Acts of Kindness Make a Difference for those Living with MS I first started working with Barbara in September 2010 when she was having trouble pay-ing her rent. Like many people living with multiple sclerosis, she had fallen on hard times as money continued to be tighter and bills continued to pile up. When she reached out to the chapter as a last resort for assistance to pay her rent, she was only able to contribute about a third of what she owed. I worked with her and other community resources to help get the amount needed for her to keep her home, but I also wanted to help her prevent this from happening again. Barbara expressed a desire to work, but stated her lack of transportation was the biggest barrier to steady employment. Living in a rural area, she had no access to public transportation, and was left with no other option. Without a vehicle, she was stuck and would not be able to break the cycle of financial strain.

Knowing her desire to be self-sufficient, I turned to one of my new Chapter Program Committee members, Jim Van Ness, for help. I asked Jim if his company, Luck Stone, would be willing to do-nate a vehicle to a client in need. I was not sure if the ask would produce a vehicle, but Jim re-sponded quickly with great news - yes, Luck Stone would like to donate a vehicle to Barbara! Luck Stone staff took the time to carefully choose Barbara’s vehicle based on what they

would want their own family members to drive. They also ensured that the vehicle was properly inspected and ready for use. When I called Barbara with the news of the vehicle, she was shocked, but her excitement upon seeing the vehicle was something I will never forget. Barbara was incredibly thankful for the donation and told us it was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for her. Now that Barbara has her own car, she and her son are both able to look for jobs to maintain their rent and other bills, and Barbara is excited to find a job that matches her skills and abilities. Also, her daughter has a safe ride to school on days she misses the bus, and Barbara is able to do the things many of us take for granted – drive to work, run errands, and be out in her community. As a chapter, we are grateful for the community partners who are dedicated to helping those living with MS and made this donation possible. Barbara and her family’s life has changed with this simple act of kindness. ~Kathryn Zapach

For more information on how you can make a positive impact on someone living with MS, please contact Kathryn to see how you could help. (kathryn.zapach@nmss.org)

Winter 2010-11

From the Chapter President...

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Board of Directors

Gregory Bishop- Chairman James Sok - Treasurer Frank N. Cowan - Chairman Elect Suzanne Gardner - Secretary Matthew Austin Dr. John M. O’Bannon Jennifer L. D. Bittman John O’Connor Susan Bodin Dr. Unsong Oh David H. Carminucci Ronald Powell, Jr. Sharon D. Hayes David Saunders Mark Householder Dr. Alan Shulman Tracey G. Jeter Alex H. Slaughter Ashley T. Johnson Kyle Yocom Glenn Nunziata Gerald T. Zerkiin

