Spring 2012 MS Connection

MOVING TOWARD A WORLD FREE OF MS | VOLUME 4• EDITION 3

GEORGIA CHAPTER

WALk MS: GEORGIA 2012 PRESENTED by

In this Issue:

Adaptive Gardening Page 5

Walk MS New Sponsor Page 13

MS Service Day Page 10

2 | JOIN THE MOVEMENT: nationalMSsociety.org

1-800-344-4867PUbLICATION Of THE NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETy Georgia Chapter • 1117 Perimeter Center West, Ste. E101 • Atlanta, GA 30338

Chairman • William J. Holley II

Secretary • Diane Flannery

Treasurer • Keith Keller

Chapter President • Roy A. Rangel

MS Connection Editor • Jared Miley

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society does not endorse products, services or manufacturers. Such names appear here solely because they are considered valuable information. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society assumes no liability for the use of contents of any product or service mentioned.

Information provided by the Society is based upon professional advice, published, experience and expert opinion. Information provided in response to questions does not constitute therapeutic recommendations or prescriptions. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society recommends that all questions and information be discussed with a personal physician.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society ‘s mission is to mobilize people and resources to drive research for a cure and to address the challenges of everyone affected by MS.

© 2012 National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Georgia Chapter

Are you looking for a Self-Help Group or Peer Supporter

in your community?

Whether you just received a diagnosis of MS or have been living with it for a long time, the National MS Society, GA Chapter has great programs available to you where you can find support and experienced-based tips on how to live a productive and happy life with MS.

Self-Help Groups meet regularly for educa-tional and social purposes, allowing mem-bers to express feelings and provide support to one another. Members share a belief that positive personal change can happen through individual effort with the support of others.

Peer Supporters are trained individuals living with MS, or are a family member of someone living with MS. Via the telephone, our Peer Supporters offer information, com-panionship, emotional support and encour-agement to peers living with MS.

There is no cost to participate in a Self-Help Group or Peer Support Program.

To request services or if you are interested in starting a Self-Help Group or becoming a Peer Supporter, call the Georgia Chap-ter Office at 1-800-344-4867 or e-mail Stephanie at [email protected]

See complete listing of Self-Help Groups in Georgia on Page 21.

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SOCIETy WORkSHOPS: A POINT OF CONNECTIONby HELEN RUSSON

From the moment the doctor told me, “you have MS,” everything changed. I felt a wide range of emotions: relief (because I didn’t have a brain tumor), anger (although I wasn’t sure who to be angry at) and fear of the future. What was this disease, and how would it impact me and the people who were important to me? I had no idea what my new life would be like, or how to get started on it.

Like many people, I fi rst turned to research. This was in 1997, before the Internet was in full swing (at least at my house). So I went to the library, trying to learn about MS. I had heard about the National MS Society, but for days I was hesitant to call the number. Finally, I made the call, which led to my second-most important discovery of the year: my chapter was about to begin a series of in-person workshops for people who had just been diagnosed with MS.

Each workshop featured a different guest speaker. On the fi rst evening, a neurologist spoke in practical terms about the disease. Her

presentation included a slideshow illustrating how white blood cells inexplicably start attacking the protective coating of the nerves (myelin sheaths). She had actually brought a ruptured electrical cord, exposing the frayed wires underneath. That simple prop was probably the most effective tool of my MS education. It helped me realize that if I’m having a hard time lifting my leg, it’s not because I’m lazy or weak-willed. It’s because of those well-meaning (but very misguided) white blood cells.

Afterward, the neurologist answered our questions about the day-to-day realities of living with MS. She also talked about some ongoing clinical trial studies and invited us to learn more about them. (I ended up participating in several such studies, all of which were very rewarding.)

NEWLy DIAGNOSED

Knowledge Is Power is a six-week, free, at-home educational program for people who are newly diagnosed. Mail or email formats. To register, call 1-800-344-4867, or visit www.nationalMSsociety.org/knowledge.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT®

Nadja (middle), diagnosed in 2008

4 | JOIN THE MOVEMENT: nationalMSsociety.org4 | JOIN THE MOVEMENT: nationalMSsociety.org TOLL fREE NUMbER 1 800 344 4867 | 5

LIVING WITH MS

Each workshop was similarly organized. A speaker would give a presentation and then answer questions. We

were introduced to experts in

medicine, mental health, yoga and nutrition. At some point each evening, we broke into small groups to discuss what we had learned. I remember that one of the most fun and empowering activities was learning how to get a good workout while sitting down. (Who knew?)

Throughout these programs, chapter staff told us about their services and resources, which included numerous opportunities to volunteer. I soon started volunteering and I haven’t stopped yet!

New frontiers

of course, things have changed since 1997. While many chapters continue to offer in-person workshops similar to what I experienced, they have also begun exploring additional ways to help people newly diagnosed with MS connect to the Society—and to each other.

“Almost every home now has access to the Internet and that seems to be a primary source for information, especially for tech-savvy people,” noted Mary Roberts, Associate Vice President of the South Central Region. “So we are doing our research to find new and creative ways to reach people.”

Teleconferencing, videoconferencing and webcasts are a few options. “We plan to have a program in one site and broadcast that program to other sites across our region,” said Roberts. Some chapters are also trying out new formats for workshops, such as offering quarterly workshops with a nurse, or teaming up with an area MS center or university to provide workshops led by doctors.

Peer support programs are another way to connect. Anyone newly diagnosed can call 1-866-673-7436 to have a confidential telephone conversation with a peer with MS through the Society’s MSFriends program. or they can visit www.nationalMSsociety.org/onlinepeerconnections to search through online profiles of trained peer support volunteers. once matched, participants can connect confidentially and one-on-one via telephone or email. To discover the full spectrum of resources that the Society offers, call us or 1-800-344-4867 to be connected to an MS Navigator®.

MS is not a virtual disease, and the computer isn’t a substitute for personal connection, but we are working to combine the best of both worlds, looking for ways to embrace the information age and to continue to provide the healing power of human contact.

Helen Russon is a volunteer at the Oregon chapter.

THE DIRT ON ADAPTIVE GARDENING

Gardening is one of the most popular hobbies in the United States, one that can benefi t people both mentally and physically, as well as provide fresh and healthy food. “Gardening gives me control over something in a situation where I don’t always have control,” says laurie Reiser, diagnosed with MS in 2003. “No matter where you live, or who you are, you can garden.”

