winter 2014 north bay: Programs & services in your community
Connecting through writing Because MS kills connections in the central nervous system, it is only fitting that connections with others can fight MS. When Tracy Todd, a Chapter volunteer from Northern California who was diagnosed with MS in 2002, was writing her memoir, she decided to compile written works by people living with MS. In May 2012, Tracy started a group called We Write for the Fight (WWFTF) on the Society’s new online social media forum, MSConnection.org, to empower people with MS to express and overcome their struggles creatively. MSConnection.org is focused on joining people around the country affected by MS to learn, discuss, find support and share stories. Finding support is just what Tracy found. Through the WWFTF group, Tracy met her coeditor, Sean Mahoney, and together they would go on to produce an anthology of pieces written by people with MS from all over the country.
“being the pusher” that helped her move the project forward. The result was 273 pages of “perfection,” as Tracy put it. It was not until after the book release that Tracy and Sean finally met face-to-face in the National MS Society office in Ontario, California. Something on Our Minds is real and powerful. Today, about 70 copies have been sold and the WWFTF group has grown to 125 members with writing flooding in. Sean wants to see Something on Our Minds “become a biannual thing,” said Sean. MSConnection.org has provided Tracy and Sean many benefits. Tracy appreciates being able to post questions and concerns she has, like fear of taking certain medication. She ...continued on page 8
Sean knew he needed a support group shortly after being diagnosed with MS in April 2012. He was actively searching for connections online when he found MSConnection.org and WWFTF. Sean joined the group with a passion for writing and a proactive attitude, which “separated him from the group,” said Tracy. Tracy’s collaboration with Sean led to the publishing of Something on Our Minds: An Anthology to Benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Despite never meeting in person while working on the project, the pair worked well together. Tracy praises Sean for
Sean Mahoney and Tracy Todd meet in person for the first time in Ontario, CA
08 emphasized that these conversations are “not something you can find on a Facebook post.” Sean agrees. “Hearing about things I’ve never heard of before from different people, such as this or that treatment, is great.” Tracy and Sean encourage anyone affected by MS to take advantage of MSConnection.org to find support, learn, and use their talents. Tracy found that the WWFTF group has true intimacy unlike other social media outlets. “Once you find those people who are supportive of you, make that your team,” said Tracy. The WWFTF group began as a way to acquire written pieces. Tracy did not know it would become a place where people could discover their inner strength and potential to write. Something in Our Minds proves that when people living with MS come together, they can accomplish great things. Indeed, every connection counts. ◊
Find Connections at msconnection.org Create a profile and browse people, discussion boards, and the blog. Or start your own discussion group and get input from community members. With MS Connection, you don’t have to face MS alone. Care partners, family, friends, and those with MS are all welcome. Visit www.msconnection.org and make every connection count.
north bay: Programs & Services: winter 2014
UPCOMING PROGRAMs Registration is required for all programs. To register, please visit our Program Calendar at www.nationalMSsociety.org/can or call 1-800-344-4867.
MS Now - Today’s Treatment & Promising Research Saturday, March 1st 9:30 a.m. (Check-in) 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Program begins) Petaluma Community Center 320 North McDowell Blvd., Petaluma Research in multiple sclerosis is constantly changing. Last year, the Society invested $43 million to support 350 research projects around the world. Since its founding in 1946, the Society has spent over $771 million to advance MS research. Whether there are new promising diseases modifying treatments or the exciting potential of myelin repair, this program will share the collective progress we are making to end MS NOW. Breakfast and coffee will be served. Registration deadline is February 28th. Speaker Dr. Jeffrey Gelfand is a neurologist at the UCSF Multiple Sclerosis Center where he cares for patients with a wide range of inflammatory neurological disorders, including MS. Dr. Gelfand’s research aims to improve diagnosis and treatment for patients with inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system. Dr. Gelfand received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed his
register at nationalmssociety.org/can | 1-800-344-4867 internship in internal medicine, residency in neurology and fellowship in MS and clinical neuroimmunology at UCSF. He is the recipient of a 2011 American Academy of Neurology clinical research training fellowship and is a two-time winner of the San Francisco Neurological Society’s Newman Award.
