Stop by Jenny Boston in Hingham the evening of March 30 to shop for the latest in fashion accessories including an amazing selection of handbags, fashion jewelry, belts, scarves and other great items. All at 40–60% off traditional retail pricing! Or come earlier in the day, as any purchases made on March 30 in the Hingham store during 10:00 AM–5:00 PM and 6:30 PM–8:30 PM will benefit Team DEA & Friends — as long as you tell them at checkout that your purchase is supporting Team DEA.

Please RSVP to Tricia Vigeant at triciavigeant@comcast.net. Hope to see you there!

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!

This 30-second commercial airs on Comcast Jan 30–March 4: 

The spot will be featured on Comcast's Web site. Comcast subscribers will be able to click through from that commercial to watch the three-minute piece in Video On Demand:

Ken, a Worcester resident, joined the MS Challenge Walk in 2005, more than a decade after his mother was diagnosed. After walking for three years and 150 miles, he switched to the support crew and now rides his bicycle along the trail, providing whatever encouragement (and snacks!) he can to the 600 walkers. He is also on the event's steering committee and is this site's webmaster.

Support the Lombardi Party at its fifth annual comedy night fundraiser! Doors to the Giggles Comedy Club open on March 25 at 6:30 PM, with the show starting at 8 PM. A requested $25 donation gets you Boston's top comics, all-you-can-eat cheese pizza, a cash bar, and raffles! Proceeds benefit the MS Challenge Walk.

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!

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!

Walker safety — top of the list! Whenever possible, the route must include sidewalks, paths, wide shoulders, or dedicated walk lanes to insure that walkers are as protected from vehicle traffic as much as possible. While the Cape is quite long, it is not particularly wide, hence the majority of 'safe' roads for walking run East > West, and not North > South. Therefore, our choices are limited to a route that is either north or south of route 6 (which bisects the Cape along most of its entirety) and runs parallel to it, east-to-west.

Start/finish venue — Because of the importance of the venue for setting the tone for both the beginning and the end of the weekend, it is essential that it be relatively easy to get to and from, provide adequate and affordable lodging for Thursday night (more below), be aesthetically pleasing, and have adequate parking for both walkers and all of the vehicles from the Society that go into supporting the weekend (safety, medical, SAG, rest stop, and luggage trucks).

Lodging (pre-start and overnights) — With the early start on Friday morning, suitably comfortable hotels for Thursday night that are in close proximity to the start are essential. At the same time, we make a big effort to keep the lodging costs affordable. Taken together with the location of the start/finish and the route location itself, that limits us to the larger towns on Cape Cod. There are many more options available in Hyannis than there are, say, in Harwichport.

Route length / overnight lodging — Because the route is 50 miles over 3 days, the route must be some type of 'out and back.' Additionally, because we use the Cape Cod Rail Trail for so much of the overall route, we are assured of a safe, scenic, transportation friendly walk for more than 25 of the 50 miles.

Budgetary costs make a central overnight location the most cost effective, and the choice of somewhere that is capable of housing 500+ people on consecutive days while also providing access to all of the above, is quite limiting. Were we to stay in a different site each night, the costs associated with transportation and renting two locations capable of providing housing, meals, etc for all the walkers, staff, and volunteers would significantly increase the budget for the Walk. That would in turn reduce the amount of funds raised that could then be expended on MS research and programs.

Scenery — This is key, but it also has to co-exist with walker safety, rest stop, and transportation needs. There are many scenic areas on the Cape, but linking them all together while addressing the other three needs is what keeps us on our current route. To change one aspect is to affect all the others.

Town Approval —The towns from whom we currently secure permits are all enthusiastic to work with us each year, as they know the route, the routine of each day, where the safety issues are, etc.

It may be tempting to try a new route each year, or even to change parts of the existing one ‐ but when you add all of the above together, from a cost-benefit analysis, the current plan provides the best return on investment for both walkers and staff — and, most significant, it maximizes the fundraising dollars going to the cause.

Drew is the Logistics Manager for the Greater New England Chapter of the National MS Society. His role behind the scenes helps MS Challenge Walk Cape Cod run smoothly.

The course is completely on the private property of the golf course with no public roads or road crossings involved. It uses the entry drive for a wide start, then mostly follows the paved cart paths which are eight feet wide. The course of rolling hills offers plenty of scenic views and opportunities for spectators to watch, as nearly the entire course can be viewed from the area of the clubhouse, which is also the finish. The clubhouse will be open and available in the event of harsh weather. Parking is available on site but in the event of a large turn out, shuttle service will be provided from remote parking lots.

Your registration fee benefits the MS Challenge Walk 2012 fundraising of team D-Terminators. Register online at Coolrunning.com or RSVP on Facebook.

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!

The fun begins on Saturday, Dec 10, at 4:00 PM at The Kinsale, 2 Center Plaza, and proceeds to the following Boston establishments:

5:15 – 6:15: Paddy O's @ 33 Union Street
6:15 – 7:15: Hennessey's @ 25 Union Street
7:20 – 8:20: The Point @ 147 Hanover Street
8:30 – 9:30: West End Johnnie's @ 138 Portland Street
9:30 – ????: The Harp @ 85 Causeway Street

Join us anywhere along the way! A $10 donation gets you the opportunity to join the most dynamic Challenge Walk team on the planet and raffle tickets for restaurant gift certificates from each establishment.