Reiser is a Colorado Master Gardener who teaches adaptive gardening in the western part of the state through the local extension offi ce of Colorado State University. “Adaptive gardening is simply about creating your own space,” she emphasizes. “There are lots of reasons to adapt. you can put a garden at your height—on a patio, balcony, railing, steps, cinder blocks, window

ledge or tabletop you can roll up to.”

Reiser points out that people need little more than a patch of ground to get started—and that patch of ground can even be in a container. Nowadays, there are few limits to what can be grown in pots. “Breeders have come up with plants that are compact—and containers need less weeding,” Reiser points out.

A garden open to all

Enabling Gardens in Angleton, Texas, south of Houston, focuses on containers and raised beds, according to Cynthia leonard, one of two dozen active volunteers. “We welcome groups and individuals, anyone who wants to learn how to do accessible gardening,” she says.

Participants learn how to use rain barrels and raised beds, and to garden most suitably for their climate. The garden has 18 planter boxes of different sizes, some of which “have a horizontal board across the top where people can sit and work on the bed.”

NEWLy DIAGNOSED

Lettuce at Enabling Gardens

An in-person workshop at the Central North Carolina Chapter

Staci, diagnosed in 1985

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LIVING WITH MS

Each workshop was similarly organized. A speaker would give a presentation and then answer questions. We

were introduced to experts in

medicine, mental health, yoga and nutrition. At some point each evening, we broke into small groups to discuss what we had learned. I remember that one of the most fun and empowering activities was learning how to get a good workout while sitting down. (Who knew?)

Throughout these programs, chapter staff told us about their services and resources, which included numerous opportunities to volunteer. I soon started volunteering and I haven’t stopped yet!

New frontiers

of course, things have changed since 1997. While many chapters continue to offer in-person workshops similar to what I experienced, they have also begun exploring additional ways to help people newly diagnosed with MS connect to the Society—and to each other.

“Almost every home now has access to the Internet and that seems to be a primary source for information, especially for tech-savvy people,” noted Mary Roberts, Associate Vice President of the South Central Region. “So we are doing our research to find new and creative ways to reach people.”

Teleconferencing, videoconferencing and webcasts are a few options. “We plan to have a program in one site and broadcast that program to other sites across our region,” said Roberts. Some chapters are also trying out new formats for workshops, such as offering quarterly workshops with a nurse, or teaming up with an area MS center or university to provide workshops led by doctors.

Peer support programs are another way to connect. Anyone newly diagnosed can call 1-866-673-7436 to have a confidential telephone conversation with a peer with MS through the Society’s MSFriends program. or they can visit www.nationalMSsociety.org/onlinepeerconnections to search through online profiles of trained peer support volunteers. once matched, participants can connect confidentially and one-on-one via telephone or email. To discover the full spectrum of resources that the Society offers, call us or 1-800-344-4867 to be connected to an MS Navigator®.

MS is not a virtual disease, and the computer isn’t a substitute for personal connection, but we are working to combine the best of both worlds, looking for ways to embrace the information age and to continue to provide the healing power of human contact.

Helen Russon is a volunteer at the Oregon chapter.

THE DIRT ON ADAPTIVE GARDENING

Gardening is one of the most popular hobbies in the United States, one that can benefi t people both mentally and physically, as well as provide fresh and healthy food. “Gardening gives me control over something in a situation where I don’t always have control,” says laurie Reiser, diagnosed with MS in 2003. “No matter where you live, or who you are, you can garden.”

Reiser is a Colorado Master Gardener who teaches adaptive gardening in the western part of the state through the local extension offi ce of Colorado State University. “Adaptive gardening is simply about creating your own space,” she emphasizes. “There are lots of reasons to adapt. you can put a garden at your height—on a patio, balcony, railing, steps, cinder blocks, window

ledge or tabletop you can roll up to.”

Reiser points out that people need little more than a patch of ground to get started—and that patch of ground can even be in a container. Nowadays, there are few limits to what can be grown in pots. “Breeders have come up with plants that are compact—and containers need less weeding,” Reiser points out.

A garden open to all

Enabling Gardens in Angleton, Texas, south of Houston, focuses on containers and raised beds, according to Cynthia leonard, one of two dozen active volunteers. “We welcome groups and individuals, anyone who wants to learn how to do accessible gardening,” she says.

Participants learn how to use rain barrels and raised beds, and to garden most suitably for their climate. The garden has 18 planter boxes of different sizes, some of which “have a horizontal board across the top where people can sit and work on the bed.”

NEWLy DIAGNOSED

Lettuce at Enabling Gardens

An in-person workshop at the Central North Carolina Chapter

Staci, diagnosed in 1985


NEWSRESEA

RCH

6 | JOIN THE MOVEMENT: nationalMSsociety.org TOLL fREE NUMbER 1 800 344 4867 | 7

LIVING WITH MS

It also features an A-frame trellis called a “cattle panel” that vines, squash and cucumbers grow on. “Someone in a wheelchair can roll under it and reach right up and pick fruits and vegetables,” says leonard, who was diagnosed with MS in 1997.

leonard’s been gardening for seven or eight years, starting with fl owers in pots, then moving on to tomatoes. She and her husband “picked beets and mustard greens in January, and we had fresh tomatoes for Christmas dinner,” she says. “It sure is nice to be able to step outside and get good fresh vegetables. I know how they’ve been grown and what’s been put on the soil. Gardening gives me a sense of peace and well-being.”

Get prepared

Gardening is a “hot” activity in more ways than one. To beat the sun, do outdoor work early or late in the day. Set up a shady rest area with

a stool or folding chair on a deck, or under a tree, umbrella or arbor. Wear a hat, gloves and a cooling vest, or carry a spray bottle fi lled with cool water. (Call 1-800-344-4867 for information about cooling resources or visit www.msassociation.org/programs/cooling.) Set a timer to remind you when to take a break.

Ergonomic gardening tools, such as add-on handles for trowels or extendable hoes, can help make gardening tasks easier. Go to www.abledata.com and search for “garden tools” to get an idea of what’s available.

Reiser suggests enlisting a buddy, such as a friend or volunteer from a Scout troop or 4-H club, to help with tasks like hauling bags of potting soil. local community gardens, botanical gardens or garden clubs may also offer communal space and resources. Search online for barrier-free, adaptive or accessible gardening or ask your public library if they have any books on the topic to get an idea of what’s possible. And then in a few months, enjoy the fruits—literally—of your labors!

Laurie Reiser (left) and volunteers transfer plants to a raised bed.

