritter, Elizabeth Roberts, Arionna Rodriquez, Hannah Rooks, Trevor Shuman, Jessica Silverman, Laura Smith, Cara Steinocher, Arnice Wade, Kenisha Williams. The National MS Society’s scholarship program exists to help highly qualified students who have been diagnosed with MS or who have a parent with MS achieve their dreams of earning a college education. Support offered is more than just financial; the Society facilitates connections between the scholars, offering peer support, volunteer and mentoring opportunities. Scholarships are given based on financial need, academic record, leadership and participation in school or community activities, work experience, an outside appraisal, goals and aspirations, special circumstances, and an essay regarding the impact of MS on their life. The number of awards given in each state depends on the number of applications received, and is made possible thanks to the support from generous donors. Hannah Ritter from Kingsland, Georgia says “Thank you for the generous donation, it will help further my education and make my future brighter. My mother was diagnosed with MS in 2000, and since we have gone through and overcome many struggles physically, emotionally and financially. Donors and scholarship programs similar to this, make it easier for me and my family to push through the hardships because we know people care. This scholarship will not go in vain and it will help me pursue my dream of becoming a Theatre Manager.” Click here for more information about the scholarship program or to read the profiles of our 2014-2015 Georgia Scholars.
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Research
Research Corner:
Can Exercise Reduce the Risk of Falling The 2014 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) and the Sixth Cooperative Meeting with Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ACTRIMS) was held May 28 - 31 in Dallas, Texas. Researchers, clinicians, educators and people with MS convened to share and learn more about the diagnosis and management of MS. Particularly exciting is the amount of research focused on restoring what has been lost with MS. There is still a commonly held belief that people with MS cannot benefit from either rehabilitation or exercise; however, research related to both demonstrates that rehabilitation and exercise for people with MS may provide for improvements in walking, cognition, and other functional activities. Mobility impairment is a known issue for people with MS, and researchers are moving toward understanding the causes of this difficulty. Jacob J. Sosnoff, PhD and colleagues at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are attacking falls head on with exercise. Falls are a prevalent health concern for at least half of all people with MS. Falling can lead to not only fear of future falls, which in itself can reduce a person’s physical activity, but can also lead to injury. Sosnoff reported that people who participated in a simple 12-week long home exercise program did so safely, improved their performance on balance measures and demonstrated a decrease in fall risk. The program 10 individualized progressive 6 | consisted JOIN THEof MOVEMENT: nationalMSsociety.org
Deborah Backus, PT, PhD Director of MS Research The Eula C. and Andrew C. Carlos MS Rehabilitation and Wellness Program at Shepherd Center
exercises targeting balance and lower limb strength. Study participants reported enjoying the opportunity to safely exercise. In another study funded by the National MS Society, Sosnoff and colleagues demonstrated that 20 weeks of locomotor (walking) training 2 times a week on a treadmill led to improvements in walking speed and balance in people with MS. Participants also reported that their functional activities, such as transferring on and off a toilet, improved, making their lives easier. Fall risk is a concern for people with MS, but it is reassuring to see that not only is research being supported and implemented to discover what to do to reduce this risk, but that the outcomes from such studies are positive. See the Research Corner next issue to learn more about other exciting research in MS! Translation point: What does this mean to a person with MS? If you are having falls, you should follow up with a practitioner, such as a physical therapist or occupational therapist. They may be able to help you identify why you are falling, so that you can address these causes. They can also help you to come up with a program so that you can safely exercise – with exercises that are safe and have the potential to help you improve and decrease your risks of falls.
The Society is the Best Investment for People Living with MS
Funded by the National MS Society
Georgia Health Sciences - $359,659 Evaluating ways to measure and improve the driving ability of people with MS. Emory University - $169,946 Understanding how specific immune T cells drive progression of MS symptoms by studying an MS model. Emory University - $442,898 Using high-tech screening to study how the cells that control immune system activity respond to myelin, the nerve-protecting sheath targeted by MS immune attacks. Emory University - $471,333 Targeting the oligodendrocyte-enriched receptors GPR37 and GPR37L1 to treat MS. Georgia State University - $44,000 Investigating a protein that may affect the immune attack in MS, and one treatment currently used to stop that attack.