Staff Sherri Ellis Chapter President - (804) 591-3030

Robert McKoy VP of Operations - (443) 641-1206

Judy Griffin Director of Development - (804) 591-3034

Kathryn Zapach Director of Programs & Services - (804) 591-3039

April Bass Relationship Manager - (804) 591-3038

Ashley Chapman VA Statewide Advocacy Manager - (804) 591-3048

Tiffany Epley Walk Coordinator - (804) 591-3036

Matt Gregory Systems Administrator - (804) 591-3041

Melanie Hofe Finance Assistance - (804) 591-3031

Diana Oakley Manager of Finance - (804) 591-3042

Linda Pretlow Executive Assistant - (804) 591-3037

Dear Friends, I hope that you all had a wonder-ful holiday season filled with fun, family, and love! 2011 is certainly a time to look deeply at who you are, what you want to do and how you want to get to where you are going. I guess that is why people typically like to make resolutions around New Years. One definition of a New Year’s resolution is, “a commitment that an individual makes to a project, or the reforming of a habit, often a lifestyle change that is generally interpreted as advantageous.” What kind of resolutions have you made for this New Year? Do they include healthier eating habits, more exercise, spending less time at work and more time with the family? Are you thinking of starting a Walk MS Team, trav-eling more, going back to school or making sure you get out with friends more often? There are so many things we all wish we could do more or do less or do differently; and this is certainly a good time to make those promises to ourselves and those we love. But what if we are not able to keep that commit-ment? According to research, while 52% of partici-pants in a resolution study were confident of suc-cess with their goals, only 12% actually achieved them! That’s a lot of commitment and pledges not fulfilled, plus a bunch of promises not kept. This year, we would like you to make one resolu-tion that you will be glad you kept: Get involved with The National Multiple Sclerosis Society in some way, or in many ways. You can participate in a special event like Walk MS, Bike MS, MS Mud Run or the MS Challenge Walk. You can attend a program or sponsor a child for our MS Kids Camp or help advocate at our state capital. You can visit us often on Facebook or on our website. You can make a donation or ask someone else to donate. Choose something that is important to you, but just commit to the Movement, pledge to the Chapter and make a promise to those who live everyday with this disease that YOU want to see a world free of MS. It is certainly a resolution we can all keep!! Sherri Sherri Sherri Sherri

Central Virginia Chapter 4200 Innslake Dr.

Suite 301 Glen Allen, VA 23060

(804) 353-5008 www.moveVA.org

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Walk MS: Petersburg

October 2nd, 2010

Total of 200 walkers Raised over $14,000

The MS Walk in Olde Towne Petersburg on October 2nd was the first walk in Peters-burg the chapter has held in many years. We had visitors all the way from New York; thanks to Team Massenburg for making the trip! Virginia State University (VSU) had a strong presence as well with over 40 students. We enjoyed the fun and energy VSU brought to the event and can’t wait to see them again next year. A very special thank you goes to our presenting sponsor, HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Peters-burg. They were the major reason this walk was so successful. In addition, we’d like to recognize the multiple HealthSouth walk teams who had fun through friendly com-petition and brought out over 60 friends and family to share in the festivities. We’ve already scheduled our walk for 2011...mark your calendars NOW - October 1, 2011!

Walk MS: Richmond Saturday, March 26th Markel Plaza - Innsbrook

Presented by

Team Toga - HealthSouth Team VA State University

Walk MS: Fredericksburg Saturday, April 9th

James Monroe High School

Presented by

Plans are in full swing for Walks in Richmond & Fredericksburg!

In Richmond we are very excited that Sheltering Arms Rehabilitation Centers will be our Presenting Sponsor for 2011! Thank you for supporting Walk MS. In Fredericksburg we are thrilled that HealthSouth will be the 2011 Presenting Spon-sor! We are also looking for new committee members to help with recruiting cheer-leaders to cheer along the route and securing a donation of fruit for the rest stops, as well as other logistics. Interested or just want to help? Contact Tiffany Epley, Walk Coordinator at 804-591-3036 or tiffany.epley@nmss.org.

Register for all our 2011 Walks at www.iwalkforMS.org today!

We love helping walk teams with fundraising, recruitment and raising awareness about MS. If you’d like us to help you set up fundraisers or team

rallies with friends and family or at your place of business, please contact Tiffany.

Join the MS RESEARCH Webinar

“Repairing the Nervous System in MS: Progress and Next Steps”

January 11, 2011 2-3pm

Register in advance to be able to log in to this FREE webinar.

http://bit.ly/JanWebcast

Proud Sponsor of Walk MS: Fredericksburg & Petersburg 2011

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Join the Ride of Your Life! Bike MS: Ride Virginia

Presented by

June 4 & 5, 2011 Richmond to Williamsburg

Route Options: 25, 50, 150, 175 miles

Register TODAY at www.irideforMS.org* *Early Bird Registration ends March 31st. Save $$ and get a free

pair of MS cycling socks.

Pictures from our 2010 Bike MS: Ride Virginia

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Coming in 2011 – MS Kids Camp! For the first time, the Central Virginia Chapter is proud to an-nounce that it will be partnering with the Jersey Metro, West-ern Pennsylvania, and Central Pennsylvania Chapters to host a weekend camp for youth ages 7 to 15 whose parent/guardian is living with MS.