ONLINE PEER SuPPORTDo you currently volunteer with us in a peer support program, or would you like to learn how to do so? Are you interested in participating in a new nationwide peer support program? If yes, read on …

The Society’s online Peer Connections program is currently seeking people with MS or family members of people with MS who are interested in becoming peer support volunteers. As a volunteer, your profi le would be included in an online database, searchable by demographics such as age or mobility status. once a person with MS selects you as their peer support person, you would then arrange to speak one-on-one either via email or telephone on an agreed-upon topic. All conversations are confi dential.

The program begins this March. Visit www.nationalMSsociety.org/onlinepeerconnections, or contact Monica Aden, online Peer Connections program coordinator, at 1-303-698-6100, ext. 15169, [email protected] to learn more.

bLOG OPENS DOORS FOR MS COMMuNITy

Fatigue, isolation, doctor’s visits—and yes, sex with MS—are just a few of the topics covered in the Society’s new blog at blog.nationalMSsociety.org.

Not much is off-limits to Society bloggers and commenters. Instead, people with MS and MS specialists dig into very personal issues—and universal ones. “In these cyber pages, we intend to open up the doors which have long been closed (by society, by our families and—quite frankly— by many of us living with MS) to discussion,” wrote blogger Trevis Gleason on January 4. “To that end, I’d like to take this opportunity to ask you—the readers of The Unspeakable Bits

—what topics you think are under discussed if not just plain ignored by the MS ‘authorities’ out there?”

Join in the conversation atblog.nationalMSsociety.org.

Café con Leche

Invitamos a las personas hispanas/latinas con esclerosis múltiple a participar una vez al mes en un grupo telefónico gratis totalmente en español. Para más información o para inscribirse llame al 1-800-344-4867, opción 3. (Hispanic /latino people with MS can participate by phone in a free monthly Spanish-language support group. For more information, call 1-800-344-4867 and press 3.)

Society blogger Nicole Lemelle

TOLL fREE NUMbER 1 800 344 4867 | 7

NEWS

RESEARCH

6 | JOIN THE MOVEMENT: nationalMSsociety.org TOLL fREE NUMbER 1 800 344 4867 | 7

LIVING WITH MS

It also features an A-frame trellis called a “cattle panel” that vines, squash and cucumbers grow on. “Someone in a wheelchair can roll under it and reach right up and pick fruits and vegetables,” says leonard, who was diagnosed with MS in 1997.

leonard’s been gardening for seven or eight years, starting with fl owers in pots, then moving on to tomatoes. She and her husband “picked beets and mustard greens in January, and we had fresh tomatoes for Christmas dinner,” she says. “It sure is nice to be able to step outside and get good fresh vegetables. I know how they’ve been grown and what’s been put on the soil. Gardening gives me a sense of peace and well-being.”

Get prepared

Gardening is a “hot” activity in more ways than one. To beat the sun, do outdoor work early or late in the day. Set up a shady rest area with

a stool or folding chair on a deck, or under a tree, umbrella or arbor. Wear a hat, gloves and a cooling vest, or carry a spray bottle fi lled with cool water. (Call 1-800-344-4867 for information about cooling resources or visit www.msassociation.org/programs/cooling.) Set a timer to remind you when to take a break.

Ergonomic gardening tools, such as add-on handles for trowels or extendable hoes, can help make gardening tasks easier. Go to www.abledata.com and search for “garden tools” to get an idea of what’s available.

Reiser suggests enlisting a buddy, such as a friend or volunteer from a Scout troop or 4-H club, to help with tasks like hauling bags of potting soil. local community gardens, botanical gardens or garden clubs may also offer communal space and resources. Search online for barrier-free, adaptive or accessible gardening or ask your public library if they have any books on the topic to get an idea of what’s possible. And then in a few months, enjoy the fruits—literally—of your labors!

Laurie Reiser (left) and volunteers transfer plants to a raised bed.

ONLINE PEER SuPPORTDo you currently volunteer with us in a peer support program, or would you like to learn how to do so? Are you interested in participating in a new nationwide peer support program? If yes, read on …

The Society’s online Peer Connections program is currently seeking people with MS or family members of people with MS who are interested in becoming peer support volunteers. As a volunteer, your profi le would be included in an online database, searchable by demographics such as age or mobility status. once a person with MS selects you as their peer support person, you would then arrange to speak one-on-one either via email or telephone on an agreed-upon topic. All conversations are confi dential.

The program begins this March. Visit www.nationalMSsociety.org/onlinepeerconnections, or contact Monica Aden, online Peer Connections program coordinator, at 1-303-698-6100, ext. 15169, [email protected] to learn more.

bLOG OPENS DOORS FOR MS COMMuNITy

Fatigue, isolation, doctor’s visits—and yes, sex with MS—are just a few of the topics covered in the Society’s new blog at blog.nationalMSsociety.org.

Not much is off-limits to Society bloggers and commenters. Instead, people with MS and MS specialists dig into very personal issues—and universal ones. “In these cyber pages, we intend to open up the doors which have long been closed (by society, by our families and—quite frankly— by many of us living with MS) to discussion,” wrote blogger Trevis Gleason on January 4. “To that end, I’d like to take this opportunity to ask you—the readers of The Unspeakable Bits

—what topics you think are under discussed if not just plain ignored by the MS ‘authorities’ out there?”

Join in the conversation atblog.nationalMSsociety.org.

Café con Leche

Invitamos a las personas hispanas/latinas con esclerosis múltiple a participar una vez al mes en un grupo telefónico gratis totalmente en español. Para más información o para inscribirse llame al 1-800-344-4867, opción 3. (Hispanic /latino people with MS can participate by phone in a free monthly Spanish-language support group. For more information, call 1-800-344-4867 and press 3.)

Society blogger Nicole Lemelle

8 | JOIN THE MOVEMENT: nationalMSsociety.org8 | JOIN THE MOVEMENT: nationalMSsociety.org TOLL fREE NUMbER 1 800 344 4867 | 9

RESEARCH

kEEPING uP WITH HEALTH REFORMby KIMbERLy CALDER

With various provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) kicking in and legislative challenges to the ACA, it can be hard to keep up—particularly on the state level. Here are some Society-vetted sources for reliable and up-to-date information about the impact of the ACA in our area.

The National Conference of State Legislatures at www.ncsl.org has a whole section on Health Reform that includes a series of brief reports on a variety of ACA-related topics. The site also includes a searchable database, updated every Tuesday, of state legislation related to the ACA. Search 2012 legislation by state, topic, keyword, status or primary sponsor.