BIKE MS: COX ATLANTA RIDE SEPTEMBER 20 -21, 2014 » 2 DAYS » MULTIPLE ROUTE OPTIONS REGISTER TODAY! » BIKEMS.ORG OR CALL 800.344.4867 Enjoy a cycling adventure with varying terrain as you travel through the quaint town and beautiful country roads of Pine Mountain, Georgia. The two day celebration at Callaway Gardens boasts multiple route options for all cycling abilities, unparalleled safety and support, and the experience of a lifetime.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:
Atlanta Ride 2014
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Research
What is a clinical trial and should I participate? This is a frequently asked question posed by people living with MS who come to the Shepherd center. First, it is important to understand what a clinical trial is, and the purpose of a clinical trial. A clinical trial is a carefully designed research study involving human participants to answer a specific question or set of questions related to a biomedical or behavioral intervention. The ultimate aim of a clinical trial is to determine if a new intervention is safe, efficacious and effective for a particular population of people. Clinical trials are necessary to ensure that only interventions that are shown to be safe and effective are translated into standard clinical care.
Whether you participate in a clinical trial is totally dependent on your situation and your views. The positive side to being a participant in a clinical trial is that you are taking an important and active role in gaining a better An “intervention” includes, but is not limited to, understanding of your condition, both for you and for the researchers investigating the use of cells and other biological products the questions. This may help people with (such as stem cells), surgical procedures your condition in the future. In addition, (e.g., removing scar tissue), radiological participating in a clinical trial may allow you to procedures (e.g., functional magnetic have access to an intervention that you might resonance imaging, or fMRI), devices (e.g., brain stimulator), behavioral treatments (e.g., not otherwise receive. You must remember, however, that the intervention may not have exercise or rehabilitation), or process-of-care been shown to be safe or effective yet, so changes (e.g., providing care at a different point in time). The intervention being studied there is no guarantee that you will benefit from the intervention. may not currently be utilized in the clinic, or may be utilized in a different way, or in a Some other considerations before different population. participating in a trial include the fact that A clinical trial is performed specifically to answer a research question, to provide information that is not yet known about the use of the intervention in people with a particular disease, injury or situation, such as those with MS. A clinical trial, therefore, is not clinical care, and should not be approached with such an expectation. So why then should anyone consider a clinical trial? 8
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you might be assigned to the “control” group, which does not receive the intervention. Furthermore, during the study, you may not be allowed to participate in other interventions that will affect the outcomes of the study if you are part of a control group.
There are potential risks to consider as well when deciding whether to participate in a clinical trial. First, there may be side effects to the intervention that may not have been discovered yet. In addition, being a participant in a clinical trial may affect your health care coverage. Finally, often being involved in one trial might prevent your opportunity to participate in another trial later on. Clinical trials are conducted in different steps, called phases, and it is important for you to know at what phase a trial is being conducted. Each phase is specifically designed to answer a different type of question related to the intervention. • Phase I studies assess the safety of a drug or device in humans. This initial phase of study involves a small number of participants (20 to 100), who are generally paid for participating in the study. This phase also investigates the side effects that occur as dosage levels (amount of medication or use of the device) are increased. • Phase II studies test the efficacy of a drug or device. Most phase II studies employ control groups, where one group of participants receives the intervention (drug, device, treatment) being studied, and the other “control” group receives standard clinical care or placebo. Participants are randomly assigned to one of these groups (randomization), and often neither they nor the investigators know who has received the intervention (blinded). This allows researchers to understand the relative safety and effectiveness of the intervention.
investigators with a more thorough understanding of the effectiveness of the drug or device, as well as the benefits and the side effects. The information from this phase is very important for determining if an intervention can be commercially available to a particular group of people. • Phase IV studies are not uncommon in MS. These are often called Post Marketing Surveillance Trials, and are conducted after an intervention has been approved for consumer sale. The goals at this point, namely for pharmaceutical companies, are (1) to compare an intervention with other interventions already available; (2) to monitor a drug’s long-term effectiveness and impact on a patient’s quality of life; and (3) to determine the cost-effectiveness of a drug therapy relative to other traditional and new therapies. Phase IV studies can result in a drug or device being taken off the market, or restrictions of use could be placed on the product depending on the findings in the study.