We recommend parking at Government Center Parking Garage for $10, or taking a cab or public transit. Remember to RSVP on Facebook!

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!

108 respondents thought our online information was excellent or good. (That includes this blog, so thanks!)

104 respondents thought our route was excellent or good, and 109 respondents thought our reststops were excellent or good. (Way to go to our fabulous crew for making our reststops so welcoming!)

As you may have noticed, MS Challenge Walk participants are a family that often have a personal connection to MS, as confirmed when we asked this question:

The steering committee has heard what the most challenging aspect of your participation is and is working on ways to help participants increase their fundraising.

Other questions included:

How may we assist walkers with their fundraising in the future?

"Encourage out of the box ideas. Game night, Bottle & Can Drives, Jack & Jill style parties, golf tournament, raffles, etc… Make it fun."

"I think you are doing a great job. I just don't really think I was prepared for how difficult it would be to raise $1500. Letting walkers know it is imperative to start early would be good."

"I like that you had bonus weeks and things for people to earn if they got sponsors that week, to certain levels, etc."

"Remind walkers to ask everyone and add more people every year to their list."

What did you like or dislike about our online services?

"I did not make use of the blog until it got closer to the walk, but the info was great and I felt I was a little more prepared for the experience because of the suggestions"

"I liked using Facebook because I ended up getting donations from friends that I don't see that much and it help me to remind my family/friends to donate if they wish."

"I love love love fundraising on Facebook and found the challenge blog to be inspirational"

What was your most memorable experience during the MS Challenge Walk?

"All the rest stops were great. I loved all the crew members and the support they give to the walkers."

"The speakers are always amazing and the people you meet are just wonderful."

"Fall was always a difficult season for me but now I look forward to it because of the walk."

"Although the actual walking was difficult, I felt so inspired by all of the people who dedicate their time to this walk. I felt so encouraged by all of the rest stops and support, and it made it so worthwhile. Each day I felt so loved and appreciated!"

"As always, the Saturday evening ceremony always makes me sad, but proud of the accomplishment that I have just finished."

"Being encouraged by 'Sarge'."

"Watching a woman push herself in her chair the entire distance"

"Completing the walk on the final day and parading into the park."

"FINISHING ALL 50 MILES!!!!!!"

"Hearing the cheering at the finish line on Friday and Saturday. They are the best and make me cry (good tears) every time."

"The crew! I've been doing this a long time and seeing those familiar faces, particularly at the end of a day's walk, is priceless. Their energy and love can be felt. It is very appreciated."

"I enjoyed all of the amazing and selfless people that we met. I loved being with my friends and laughing at out ridiculousness! But I loved the finish line!"

"There are too many things to list. This was my first year walking and it was a great experience. Hat's off to ALL of the volunteers. I personally couldn't have finished the walk without them."

"I have so many memories. After 10 years, my memories focus on the time I spend with good friends from the walk. Love it!"

"Making a new friend. We introduced ourselves at Opening Ceremonies and walked together and talked non-stop for 50 miles. Priceless!"

"Watching the young fellow who pushed two wheel chairs at a time, while carrying tools. Fixing one of the chairs, and continuing to push them."

"When my sister, who has MS, finished the walk to the pre-finish line before me and then walked back to meet me so we could finish 'together'"

"Your support of the walkers is great! I leave with a sense of happiness each time and that it mattered that I walked."

If you didn't fill out the survey, it's never to late to be heard! Please send us your feedback and suggestions to let us know what we're doing right and how we can improve.

Thank you to everyone who helped make the 2011 MS Challenge Walk a success. Our staff and volunteers are working on plans for 2012 to help make the event even better. We can't wait to see you September 7–9 — sign up today!

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.

On Thursday, October 27th, Nick D'Alleva, Edible Arrangements store owner, stopped by to present the National MS Society Greater New England Chapter with a check for $5,240!

What a delicious sum!

Nick brought the idea of the Orange Blossom donation program to Edible Arrangements, and he's proud that the success will lead to expanding it.

Thanks to your orders, Edible Arrangements and National MS Society staff are in discussions to have a nationwide MS Awareness month program in March, with donations going to the National MS Society. We appreciate everyone's support!

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.

To keep that theme, the steering committee enlisted the help of Airly Acrobatics, a team of professional aerial acrobatics and trapeze artists. Erin Sullivan and Molly Baechtold performed outside the Big Top tent for walkers who had returned to camp after the first day's twenty miles, while their partner in clown — er, crime goofed off.

Our thanks to the artistry and antics of these performers who lent their time and talent to the National MS Society and the MS Challenge Walk. Be sure to visit them on Facebook, and check out their photos from Cape Cod below!

[Show as slideshow]

Ken, a Worcester resident, joined the MS Challenge Walk in 2005, more than a decade after his mother was diagnosed. After walking for three years and 150 miles, he switched to the support crew and now rides his bicycle along the trail, providing whatever encouragement (and snacks!) he can to the 600 walkers. He is also on the event's steering committee and is this site's webmaster.