ON
MY
mind
MS = is on my mind, all year long
When collecting feedback for the Soci- ety’s Strategic Response, we heard loud and clear that building aware- ness should be a critical priority. So
we’ve made an important shift this year in how we
approach awareness building.
Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week is now the
jumping off point for year-round efforts to increase
awareness and understanding. We want to dem-
onstrate that the power and importance of the MS
movement is a force by and for people living with
MS. We believe that force can create greater overall
awareness of what it means to live with this disease.
The exciting thing for me is to witness how
people throughout the country, affected in some
way by MS, are the champions fueling this new
effort. It is excit-
ing, humbling
and inspiring to
see people using
their own voices
to share their
experiences and
build understand-
ing about MS.
As many of
you know, we
have been collect-
ing replies to the question: What does MS = to
you? Starting with MS Awareness Week in March,
thousands upon thousands of people shared their
own statement through our Web site, on Twitter
and on our Facebook pages. We’re continuing to
collect these replies to give people everywhere the
opportunity to express their struggles, losses, hopes
and commitment. Taken as a whole they reflect an
impassioned movement!
Alan and David Osmond.
I want encourage you to add your own
comment, whether for the first time or because
MARK KIRYLUK
something else has occurred to you: Click
www.nationalMSsociety.org/msequals. Or use
Twitter at www.twitter.com/MSsociety or Facebook at www.facebook.com/nationalMSsociety.
Or—mail me a postcard.
And spend some time reading other people’s
comments. Here are some that especially spoke to
me:
For Pamela, MS = Walking in the dark.
For Beth, MS = No sugar coating reality.
For actor David “Squiggy” Lander, MS =
Multiple Solutions while wife Kathy Lander
says, MS = Fall Down Laughing.
For Sheri Stakes, MS = Fear, uncertainty,
dependence, patience, tolerance.
For comedian and actor Jonathan Katz, MS = I
never really wanted to be a tightrope walker.
For Joe, MS = Reflection on loss of my Mom
and raising money to find cure.
For singer David Osmond, MS = Focusing on
my abilities, not my disabilities.
For BoomPowSurprise, MS = Discovering so
much love and kindness from strangers.
For Charles, MS = Shattered dreams and new
schemes.
For me, today, MS = Millions of Supporters!
Please keep your comments coming.
Joyce Nelson
President & CEO
The National MS Society
900 South Broadway
Denver, CO 80209
joyce@nmss.org
