MS Awareness Week ~ March 2nd-8th

 MS Awareness Week is here and YOUR CONNECTION counts!

MS Awareness Week is a special week to rally together to recognize progress, acknowledge everyone's connections and contributions, and inspire others to help us move even faster towards our vision of a world free of MS.

What is MS?

Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic, unpredictable disease of the central nervous system (the brain, optic nerves and spinal cord).  It is thought to be an autoimmune disorder.  This means the immune system incorrectly attacks the person's healthy tissue.  MS can cause blurred vision, loss of balance, poor coordination, slurred speech, tremors, numbness, extreme fatigue, problems with memory and concentration, paralysis, blindness, and more.  These problems may be permanent or may come and go.  Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, although individuals as young as 2 and as old as 75 have developed it.  MS is not considered a fatal disease, as the vast majority of people with MS live a normal life-span.  But the unpredictability of the disease can present many challenges, including the possibility of facing increasing limitations.

Who gets MS?

Anyone may develop MS but there are some patterns.  At least two to three times more women than men have been diagnosed with MS.  Studies suggest that genetic factors make certain individuals more susceptible than others, but there is no evidence that MS is directly inherited.  MS occurs in most ethnic groups, but is most common in Caucasians of northern European ancestry.

What are the typical symptoms of MS?

Symptoms of MS are unpredictable; they can vary from person to person, and from time to time in the same person.  Sometimes major symptoms disappear completely, and the person regains lost functions.  In severe MS, people have symptoms on a permanent basis including partial or complete paralysis , and difficulties with vision, cognition, speech and elimination.

Can MS be cured?

There are now FDA-approved medications that have been shown to "modify" or slow down the underlying course of MS.  In addition, many therapeutic and technological advances are helping people manage symptoms.  Advances to stop disease progression and restore lost function are made every year, and increased understanding of MS and the potential cause(s) brings us closer to an ultimate end of the disease and prevention for future generations.

*above information is from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society - General Information
Click HERE to be directed to the National MS Society's website.

What can YOU do to HELP during MS AWARENESS WEEK and throughout the rest of the year?

Get involved.

~ Fundraising Events

~ Volunteer

~ Advocate for Change

~ Raise Awareness

~ Join the Community

~ Stay Informed

~ Corporate Support

Currently we are gearing up for one of the National MS Society's largest fundraising events of the year... WALK MS.

This is our 4th year to have a team in honor of my Mom, Gloria Hastings, who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in April 2009.  Our team "Go For Gloria" has raised over $9000 in the past 3 years for the National MS Society.  We could not have done this without the help of some very generous donors.  This year we would like you to help us again and invite you to join our team on Saturday, April 25th, 2015 in Wichita, Kansas for the Walk MS event.

Here are direct links to our TEAM Page, and some of our TEAM MEMBERS pages.  Please click on over and help us by making an easy online donation to the National MS Society in Gloria's honor today.  Each team member has a fundraising goal they would like to meet and our team has a fundraising goal we would like to collectively meet.  Thank YOU!

Click HERE to be directed to the GO FOR GLORIA Team page.