I have had multiple
sclerosis for 28 years. I also have an incredibly loving family!
Family members united in teams with friends, coast to coast, to
walk and raise money to find a cure for MS in this spring’s
2008 MS WALK. This effort extended over four states and five events,
and took place in April and May.
My daughter Courtney in St. Paul and my sister Chris in San Diego,
CA decided to form teams on my behalf. Then my daughter Erin in New
York City and my niece Shelby in Santa Rosa, CA, joined the bi-coastal
and Midwest effort.
Erin named us DI-NAMOS
in a nod to my first name and my husband Lee’s
company School Technology Solutions outfitted us in bright yellow
t-shirts. Erin and my son-in-law, Brian, walked 10 miles in New York
City on April 13. They crossed the Brooklyn Bridge twice and raised
$600.
On April 26th, my sister
Chris, her husband Marv, daughter Devan and friends walked in San
Diego. The San Diego DI-NAMOS were sponsored by my brother-in-law’s
employer, Otis Elevator. The company donated t-shirts for the walkers,
many of whom were Otis employees. Thanks to Otis, the team raised
more than $1,700.
On May 4th three teams
of DI-NAMOS hit the pavement. Well, two teams hit pavement… one
hit the dusty trails of the South Dakota Badlands.
My niece Shelby has participated in the MS WALK since she was an infant
pushed in a stroller by her parents. She was determined to walk even
though she was in her freshman year at Sonoma State and 550 miles from
her San Diego home. Shelby led the DI-NAMOS in the MS WALK in Santa
Rosa, the closest site to her school. Her team included 19 sorority
sisters. In their first year walking these young women raised more
than $500. Hooray, Gamma Phi Beta!
My daughter Courtney
enthusiastically led the 20-member St. Paul/Minneapolis team which
included my sister, long-time supporter and walker Laurie, plus
my sister-in-law Faith and niece Brianne. Brianne also biked in
the 60-mile and 150-mile MS events this spring. Some very dear
friends, including top money-raiser ($2,200) Father Tim Power,
my amazing high school buddies Judy & John Saboe,
friends of Courtney and San Diego sister, Chris, also walked the
6-mile course. This St. Paul/Minneapolis team raised $6,200.
My husband Lee hiked
for MS in the Badlands on May 4th. He challenged his buddies, the
Badland Boys, on their annual hiking trip to donate and walk for
MS, even though this walk wasn’t
an official MS site. As a result, seven wonderful guys hiked eight
miles in the Badlands in their DI-NAMOS t-shirts.
From coast to coast, the DI-NAMOS raised $9,000 and still counting.
I am indeed blessed.
The DI-NAMOS will return in 2009! ![end of story]()