The National Academy for State Health Policy at www.statereforum.org offers an online network called State Refor(u)m, which enables direct connection and information-sharing between policymakers, activists and others working on health reform implementation.

The federal government’s offi cial site on the ACA at www.healthcare.gov is the best source for hard numbers on the ACA. Click on “The Healthcare law and you,” then “Implementation

Resources” to view an interactive map of the U.S. Here you can click to see, for example, how many young adults are now insured in each state, the number of residents who no longer face a lifetime limit on their insurance coverage, the amount of new funds for community health centers and more.

To follow changes in ACA legislation and other public policy issues that specifi cally affect people with MS, check in with Society MS Activists at Twitter @MSActivist and visit www.MSactivist.blogspot.com. The Society also regularly updates Frequently Asked Questions on its website at www.nationalMSsociety.org/ACAFAQ, as more is understood about how the law could impact people with MS.

Kimberly Calder is the Society’s Director of Federal Health Affairs and Insurance Policy.

ADVOCACy

SuRVEy SAyS WALkING ISSuES IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS

Seventy percent of people with MS who have difficulty walking see that as the most challenging aspect of managing their disease, according to a recent survey sponsored by the National MS Society and Acorda Therapeutics, maker of Ampyra, a drug intended to improve walking.

Respondents to the survey reported that problems with mobility restrict their daily activities and affect their emotional and financial well-being. Some 60% of adults with MS who experience difficulty walking have fallen; for a third of them, a fall resulted in an injury.

While 65% of those surveyed reported walking difficulties or trouble with balance, 40% “rarely or never” discussed the issues with their doctor.

“Clearly we need to encourage and empower people with MS to discuss walking impairment with their doctor, including newly diagnosed patients who may be experiencing only mild problems with walking or balance difficulties,” said Nicholas laRocca, PhD, Vice President for Health Care Delivery and Policy Research at the Society.

RESuLTS IN FOR POTENTIAL MS THERAPIES• In a two-year Phase III trial, the oral MS therapy

bG-12 significantly reduced—by up to 51%—the average number of annual MS relapses. More than 1,400 people with relapsing-remitting MS participated in the study. BG-12 is thought to inhibit the immune cells and molecules that are involved in MS attacks on the brain and spinal cord. This study should help to define further the safety and promise of BG-12 as a potential therapy for relapsing MS.

• The experimental intravenous MS therapy alemtuzumab significantly reduced relapse rates and the worsening of disability in a two-year Phase III study that compared alemtuzumab to Rebif. The study, called CARE-MS II, involved 840 people with relapsing-remitting MS. The FDA has fast-tracked alemtuzumab, which should speed up future review.

• A study of 324 patients comparing the MS oral therapy teriflunomide with Rebif found no significant difference in the numbers of participants in each group who experienced events defined as treatment failure. Teriflunomide is thought to prevent damage to the nervous system by immune cells. A previous Phase III trial was more successful and three others are ongoing. The FDA is reviewing an application for marketing approval of teriflunomide.

To stay current on MS therapies in the pipeline for FDA approval, sign up for MS eNEWS at www.nationalMSsociety.org/signup.

Susan Cohn-Child, diagnosed in 1995, walks with son Zach

MS ACTIVISTS HELP ADD MS TO COMPASSIONATE ALLOWANCES LIST

Thanks to hard work by Society activists, an aggressive form of MS now qualifi es for the Compassionate Allowances Program, which expedites the review of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) applications at the Social Security Administration. Thanks to passionate and articulate testimony by MS Activists Dr. John Booss and yvonne Brown at a March 2011 Autoimmune Hearing held by the Social Security Administration, “malignant MS” was added to the Compassionate Allowances list, allowing people with more aggressive forms of the disease to qualify for SSDI more quickly.

TOLL fREE NUMbER 1 800 344 4867 | 98 | JOIN THE MOVEMENT: nationalMSsociety.org TOLL fREE NUMbER 1 800 344 4867 | 9

RESEARCH

kEEPING uP WITH HEALTH REFORMby KIMbERLy CALDER

With various provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) kicking in and legislative challenges to the ACA, it can be hard to keep up—particularly on the state level. Here are some Society-vetted sources for reliable and up-to-date information about the impact of the ACA in our area.

The National Conference of State Legislatures at www.ncsl.org has a whole section on Health Reform that includes a series of brief reports on a variety of ACA-related topics. The site also includes a searchable database, updated every Tuesday, of state legislation related to the ACA. Search 2012 legislation by state, topic, keyword, status or primary sponsor.

The National Academy for State Health Policy at www.statereforum.org offers an online network called State Refor(u)m, which enables direct connection and information-sharing between policymakers, activists and others working on health reform implementation.

The federal government’s offi cial site on the ACA at www.healthcare.gov is the best source for hard numbers on the ACA. Click on “The Healthcare law and you,” then “Implementation

Resources” to view an interactive map of the U.S. Here you can click to see, for example, how many young adults are now insured in each state, the number of residents who no longer face a lifetime limit on their insurance coverage, the amount of new funds for community health centers and more.

To follow changes in ACA legislation and other public policy issues that specifi cally affect people with MS, check in with Society MS Activists at Twitter @MSActivist and visit www.MSactivist.blogspot.com. The Society also regularly updates Frequently Asked Questions on its website at www.nationalMSsociety.org/ACAFAQ, as more is understood about how the law could impact people with MS.

Kimberly Calder is the Society’s Director of Federal Health Affairs and Insurance Policy.

ADVOCACy

SuRVEy SAyS WALkING ISSuES IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS

Seventy percent of people with MS who have difficulty walking see that as the most challenging aspect of managing their disease, according to a recent survey sponsored by the National MS Society and Acorda Therapeutics, maker of Ampyra, a drug intended to improve walking.

Respondents to the survey reported that problems with mobility restrict their daily activities and affect their emotional and financial well-being. Some 60% of adults with MS who experience difficulty walking have fallen; for a third of them, a fall resulted in an injury.

While 65% of those surveyed reported walking difficulties or trouble with balance, 40% “rarely or never” discussed the issues with their doctor.

“Clearly we need to encourage and empower people with MS to discuss walking impairment with their doctor, including newly diagnosed patients who may be experiencing only mild problems with walking or balance difficulties,” said Nicholas laRocca, PhD, Vice President for Health Care Delivery and Policy Research at the Society.

