Phil Keoghan
and the MS
Research
Revolution
Phil Keoghan, host of the Emmy Award-winning
TV show The Amazing Race, is a man who not
only pushes his contestants to the limits, but who
knows the true meaning of “No Opportunity
Wasted” himself. After nearly dying in a dangerous
underwater TV shoot when he was 19, Keoghan
sat down and wrote out everything he wanted to
accomplish in his life. His list has evolved over
the years, including putting a golf ball across
Scotland. “Honestly,” Phil said, “I have no idea
why I wanted to putt across Scotland so badly.”
Keoghan’s list is not all fun and games. Two years
ago he checked off a major goal: Biking across the
country, from Los Angeles to New York City—for
a cause. Keoghan had been participating in Bike
MS events since 2005, so he turned the ride into
an MS fundraising event. His goal was to raise
$250,000: He hit that milestone halfway through
the 3,500-mile, 40-day ride and wound up raising
over half a million dollars. A documentary, The
Ride, was later released about his amazing odyssey.
Keoghan describes the ride as life-changing. “It
was my first chance to spend time with people
who have MS.” He said these experiences
strengthened his commitment to the movement.
The beginning of NOW
In 2004, Keoghan published No Opportunity
Wasted: Creating a List for Life. In the book he
shares his dynamic philosophy, providing a guide to
help readers create their own personal Lists for Life.
This year, Keoghan partnered with the National
MS Society to launch NOW: An MS Research
Revolution, lending the NOW acronym from the
slogan he’s made famous.
“There’s a chapter in my book, ‘Aim for the
Heart,’ about doing things for others,” Keoghan
explained, “and that incredible feeling you get
from helping someone. Whatever you give, you
get back tenfold. That’s been my experience working with the Society. I can’t think of a more fitting
cause for the NOW philosophy.”
Keoghan is currently spearheading “NOW and
Novartis for MS,” a professional women’s cycling
team dedicated to raising MS awareness.
Keoghan is proud to have become the first official
MS Research Champion. “I’m hoping as many
people as possible will join me and become
champions themselves.”