• Phase III studies involve several thousand patients, in randomized and blinded trials. This provides TOLL FREE NUMBER 1 800 344 4867
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Clinical trials continued The next step to being part of a clinical trial is determining if you are eligible to be in the trial. Clinical trials always have very specific criteria related to who can be included, and who should be excluded. The criteria are very specific on purpose. This way the researchers can be more certain that any changes in outcomes (e.g., decreased fatigue, improved walking, or clearer thinking) are due to the intervention and not something about the participant, or natural processes, such as progression of the disease process, for instance. This is an exciting time in MS, with new interventions emerging steadily, and many research studies underway. Participating in a clinical trial allows you to be part of the advances in MS care. However, only you can decide if any given clinical trial is right for you. Being an informed consumer is the first step toward making the right decision for you. For more information about clinical trials contact:
Deborah Backus, PT, PhD Director of MS Research The Eula C. and Andrew C. Carlos MS Rehabilitation and Wellness Program at Shepherd Center Office: 404-350-7599 Deborah_Backus@Shepherd.org
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Other resources: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/ Research/Research-We-Fund http://clinicaltrials.gov/info/resources http://www.centerwatch.com/clinicaltrials/overview.aspx Questions to ask before participating in a research trial: Of the research team: • What is the intervention? • How is it delivered? • Are there any risks and what are they? • What do I need to change if I am in the study? • Can I participate in other interventions or studies if I am in this study? • What happens if I am injured or become ill during this study? • Will you provide medical care if I am hurt due to the intervention? • Can I stop the trial at any time and will this affect my other care? Of your insurance carrier: • Will being involved in this study change my health or medical benefits now or in the future?
WAYS TO GIVE
IN LOVING MEMORY Denise Slinkard and Gary Creakbaum first met during the fall semester of their sophomore year at Purdue University— September 1970, to be exact. Just four months after their first date, Gary presented Denise with an engagement ring. And, a little more than a year after that first meeting, the two were married. They attended classes together each morning and went to part-time jobs in the afternoons. They finished their humanities degrees and graduated together in 1973. “Life was good, and we knew it,” he says. Life continued to be wonderful after college. The couple moved every few years for work, which meant buying a new home and enjoying new communities. They also continued to travel. Denise had experienced a few symptoms of multiple sclerosis during college, but they didn’t receive a diagnosis until 1974. “We did not let MS slow us down,” Gary says. “We just assumed it would be something that would be cured and she would be fine.” They enjoyed life to the fullest, but MS continued to take its toll. By 1989, Denise’s deteriorating health required additional support and, in a short 15 years, the Creakbaums went from being
GARY AND ELLEN CREAKBAUM MADE A PLANNED GIFT IN HONOR OF GARY’S FIRST WIFE, DENISE (SHOWN ABOVE). sure of a cure, to trying everything available, to the realization that Denise would not be “fine.” Denise passed away in February 1994. “I miss Denise and to this day think of her and wonder why this had to happen to such a bright, beautiful young woman with a promising future,” Gary says. He has since remarried, and he and his wife Ellen have made the National MS Society a beneficiary in their will. “Making a planned gift allows us to have a say in how our money is used after we are gone,” he says. “We wanted to benefit causes that are important to us.” Gary believes that if enough people give even a small amount, the impact could be huge. “Denise’s spirit will live on through this gift to help future generations win the war against MS and enjoy the cure,” he says. n To learn more about how you can give, visit www.nationalMSsociety.org/plannedgiving.