RESuLTS IN FOR POTENTIAL MS THERAPIES• In a two-year Phase III trial, the oral MS therapy

bG-12 significantly reduced—by up to 51%—the average number of annual MS relapses. More than 1,400 people with relapsing-remitting MS participated in the study. BG-12 is thought to inhibit the immune cells and molecules that are involved in MS attacks on the brain and spinal cord. This study should help to define further the safety and promise of BG-12 as a potential therapy for relapsing MS.

• The experimental intravenous MS therapy alemtuzumab significantly reduced relapse rates and the worsening of disability in a two-year Phase III study that compared alemtuzumab to Rebif. The study, called CARE-MS II, involved 840 people with relapsing-remitting MS. The FDA has fast-tracked alemtuzumab, which should speed up future review.

• A study of 324 patients comparing the MS oral therapy teriflunomide with Rebif found no significant difference in the numbers of participants in each group who experienced events defined as treatment failure. Teriflunomide is thought to prevent damage to the nervous system by immune cells. A previous Phase III trial was more successful and three others are ongoing. The FDA is reviewing an application for marketing approval of teriflunomide.

To stay current on MS therapies in the pipeline for FDA approval, sign up for MS eNEWS at www.nationalMSsociety.org/signup.

Susan Cohn-Child, diagnosed in 1995, walks with son Zach

MS ACTIVISTS HELP ADD MS TO COMPASSIONATE ALLOWANCES LIST

Thanks to hard work by Society activists, an aggressive form of MS now qualifi es for the Compassionate Allowances Program, which expedites the review of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) applications at the Social Security Administration. Thanks to passionate and articulate testimony by MS Activists Dr. John Booss and yvonne Brown at a March 2011 Autoimmune Hearing held by the Social Security Administration, “malignant MS” was added to the Compassionate Allowances list, allowing people with more aggressive forms of the disease to qualify for SSDI more quickly.


MS SERVICE DAy

What a Differencea day makes

MS Service Day 2012On Saturday, March 13, 2012, the Georgia Chapter and the Home Depot Foundation kicked off MS Awareness Week 2012 with the 3rd annual MS Service Day. Over 130 volunteers joined together for a for a full day of cleaning, painting, yard work, building decks, electrical work, gutter cleaning, and more at four client homes in Gwinnett and DeKalb counties…

With financial support and with 78 volunteers from a number of Gwinnett County Home Depot stores, our commitment to service was able to grow this year.

With specialized volunteers from the Home Depot we were able to build a new deck, replace lighting fixtures and garage doors, repair and replace gutters, rake over 175 bags of leaves (at one house), repair a chimney structure and organize a garage with an accumulation of 19+ years of items.

The Home Depot Foundation generously provided all the supplies and materials for the day.

Each of the client homes that were served were trans-formed that day, and will continue to be maintained by the Home Depot far beyond just MS Service Day.

Because of the hard work from our volunteers and program partners, one client can now remove the card-board she had taped around her fireplace to keep the air and critters out, because volunteers repaired the entire chimney from the outside in.

Another client discovered she had a lovely back patio off the back of her house now that it was no longer covered by the massive amount of leaves.

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Another client can now walk safely onto his back deck without the worry of his walker, cane or foot falling through the rotted planks.

And another client can now park his car and his power scooter in his ga-rage because the

1 ton of accumulated stuff from the past 19 years has been sorted through, donated, thrown out or replaced in easily identifiable and accessible storage spaces.

Thank you to all the volunteers and sponsors of MS Service Day 2012, for making a difference in the lives of those living with MS, helping us raise awareness and spirits

on that beautiful spring day!

Our special thanks to the financial support-ers of MS Service Day 2012, the Home Depot

Foundation, Robert C. O’Leary and EMD Serono.

MS SERVICE DAy


MS SERVICE DAy

Personal Reflection about Service Work in the MS Community

Submitted by a 2012 MS Leadership Class Member

I wanted you to know about my day of service from last Saturday…

I had willingly signed up for MS Service Day. Having participated in Habitat for Humanity before, it sounded simple enough. But I felt a little guilty that I had never spent a whole day helping my own family members with MS, namely my in-laws. My mother-in-law has MS.

So, I called them up and proposed I come the week before MS Service Day and help them in their home. I wasn’t sure how it would turn out. Can you really volunteer with such a personal connection or is it better to serve strangers? On occasion, when I have tried to help out at their house, it hasn’t really gone well. My father-in-law, the primary caregiver, knows just how he likes the dishwasher loaded, etc. Usually, I just visit with my mother-in-law for a couple of hours so he can run errands and get out of the house a bit. But they seemed enthusiastic about my plan. Although my father-in-law did tell me I wasn’t “qualified” to do plumbing or anything useful like that.

Saturday morning I showed up at their house at 8:30 A.M.. sharp. First we made a list of pos-sible chores (too many to possibly do in one day.) I started by cleaning out the sun room. My mother-in-law has done crafts her whole life and can no longer do so. We sorted piles to give away items or store them and threw out bags of trash. I dusted and vacuumed and rear-ranged the furniture. I have to say, the room looks great! Warm and inviting.

They have a cleaning lady regularly for the main floor of the house. The upstairs is rarely used. However, they had guests the week-end before and the upstairs was in disarray. I washed all the sheets and remade the beds and vacuumed. Basically, the upstairs is now ready for guests again. My father-in-law is genuinely pleased about that!

My mother-in-law had her lunch and went to take a nap. My son and I went out to a delicious lunch with my father-in-law. After-wards, I helped my mother-in-law clean out her closet and get ready for Spring. She can no longer wear clothes with buttons or waists. They need to be soft and com-fortable and easy for my father-in-law to assist with her dress-ing. We packed away some clothes and she gave me a few things she can no longer wear.

We played a couple of board games. We each won one! My husband, son and father-in-law went out to the movies. Soon it was 5 P.M. The day had passed quickly. We had fun and got a lot done, and I am looking forward to serving next Saturday with a new family on MS Service Day 2012.

I would definitely do this again and we don’t have to wait a whole year to the next MS awareness week.

Thanks to the MS Society for inspiring me to help my family and others.

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About 1st Franklin Financial Corporation:1st Franklin Financial Corporation has been engaged in the consumer finance business since 1941, particularly in direct cash loans and real estate loans. As of Septem-ber 30, 2011 the business was operated through 105 branch offices in Georgia, 39 in Alabama, 39 in South Carolina, 32 in Mississippi, 25 in Louisiana and 15 in Tennessee.