Lagunitas Brews and Blues Against MS Monday, March 31st 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Lagunitas Brewing Company 1280 North McDowell Blvd., Petaluma Lagunitas Brewing Company has joined the movement to create a world free of MS by donating 100% of the beer proceeds to the National MS Society for this one night. We will have an appetizer buffet and feature San Francisco blues band favorite, Jan Fanucchi. Bring the family, friends and fun to this event celebrating the last day of MS Awareness month! Tickets are $10 at the door. Ticket sale proceeds go back to support Walk MS: Santa Rosa teams. Walk MS: Santa Rosa team captains who have the most ticket sales in support of their team will win the night’s beer proceeds towards their team’s fundraising! Register for Walk MS: Santa Rosa on May 4th at www.WalkMSNorCal.org.
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North American Educational Program Making Treatment & Lifestyle Decisions: Thinking Clearly About Benefits and Risks This program will highlight the significant progress made in developing new MS treatments, and focus on how people with MS can best evaluate benefits and risks when making treatment and lifestyle decisions. Chapter staff will show a DVD and lead an interactive discussion. Please join us at any of the following Self-Help Groups for this program. To register, visit the Program Calendar at www.nationalmssociety.org/can or by calling 1-800-344-4867. Eureka Group Saturday, March 1st at 10:00 a.m. Meadows Community Center (in the Meadows development) 2520 Hubbard Lane (between Myrtle Avenue and Harris Street), Eureka Santa Rosa Group Monday, March 10th at 12:00 p.m. Roundtable Pizza 2065 Occidental Road, Santa Rosa Windsor Group Saturday, March 15th at 12:00 p.m. Mary’s Pizza Shack 9010 Brooks Road South, Windsor
10 what’s happening in northern california Bay Area
• Yoga for MS, every other Saturday
beginning January 4th in Concord • East Bay MS Counseling Group on Saturdays in Livermore • Everyday Matters: Living Your Best Life with MS, Saturdays: February 1 - March 1 in Livermore • Can Do MS Take Charge Two-Day Program on June 20-22 in Oakland
Central Valley
• Yoga for MS on Tuesdays in Modesto • Research Forum on February 3rd in Salida • Newly Diagnosed Orientation on February
4 in Modesto th
Greater Sacramento
• Management of Fatigue in MS on January
15 in Carmichael When I Walk Movie Presentation on January 23rd in Folsom Newly Diagnosed Orientation on February 6th in Carmichael Mix and Mingle Networking Hour on February 10th in Sacramento Research Forum on February 25th in Sacramento Nutrition & MS on March 19th in Sacramento th
• • • • •
South Bay
• Morning Mingle on January 16th, February
20th and March 20th in Santa Clara • Newly Diagnosed Orientation on February 4th in Santa Clara
ms connection: winter 2014 • Research Forum on February 8th in San Jose • Wine Down Wednesday on February 19th
in Los Gatos • Music in Monterey TBD in Monterey • MS Awareness Fair on March 7th in Marina • Sabercats Game on March 21st in San Jose
self-help groups HUMBOLDT COUNTY
• Eureka - Ann Louise: 707-839-0177,
Kim: 707-445-9803
MARIN COUNTY
• Corte Madera (*Group does not meet in
July & August) - Vicki: 415-892-7370, Anita: 415-892-5548
MENDOCINO COUNTY
• Fort Bragg - Alice: 707-964-7850
SONOMA COUNTY
• Santa Rosa - Susan: 707-544-9654,
Debbie: 707-548-8437 • Windsor - Kate: 707-433-9194, Becky: 707-303-5207
get When I Walk shown in your area
When I Walk is a life-affirming film driven by a young man’s determination to survive and to make sense of MS. Bring When I Walk to your local theater with Tugg, an online platform that gives individuals a cost-free way to host movie screenings. Visit www.tugg.com/titles/ when-i-walk and create an event. Next, select a theater and date. Once your ticket sales reach the required minimum, the movie will be shown. The Chapter is happy to help advertise your event. E-mail jennifer.gawler@ nmss.org for assistance.