MS Challenge Blog

Cyndie's Angels FUN-draiser

Events — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:15:57 +0000

Come join us at the Auburn Elks for a fun evening on July 28, 6–11 PM, to raise money for Cyndie's Angels. Your $25 donation (or half-price for children under 9) gets you dinner, DJ, dancing, raffles, a silect auction, a candy buffet, balloon creations, and more! Advance ticket sales appreciated we want to make sure there's enough food for everyone. Please email Cyndie's Angels or call 508-987-5177.

This is the events calendar, featuring official NMSS rallies and meetings as well as volunteer-sponsored fundraisers. Want to see your event listed here? Please submit the details, and we'll add it!

MS Challenge Walk yard/plant/bake sale

Events — Tue, 15 May 2012 01:19:36 +0000

Come to 23 Playstead Rd, Medford MA, this Saturday, May 19, 9 AM – 3 PM for a yard sale, plant sale, and bake sale to benefit the fundraising of team Walkie Talkies! The team has gathered donations of food, plants, furniture, books, electornics, CDs, games, children's and adult clothing, and more. All proceeds go directly to the teams MS walk in September.

Talking with Mara Matos

MS Challenge Talk — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:00:44 +0000

Welcome to MS Challenge Talk, a weekly audio recording that introduces you to the people and stories behind MS Challenge Walk.

Mara Matos walked her first MS Challenge Walk in 2011 to commemorate the tenth anniversary of her diagnosis with multiple sclerosis. She's back in 2012 as captain of a brand-new team, the Mars Stars. In MS Challenge Talk, she speaks with Ken about fundraising in the workplace and getting corporate matching for charitable donations; how she can walk 50 miles without training or blisters; and how she ended up gracing the cover of this year's fundraising & training guide.

Mentioned in this show is the packing list the NMSS recommends for the MS Challenge Walk weekend; see page 32 of this guide for details, or read one walker's suggested packing list. To fundraise through Facebook, go to your Participant Center and click the blue "Fundraise with Facebook" button.

Welcome to MS Challenge Talk, a weekly audio recording that shares the stories and experiences of veterans of those who have walked three days and 50 miles to bring the world closer to a cure for multiple sclerosis, courtesy the National MS Society's MS Challenge Walk. You can subscribe to the show for free in Apple iTunes!

Sweet scents of hope for the cure

Events — Fri, 11 May 2012 23:55:09 +0000

Place an order for a Yankee Candle before June 1 and 40% of your proceeds will go to Elizabeth Curley's MS Challenge Walk fundraising! Visit the Yankee Candle online store to make your selection, but do not make your purchase there — orders must be placed directly with Elizabeth via email (please include your phone number). See her flyer for more details.

Red Sox Nation and the MS Challenge Walk Cape Cod mourn the passing of Carl Beane

Danielle — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:15:35 +0000

Many in Red Sox Nation learned the sad news that Fenway Park public address announcer Carl Beane died after suffering a heart attack while driving his car in Sturbridge, MA. Beane, 59, had been the "Voice of Fenway Park" since the start of the 2003 season.

What many do not realize is Carl Beane's connection to the MS Challenge Walk Cape Cod. He's been a part of the Cocktails for a Cure Softball Tournament since 2007.

John Scannell and Carl Beane at the 2010 Cocktails for a Cure MS softball tournament.

Cocktails for a Cure team member Amy Scannell met Carl Beane at an event at Fenway Park in 2007. Says Amy, "He was so approachable, kind, and easy to talk to. That year, and every year since, he was our special guest at the Cocktails for a Cure MS Softball Tournament. He would let the attendees try on the 2004 and 2007 World Series Championship Rings and take photos with everyone, too. He never asked for anything in return. He was a great friend of our team and a wonderful supporter of our cause. He will be missed."

Danielle is a Development Coordinator for the Greater New England Chapter of the National MS Society. Prior to joining the staff at the National MS Society, she served as a crew team captain during the 2009 and 2010 MS Challenge Walks.

An evening with hypnotist Frank Santos Jr.

Events — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:41:05 +0000

Come enjoy an evening with the R-rated hypnotist, Frank Santos Jr.! The doors open on Saturday, July 28, 2012, at 8 PM at the Weymouth Elks Club. Tickets are $20/person and include music, dancing, raffles, and Frank's show. Proceeds benefit Team DEA and friends. For tickets, call Tricia Connors Vigeant (508-840-6943).

Talking with Susan Cohn-Child

MS Challenge Talk — Tue, 08 May 2012 00:05:42 +0000

Welcome to MS Challenge Talk, a weekly audio recording that introduces you to the people and stories behind MS Challenge Walk.

In this inaugural episode, host Ken Gagne interviews Susan Cohn-Child, captain of team Lemon Aid. Susan was diagnosed with MS when she was 30 years old and has been using MS Challenge Walk as a way to fight back since the event's launch in 2002. From her son running a lemonade stand to her her husband donating his photography skills, Susan has rallied her family and her community around this personal cause. As a member of the event's steering committee, she has been outspoken about MS whenever given the opportunity.

This show tells Susan's story, speaks briefly with the MS Challenge Walk coordinator about what's new with the event, and looks at upcoming fundraising and training events. Use the player below, or find the show in iTunes!

Introducing MS Challenge Talk

MS Challenge Talk — Sun, 06 May 2012 22:28:09 +0000

The MS Challenge Blog has always been letting the MS community read stories and advice from veterans of the MS Challenge Walk. Starting this week, you'll be able to hear from these pros directly, in a series of audio interviews.

Called MS Challenge Talk, these recordings profile the heroes who have accepted the challenge to walk 3 days and 50 miles for multiple sclerosis. Each week, you'll hear from a different walker or volunteer about their connection to the cause, the training and fundraising tricks they've learned, and the memories they've made along the way.

These interviews are completely free and can be listened to anytime you want right here on the blog; just be sure to come back every Monday for each new episode. (You can get email reminders when new interviews are published!)

Shows can be downloaded to your computer or portable music player. To subscribe via iTunes, click this link then click the "Subscribe Free" button in iTunes. You can then listen to the show on your iPod, iPad, or iPhone while driving to work, enjoying a training walk, or anywhere else you like.

We look forward to MS Challenge Talk bringing the community together in new and exciting ways. Thank you for listening! Please let us know if you have any questions.

(Thanks to Jennifer Finn for the intro and outro voiceovers! Music is courtesy Apple's iMovie program and was suggested by Lisa Kellogg and refined by Karenanna Creps.)

Trivia Night at Jimmy's Pub

Events — Tue, 01 May 2012 17:45:34 +0000

MS Challenge Walk Team DEA & Friends is hosting a trivia night at Jimmy's Pub in Mansfield. There will be trivia (hosted by Rich Kfoury), raffles, and more. Come join us at 7 PM on Saturday, May 5! Tickets are $25 per person.

Paint Bar benefit for The Walkie Talkies

Events — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:07:59 +0000

Join MS Challenge Walk team The Walkie Talkies to paint your own masterpiece at The Paint Bar in Newton at 6:30 PM on July 26, 2012. This will be a fun event, and no experience is needed. All ages are welcome! Tickets are $35 each. Register online and please put "MS Fundraiser" in the notes section when you register so that we can get $10 donated back to our team!