Margy, diagnosed in 2006Walk MS: 2012PRESENTED BY

1st Franklin Financial Corporation Named Presenting Sponsor of Walk MS: Georgia 2012

1st Franklin Financial Corporation has been named pre-senting sponsor of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society – Georgia Chapter’s Walk MS: Georgia 2012, sponsoring all nine walks around the state of Georgia.

1st Franklin Financial has pledged to assist the Society in its goal to raise money to fight mul-tiple sclerosis and to fund support programs and research that help more than 8,500 indi-viduals impacted by MS throughout Georgia.

“1st Franklin Financial and all of our employees are delighted to be able to support Walk MS here in Georgia,” Mike Haynie, Executive Vice President of Human Resources. “We want to focus on community involvement, and we want to be able to make a difference. We felt like making this donation to the Georgia Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society was an excellent way to accomplish those goals. We also wanted to honor one of our own, Branch Manager Lisa Singleton, who suffers from MS, and to support all of our employees and their efforts to find a cure for MS.”

In addition to the presenting sponsor des-ignation, 1st Franklin Financial also has a team for Walk MS: Georgia in Rome on March 24 at Berry College. This year will be the fourth year they have participated in this walk.

“It never ceases to amaze me the generosity of individuals and businesses helping charities make quantum change. I am pleased to say that 1st Franklin Financial’s involvement in the Walk MS: Georgia 2012 underscores their corporate culture of social responsibility. The Na-tional MS Society is proud to have such a relationship in 1st Franklin Financial,” said Roy A. Rangel, President, National MS Society – Georgia Chapter.

WALk MS


WAyS TO GIVE


DO IT yOuRSELF FuNDRAISING GETS bOOST

A family in Florida who says they like to “eat, drink and throw a good party” hosts a Casino Night on behalf of the National MS Society. A fellow in Minnesota sponsors an annual four-day event for four-wheeling enthusiasts to ride on trails in the middle of the woods. other folks have hosted golf tournaments, sailing races, dinner parties, bake sales, hoops for hope basketball and even a strongman competition, a bike ride in high heels and a tabletop decorating contest. A Wall Street–based poker tournament raised over $850,000, but a $200 bake sale is equally appreciated.

Diverse as they are, these events are all Do It yourself (DIy) Fundraising, where people committed to raising awareness and money for the MS movement are limited only by their imagination. DIy fundraising has been going on a long time, but what’s new is an online tool at www.doityourselfms.org, “which gives the same resources as we give to Bike MS and Walk

MS participants,” according to Rachael Nuwash, DIy project manager for the Society.

These resources include a comprehensive toolkit that covers everything someone who is organizing a DIy event needs to know: establishing a timeline, budgeting, how to make an event memorable, where to hold it, publicity, fi nding sponsors and volunteers, tips for the day of the event, FAQs and much, much more.

People can fi nd out what lessons others have learned and how to create a committee—a core group that will support the effort and whose talents can be utilized. (For example, a friend who’s a graphic designer can design the invitation.) The toolkit also includes fl yers, badges and email signature images to download. “The online tools are very intuitive,” said Nuwash, so organizers can easily and quickly reach out to friends, family members and co-workers.

“The people who like to organize Do-It-yourself events are going to do it no matter what,” Nuwash noted. “Their commitment, creativity and intense connection to the Society are like no other. In turn, we’re committed to supporting people who want to do something now.”

DIy event, MS Cup Race, Minnesota Chapter

DIy event, Kids for a Cure, New Jersey Metro Chapter

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Join us for…

Perspectives on the African American Experience with Multiple Sclerosis

WHEN: Thursday, May 17, 2012

TIME: 6:00pm Registration Opens 6:30pm-8:30pm Program A light meal will be provided

WHERE: Holiday Inn Capitol Conference Center 450 Capitol Avenue, SE Atlanta, GA

Guest Speaker: Dr. Mitzi Williams, Neurologist MS Center of Atlanta

You must preregister for this program by Friday, May 11, 2012.

Space is limited!!! To register call 678-672-1000 / 1-800-344-4867 or register online at www.nationalMSsociety.org/gaa

This program has been generously supported by

Genzyme and Questcor Pharmaceuticals

PROGRAMS


PROGRAMS

A E H D T ! ! S V T E A E !

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Middle Georgia MS Expo Something for Everyone!

Macon Centreplex 200 Coliseum Drive

Macon, Georgia 31217 9am-4pm

Current MS Therapies; Staying Active with MS; TOPICS:

Stress, Anxiety, & Relationships in MS; and more…

Vendor Exhibits from area businesses will be available from 9am-4pm. A Complimentary lunch will be provided to

attendees. To register, call or 678-672-1000 / 800-344-4867 register online www.nationalMSsociety.org/gaa

This program has been generously supported by

TOLL fREE NUMbER 1 800 344 4867 | 17

The topics you want. The convenience you need. Learn about MS NOW.

Register Today by calling 1-800-344-4867 or visiting www.nationalMSsociety.org/gaa

January 10, 2012 Learning to be a Great Self-AdvocateParticipants will learn effective practices and communication styles; how to make in-formed decisions and to understand individual strengths and needs; identify goals and recog-nize legal rights and responsibilities.

February 14, 2012Genetics, Genomic Medicine and MSMS Genomic research will help identify the genes that contribute to the onset of MS as well as identify the environmental risk factors involved in the disease process. This informa-tion will aid to the growing field of genomic medicine and will help generate early diagnos-tic and prevention criteria, better treatment and a cure.

March 13, 2012 Mindfulness MeditationLearn how mindfulness meditation has been used to reduce stress and promote relaxation.

April 10, 2012Women’s Issues and MS Join us as a neurologist and MS specialist dis-cuss the various issues affecting women with MS and how to manage these symptoms.

May 8, 2012Holistic Medicine and MS Learn how holistic medicine can be used in addition to disease-modifying drugs to better treat MS symptoms.

June 12, 2012Health Insurance Reform: Implications for People with MSHear an update on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act from Society Staff actively monitoring the key provisions of importance within the MS community.

July 10, 2012Multitasking: Living with MS While Parent-ing Young ChildrenParenting wasn’t easy before MS. Learn tools on how to balance parenting while managing your MS.

August 14, 2012Vitamin D and MSLearn the importance of Vitamin D and why it is crucial to have your Vitamin D level checked.

September 11, 2012Remyelination and MSThis teleconference will look at the exciting re-search being done at the University of Central florida on remyelination.