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WAYS TO GIVE
RIDING WITH HOPE BY MARLEIGH BROWN
When I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis four years ago, I cried. I cried a lot. Not in public, and not in front of my three young children. But I cried privately, mourning the loss of the woman I once was. I was distraught and angry, and everything in between. Most of all, I was scared. Scared that MS was taking my healthy body and mind, and with them, my hopes and dreams. Yet today, in spite of those emotions, I also feel lucky. Lucky, because I have hope.
THIS GIVES ME HOPE THAT SOMEDAY SOON WE WILL FIND A WAY TO END MS FOREVER AND REPAIR THE DAMAGE ALREADY DONE. WITH THIS HOPE, WE MAY ALL BE SCRIPTING A DIFFERENT ENDING TO OUR STORIES. To truly understand hope, I need to tell you a story about a special woman named Ida. I participate in Bike MS with her photo in my pocket. It was taken in April 1937 when she was just 23 years old–a beautiful girl, vibrant and alive. She had been spring skiing at Tuckerman’s Ravine, and is leaning on a clunker of a car facing into the sun. She’s wearing a halter top and shorts, and 12
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I RIDE WITH MS PARTICIPANT MARLEIGH BROWN CROSSES THE FINISH LINE. I RIDE WITH MS IS PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY GENZYME, A SANOFI COMPANY. PARTICIPANT JERSEYS ARE PROVIDED BY PRIMAL WEAR, THE OFFICIAL CYCLING APPAREL PARTNER OF BIKE MS. black boots with dark socks, which accentuate her strong muscular legs. She had an unruly mane of dark curly hair in those days. A talented painter, Ida had a funky style all her own. She smiled like a lady, but had her hand on her hip and her chin lifted, giving the camera a bit of attitude. This woman is my grandmother, but not the grandmother I knew. The picture was taken six months before she married and went on to become a mother of six. It was taken a whole decade before MS turned her life upside down, chiseling away at her hopes and dreams. Piece by piece. Attack by attack. With nothing to stand in its way. Ida’s diagnosis took a while without MRIs and the understanding of the disease we have today. At first, she didn’t tell anyone. But soon, she
wasn’t able to hide her symptoms. Why did she choose to say nothing, to do nothing about her MS? Because there was nothing she could do. Because back then, there was nothing anyone could do–no research, no treatments, no diseasemodifying drugs. Back then, there was no hope.
WHEN ONE OF MY CHILDREN RAISES THAT DREADED QUESTION, ‘MOMMY, AM I GOING TO GET MS?’ I HOPE TO ANSWER WITH CONVICTION, ‘NO. ABSOLUTELY NOT.’ I knew Ida simply as Grammy, and I remember driving to the nursing home with my father to pick her up one Thanksgiving. I can still see her waiting for us, like a snapshot in my mind, lying in her hospital bed, staring silently toward the window. I watched as my father lifted her from her bed to her wheelchair, carrying her the way you’d cradle a helpless child, or the way you’d hold a mother who was living with MS. This is the grandmother I knew, the MS I knew. And the line was so blurred that they were one and the same. I even remember asking my father, if I was going to get MS someday. I don’t remember his exact words, but here we are today, thirty-something years later.
wide selection of medications available to slow progression by injection, infusion, even oral pill, and also for the drugs to manage symptoms and attacks. All of these treatments were only discovered in the last two decades, and over half were discovered in the last decade alone. This gives me hope that someday soon we will find a way to end MS forever and repair the damage already done. With this hope, we may all be scripting a different ending to our stories. When one of my children raises that dreaded question, “Mommy, am I going to get MS?” I hope to answer with conviction, “No. Absolutely not.” Hope is a beautiful thing. And today we have hope. Hope that my grandmother didn’t have. And hope that all of our children will know a world free of MS. n These Opening Remarks were delivered by Marleigh Brown at the 2013 Bike MS Cape Cod Getaway. Brown lives in Massachusetts, where she participates in the I Ride with MS program, which has expanded across all 100 Bike MS events in 2013, thanks to the support of Genzyme, a Sanofi company and Primal Wear. Learn more at www.BikeMS.org.
