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Team E-mail #7
Less Than A Week To Go
Dear FEET 2 BEAT MS Team Member:
Hope you all had a nice Easter. We are approaching GAME TIME for the walks. In fact, the Frederick walk is over and here is our team picture from last week.
Frederick Walk Picture
They (and a few not pictured) raised almost $1,200 !! Not including kids, that’s over $100 per person !! How did they do it ?? Hard work – like Karen Fox (back row, second from the left) made her own basket for $55 containing candy, small toys, and an IPod shuffle – raffled it off at work for $241. Nice ! Bonnie Kline - $302 raised – Thank You !
Remember, Fort Lauderdale team –
3 people - raised $335 – that’s over $100 per person too.
Our Annapolis Team - who has not walked yet –
25 members has raised $3,105 – that’s over $100 per person !!
So … the big question …
How much will FEET 2 BEAT MS teams raise ?
Especially, the 194 team members in Cambridge??
Last night, I watched Celebrity Apprentice. If you haven’t seen it, celebrities compete to raise money for their charities. I have to laugh when I see how the celebrities make one phone call and get a donation of $40,000.
My address book is on the team and I’ll still make some calls this week.
Can you make a couple of calls this week?
We have over 10 people on the team living with Multiple Sclerosis.
Here is just another one of their stories…
Wow! Where to begin. For me, this is a story I don’t like to tell. As a matter of fact, for the first almost two years of this story, I didn’t tell it…to anyone! I am a Mom, a Wife, a Sister, a Daughter, Granddaughter, Aunt, Friend, Business Owner, Community Volunteer, Church Worker… These are some of the things that define me. I did not want to be defined by a disease.
A little over 3 years ago, I began experiencing some very odd, physical problems. I was more tired than ever and never seemed to have the energy to do ANYTHING! I chalked it all up to having 5 kids and, well, enough said. I went to my primary care physician. She confirmed that I was overwhelmed and gave me some meds to help me “feel” better. Not too long after that, I began having more intense symptoms…numbness, tingling, brain fogs (that’s what I call them). The final straw was when the right side of my head went tingly then numb for about 2 weeks. Needless to say, it scared me into digging deeper. I found a neurologist and began the extensive testing…everything from Lyme’s Disease to a Brain Tumor. It was quite nerve wrecking. Then, my doc told me we were facing MS. I decided I wanted a second opinion. When that doc came back with the same conclusion, I decided I wanted a third opinion. When the third opinion came back the same as the first two, I decided it was time to face the facts and come to terms that I was living with MS.
This was a process that I drew out over 12-18 months. All the while, my symptoms and fear grew. Still, I told few people. I mentioned to my husband that I was having the tests and confided in my best friend. In June of 2007, I had to face the music, accept the diagnosis and move on with a treatment. I began once a week shots as my first treatment. It was dreadful. For 24 hours every week, I felt like I had the flu. Then it would take me about 24 hours to feel better. I had the shots every Tuesday and my motto became “Never on Tuesday.” Never make an appointment, a commitment, dinner, nothing. Tuesday became the most dreaded day of my week.
During this time, I confided in my best friend, my husband and a small group of friends. I didn’t tell my family…my kids or parents. One of my friends approached me about participating in the MS Walk. I was hesitant at first, but then agreed and we raised two teams to walk last year. It was the MS Walk that let my cat out of the bag, so to speak. This was the biggest relief. I was amazed at how supportive friends and family were.
Physically, things got a lot harder last summer. I switched treatments and am now doing an infusion therapy. Honestly, I feel great! I am so impressed by the strides the medical community is making in this field. I am hopeful that one day we will be able to not just live more comfortably with MS, but to live completely without MS.
Through last year’s Walk, I was able to re-connect with my best friend from elementary school. We hadn’t seen each other is YEARS!!!! What are the odds that we are both now living with MS, just miles away from one another?
MS still does not define who I am. Living with it has made me a stronger, more compassionate, more intentional person. I have learned to take nothing for granted…not a day, not a step, not a breath! This year, I walk PROUDLY with FEET 2 BEAT MS. Though I am still frustrated at times, I am so hopeful for our future because of events like this!
Cambridge Team Alert
THIS FRIDAY NIGHT
6 pm – 9 pm
PORTSIDE RESTAURANT
Drop by and get your team T-shirt
(Portion of any food/drink sales will be donated to MS)
See you soon with your bags of $$$$$$$,
Rich