PROGRAMS

2012 TELECONFERENCE SCHEDuLE- MARk yOuR CALENDARSAll Teleconferences take place from 7:30 –8:30pm EST


WALk MS

EvERY STEP. EvERY PERSoN. EvERY SEcoND SPENT aND DollaR RaiSED. ThEY all aDD uP To aN ExPERiENcE uNlikE aNY oThER: Walk MS. ThiS iS ouR TiME To uNiTE aND STaND STRoNg. TogEThER WE Will chaNgE livES. REgiSTER & STaRT fuNDRaiSiNg ToDaY!

Margy, diagnosed in 2006

for more information on Walk MS, or for fundraising and team recruitment ideas, please con-tact laurie Palmer, Walk MS Development Manager at 678-672-1000 or [email protected]. www.walkMSgeorgia.org

Nine Walks…One Destination…A World Free of MS03.24.12albany Riverfront Park

columbus Golden Park

augusta Lake Olmstead

Rome Berry College

03.31.12Macon GEICO Corporate Campus

Savannah Daffin Park

athens Oconee Veterans Park

04.14.12atlanta Piedmont Park

04.21.12Marietta Marietta Square

Walk MS: 2012DollaR BY DollaR, Walk MS iS chaNgiNg livES.

TOLL fREE NUMbER 1 800 344 4867 | 19

BIKE MS PROMO

bIkE MS

Don’t just ride, Bike MS.

BIKE MS: DEloITE. ATlANTA To ATHENS RIDE /// MAy 5 - 6, 2012 /// 2 DAyS

BIKE MS: CoX ATlANTA RIDE /// SEPTEMBER 15-16, 2012 /// 2 DAyS

www.bikeMSgeorgia.org


MuCkRuCkuS MS

5 MILES, MENACINGCHALLENGES, MUCKING GLORY.OCTOBER 6, 2012XYZ LOCATION

REGISTER NOW: MuckRuckusMS.org/Atlanta

Contact [email protected] for more information

REGISTRATION OPENING SOON!

TOLL fREE NUMbER 1 800 344 4867 | 21

SELF HELP GROuPS GEORGIAAfrican Americans with MS Self-Help GroupContact: Jo Ann (404) 932-2662berean Seventh Day Adventist Church291 H.E. Holmes Drive, Atlanta GAMeets the 2nd Saturday of every month from 3:00 -5:00PM

Atlanta Women’s Self-Help GroupContact: Kristin (404) 351-0205 ext. 110MS Center of Atlanta3200 Downwood Circle, Suite 550Atlanta, GAMeets the 4th Tuesday of every month from 7:00-8:30PM

Decatur Self-Help GroupContact: O.J. (770) 256-2516Green forest Community baptist Church23250 Rainbow Road, Decatur, GAMeets the 2nd Saturday of every month from 10:00AM- 12:00PM

Snellville Self-Help GroupContact: Vicki (770) 978-1517Emory Eastside Medical Center1700 Medical Way SW Snellville, GAMeets the 4th Saturday of every month from 10:00AM - 12:00PM

Lawrenceville Women’s Self-Help GroupContact: Karen (678) 975-7167Lawrenceville LibraryHighway 29 Lawrenceville, GAMeets the 2nd Saturday of every month from 1:30- 2:30PM

West Cobb Self-Help GroupContact: Donnie (770) 943-4194Powder Springs Library4181 Atlanta Street Powder Springs, GAMeets the 3rd Tuesday of every month from 6:00 - 8:00PM

Woodstock MS Self-Help Group*Contact: Zaida (770) 485-4226St. Michael the Archangel Church490 Arnold Mill RdWoodstock, GA 30188Meets 3rd Saturday of every month from 11:00AM - 1:00PM

*This group has chosen to include a faith-oriented focus. They offer a moment of silence, reflection and/or prayer at the start and/or close of their meetings. If this group is not for you, please call the Georgia Chapter for another recommendation of Self-Help Group within your area.

Douglasville Self-Help GroupContact: Stephanie (770) 577-0408 first Presbyterian Church Parlor RoomDouglasville, GAMeets the 3rd Thursday of every month from 7:00 - 8:30PM

Newton County Self-Help GroupContact: Jean (678) 346-0740Newton General Hospital AuditoriumCovington, GAMeets the 2nd Tuesday of every month from September - May from 7:00 - 8:30PM


S.H.E.P.SContact: Kate (404) 402-0368MS Institute at Shepherd2020 Peachtree Road, Atlanta GAMeets the 2nd Saturday of every monthfrom 10:00AM - 12:00PM

Cumming Self-Help GroupContact: Laura (770) 781-5816Northside forsyth Hospital1400 Doctor bldg Cumming, GAMeets the 1st Saturday of every month from 10:00 - 11:30AM

Wellspouse Self-Help GroupContact: Jan (404) 579-6782LaMadeleine-Perimeter1165 Perimeter Center WestAtlanta, GAMeets 2nd Thursday of every month from 7:00-8:30PM*This group is for spouses/caregivers whose partner has MS

Carroll MS Self-Help GroupContact: Libby (770) 836-3287/(678)793-1357Tanner Medical Center, Classroom #3705 Dixie Street Carrollton, GAMeets 2nd Sunday of every month from 2:00-3:00PM

Albany Self-Help GroupContact: Janet (229) 435-2517Phoebe Putney NW Conference Center2336 Dawson Road Albany, GAMeets the 1st Monday of every month from 7:00 - 8:30PM

Albany African American Self-Help GroupContact: Colette (229) 395-4150Chosen to Conquer, Inc.1120 W. broad Avenue., Suite C-1Meets the 2nd Saturday of every month from 12:00 - 2:00PM

Athens MS FamilyContact: becky (706) 353-0606Athens Neurological Associates1086-A baxter Street Athens, GAMeets the 3rd Thursday of every other month from 6:00 - 7:00PM in the months of (Jan., Mar., May, July, Sept., Nov.)

Augusta MS Self-Help GroupContact: (706) 721-8664Medical College of GA - MS Center1120 15th Street Augusta, GAMeets the 4th Monday of every month from 6:00 - 7:30PM

bartow County Self-Help GroupContact: Towanda (770) 687-1663Keller Williams Office1010 Tennessee Street Cartersville, GAMeets 4th Thursday of every month from 6:30 - 8:30PM

Chattahoochee Valley Self-Help GroupContact: Terry (334) 298-8320Columbus Public Library Downstairs Media Area3000 Macon Road Columbus, GACall to confirm meeting locationMeets the 2nd Tuesday of every other month from 6:30 - 8:00PM in the months of (Jan., Mar., May, July, Sept., Nov.)