I was diagnosed with MS at age 36—the very same age as Ida. The similarities in our stories are unnerving, but I focus on the differences in our stories instead. I am lucky that my doctors caught my MS early with the help of today’s MRIs. And I am grateful for choices—for the
Atlanta Ride 2014
Bike MS: Cox Atlanta Ride September 20-21, 2014 Pine Mountain, GA (Callaway Gardens) Register at www.BikeMSGeorgia.org TOLL FREE NUMBER 1 800 344 4867
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The domestiques cycling team takes the definition of the cycling domestique literally.
Join us as we participate in the 2014 Bike MS: Cox Atlanta ride.
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We Need YOU to volunteer at the 2014 Bike MS: Cox Atlanta Ride!
My oh my how time flies‌ Just three short months from now the 2014 Bike MS: Cox Atlanta Ride will be upon us. We are in need of 400+ hardworking volunteers to help make this event a success.
2014 Bike MS will take place at 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) van drivers, event breakdown, and the list goes on. For more information on volunteering at Bike MS please contact: Rusty Benton at russell.benton@nmss.org or at 678-534-3588.
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WHAT EVERY VOLUNTEER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE NATIONAL MS SOCIETY ABOUT MS ● Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that interrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. ● The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS vary from person to person and range from reduced or lost mobility to numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. ● Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50 ● MS affects more than 2.3 million people worldwide. ABOUT THE SOCIETY ● The Society addresses the challenges of each person affected by MS by funding cutting-edge research, driving change through advocacy, facilitating professional education, collaborating with MS organizations around the world, and providing programs and services designed to help people with MS and their families move forward. ● The Society is dedicated to achieving a world free of MS. Join the movement at nationalMSsociety.org. ABOUT ADVOCACY AND PROGRAMS & SERVICES FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH MS ● The Society’s MS Navigator® Program (800-344-4867) provides people affected by MS with a customized, compassionate response; connecting them to the resources and support they need. ● The Society’s programs address the challenges of MS including access to specialized healthcare and services, financial impact, emotional impact, needs experienced by the family, need for information, and more. ● The Society facilitates access to MS healthcare by: o providing important information to – and establishing and nurturing relationships with – healthcare providers o advocating for policies and legislation that support access to care www.nationalMSsociety.org 16
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o supporting the growth of the MS workforce of the future ● The Society and MS activists advocate at the federal, state and local levels for increased MS research, access to quality care, disability rights, long-term services and supports and awareness and support for the MS movement. ABOUT RESEARCH ● Finding solutions for people with MS is the Society’s highest priority: o Research is essential to finding solutions that change lives o The Society will fuel research through increased investments – a record-breaking $50 million in 2014 ● Our approach is both comprehensive and focused; pursuing all promising paths while focusing on three priority areas: o Progressive MS o Nervous system repair, including myelin repair o Wellness and lifestyle ● The Society is the best investment in driving solutions and changing the world for people with MS. ABOUT VOLUNTEERING Volunteers are a vital resource in the MS movement. You can: o Share your professional expertise o Use your special talents o Give your time o Learn a new skill o Connect others to the MS movement o You can share your MS story to help educate elected officials about how a piece of legislation affects people with MS o Get engaged through a number of different advocacy opportunities o Become a new District Activist Leader Find opportunities in your area at www.nationalMSsociety.org/volunteer
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MS EXPO
Middle Georgia
Moving Forward,
Stop Disease Progression, Restore Function and End MS FoREvER August 16, 2014 TIME:
9am - 3pm - Educational programs Vendor exhibits will be available throughout the day
*A complimentary lunch will be provided WHERE: Macon Centreplex 200 Coliseum Drive Macon, GA 31217 TOPICS: The Middle 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. You must pre-register for this program by August 6, 2014. To register please call 678-672-1000 / 1-800-344-4867 or register online at www.MSgeorgia.org. 18
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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
Alix Moore Bike MS Manager Alix.Moore@nmss.orgTOLL 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
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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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