SELF HELP GROuPS GEORGIA SELF HELP GROuPS GEORGIAHope Floats Self-Help GroupContact: Marty (478) 742-9011Pinegate300 Charter blvd, Macon GAMeets the last Monday of every month from 6:00 - 8:00PM

Looking Good Self-Help GroupContact: Paula (912) 538-0142Tree House723 North Saint East, Vidalia, GAMeets 2nd Tuesday of every month from 7:00- 9:00PM

Middle GA Self-Help GroupContact: Michelle (478) 335-4675Houston Health Pavillion233 North Houston Road Warner Robins, GAMeets the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 6:30 - 8:30PM

Mitchell County MS Self-Help Group Contact: Lucas (229) 224-5979Mitchell County HospitalCommunity Room90E. Stephens Street Camilla, GAMeets the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 6:00 – 7:00PM

T.A.M.S. Self-Help GroupContact: Sherry (706)472-3273/(706)975-9762American Pie Pizzeria of Thomaston710 N. Church Street Thomaston, GAMeets the 3rd Thursday of every month from 12:30 – 2:00PM

Valdosta MS Self Help GroupContact: barbara (229) 247-7792Smith Northview HospitalMeets the 3rd Saturday of every month at 10:30am

Thomasville MS Self-Help GroupContact: Mike (229) 346-9746Thomas County Public Library201 North Madison Street Thomasville, GAMeets the 3rd Thursday of every month from 6:00 - 7:30PM

***The National MS Society is a secular organization, welcoming those of every faith, and those that espouse none.***

Please contact the Self-Help Group leaders prior to attending a group meeting to assure that the meeting time, date, and location are accurate. Groups occasionally change their meeting schedules to participate in other National MS Society events.

TOLL fREE NUMbER 1 800 344 4867 | 23

S.H.E.P.SContact: Kate (404) 402-0368MS Institute at Shepherd2020 Peachtree Road, Atlanta GAMeets the 2nd Saturday of every monthfrom 10:00AM - 12:00PM

Cumming Self-Help GroupContact: Laura (770) 781-5816Northside forsyth Hospital1400 Doctor bldg Cumming, GAMeets the 1st Saturday of every month from 10:00 - 11:30AM

Wellspouse Self-Help GroupContact: Jan (404) 579-6782LaMadeleine-Perimeter1165 Perimeter Center WestAtlanta, GAMeets 2nd Thursday of every month from 7:00-8:30PM*This group is for spouses/caregivers whose partner has MS

Carroll MS Self-Help GroupContact: Libby (770) 836-3287/(678)793-1357Tanner Medical Center, Classroom #3705 Dixie Street Carrollton, GAMeets 2nd Sunday of every month from 2:00-3:00PM

Albany Self-Help GroupContact: Janet (229) 435-2517Phoebe Putney NW Conference Center2336 Dawson Road Albany, GAMeets the 1st Monday of every month from 7:00 - 8:30PM

Albany African American Self-Help GroupContact: Colette (229) 395-4150Chosen to Conquer, Inc.1120 W. broad Avenue., Suite C-1Meets the 2nd Saturday of every month from 12:00 - 2:00PM

Athens MS FamilyContact: becky (706) 353-0606Athens Neurological Associates1086-A baxter Street Athens, GAMeets the 3rd Thursday of every other month from 6:00 - 7:00PM in the months of (Jan., Mar., May, July, Sept., Nov.)

Augusta MS Self-Help GroupContact: (706) 721-8664Medical College of GA - MS Center1120 15th Street Augusta, GAMeets the 4th Monday of every month from 6:00 - 7:30PM

bartow County Self-Help GroupContact: Towanda (770) 687-1663Keller Williams Office1010 Tennessee Street Cartersville, GAMeets 4th Thursday of every month from 6:30 - 8:30PM

Chattahoochee Valley Self-Help GroupContact: Terry (334) 298-8320Columbus Public Library Downstairs Media Area3000 Macon Road Columbus, GACall to confirm meeting locationMeets the 2nd Tuesday of every other month from 6:30 - 8:00PM in the months of (Jan., Mar., May, July, Sept., Nov.)

SELF HELP GROuPS GEORGIA SELF HELP GROuPS GEORGIAHope Floats Self-Help GroupContact: Marty (478) 742-9011Pinegate300 Charter blvd, Macon GAMeets the last Monday of every month from 6:00 - 8:00PM

Looking Good Self-Help GroupContact: Paula (912) 538-0142Tree House723 North Saint East, Vidalia, GAMeets 2nd Tuesday of every month from 7:00- 9:00PM

Middle GA Self-Help GroupContact: Michelle (478) 335-4675Houston Health Pavillion233 North Houston Road Warner Robins, GAMeets the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 6:30 - 8:30PM

Mitchell County MS Self-Help Group Contact: Lucas (229) 224-5979Mitchell County HospitalCommunity Room90E. Stephens Street Camilla, GAMeets the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 6:00 – 7:00PM

T.A.M.S. Self-Help GroupContact: Sherry (706)472-3273/(706)975-9762American Pie Pizzeria of Thomaston710 N. Church Street Thomaston, GAMeets the 3rd Thursday of every month from 12:30 – 2:00PM

Valdosta MS Self Help GroupContact: barbara (229) 247-7792Smith Northview HospitalMeets the 3rd Saturday of every month at 10:30am

Thomasville MS Self-Help GroupContact: Mike (229) 346-9746Thomas County Public Library201 North Madison Street Thomasville, GAMeets the 3rd Thursday of every month from 6:00 - 7:30PM

***The National MS Society is a secular organization, welcoming those of every faith, and those that espouse none.***

Please contact the Self-Help Group leaders prior to attending a group meeting to assure that the meeting time, date, and location are accurate. Groups occasionally change their meeting schedules to participate in other National MS Society events.

MS ADVOCACy IN ACTION

MS ACTIVISTS TAkE ACTION @ THE CAPITOL

People affected by multiple sclerosis rely on the Society’s activism to create resources

and solve problems they face in their day-to-day lives with this disease. MS

volunteers and activists charged the Capitol during MS Action Day at the Capitol to talk

to legislators about improving the quality of life of people living with MS. At the top of

the agenda was to discuss the elimination of payor Specialty Tiers, which reduce patient

access to disease modifying therapies by substantially increasing drug costs.

NoN-PRoFIToRGANIZATIoN

U.S. PoSTAGEPAID

City, STPermit # (No.)

Georgia Chapter

1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite E101Atlanta, GA 30338

Documents

Spring 2012 MS Connection