MS Kids Camp

Refreshing Mountain Camp Stevens, Pennsylvania July 29-July 30, 2011

Camp activities include crafts, camp fires, swimming, zip line, high ropes, and archery to just name a few. Transportation to camp will be provided by the Central Virginia chapter.

Be on the look out for more details and how to register! If you have any questions, please contact Kathryn Zapach at 804-591-3039.

We look forward to seeing you at camp!

Live in the Fredericksburg Area?

Join us for an Open House

Where: The disAbility Resource Center 409 Progress Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 When: February 7, 2011 7-8:30pm

Come meet chapter staff and join the discussion about forming an additional MS self-help group in the Fredericksburg area. For details and to RSVP, please call

Kathryn at 804-591-3039. The chapter would like to thank the disAbility Resource Center for graciously providing

the space for this meeting. We look forward to seeing you there!

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All Self-Help Groups are different… how do you find the right one for you?

The eleven self-help groups in Central Virginia are all unique. Each group offers members support through activities, guest speakers, informational sessions, and general conversation, while delivering the same message: You are not alone! The following two groups are two very upbeat and engaging groups that have reputations as being the “fun” groups when described by their peers. Both groups are welcoming to all and you’ll never meet a stranger in these groups! In future issues of MS Connections, look for more information about the other groups in our service area. The Hanover County Group, led by Dana, is one of the chapter’s longest standing groups. This group oftentimes has a variety of guest speakers as well as fun outings and social events to keep members engaged. Dana’s passion for helping others as well as his knowledge of community resources is invaluable to his group members as well as the chapter as a whole. This group is open to those living with MS and caregivers alike, and is always welcoming to new members. The Petersburg Night Group, led by Quennette, offers information as well as comic re-lief to those living with MS. Although this group is fun and engaging, it also provides em-pathetic listeners and support for those who need it. The long-standing group members are a comfort to one another, but are also welcoming to new members. Quennette’s warm demeanor will make anyone feel right at home with this group.

For meeting times, locations, and leader contact information, please see the Self-Help Group listing on the next page. If you need help locating the right self-help group for you,

please contact Kathryn Zapach at (804) 591-3039.

NEW - Caregiver Group

We are starting a new caregiver group in the Tri-Cities area in January 2011. If you are

interested in being a part of this group, please call Kathryn for

details!

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Chesterfield Richmond The Positive Thinkers 2nd Monday from 10:15-11:30am 3rd Thursday at 11:30am Tuckahoe YMCA River City Diner 9211 Patterson Ave., Richmond (Shoppes at Bellgrade—Huguenot & Robious) Leader: Sherry (804) 562-9181 Leaders: Claudia (804) 677-6445 Gail (804) 379-5493 Richmond Evening Group 2nd Thursday from 7:15-8:30pm Hanover County HealthSouth Rehab Hospital—Classroom 4th Thursday from 7-8:30pm 5700 Fitzhugh Ave., Richmond Commonwealth Wholesale, Inc. - 10085 Leadbetter Pl. Open to Anyone with MS Leader: Dana (804) 550-2280 (work) Leader: Lorenzo (804) 318-0360 (Care Partners Group meets 2-4 times/year in conjunction with this group.) Richmond (Virginia Home) For people with advanced stages of MS Petersburg Day Group Every Monday at 11am 2nd Thursdays from 10-11:30am 1101 Hampton St. River View - 201 Epps St., Hopewell Leader: Judy (804) 359-4093 Leader: Melanie (804) 526-9129 South Hill Empowerment Group Petersburg Evening Group 3rd Wednesday from 5:30-7:30pm 3rd Thursdays from 6-8:00pm Please call before attending as dates may change Southside Regional Hospital - 3rd floor classroom Community Memorial Health Center Leader: Quennette (434) 246-6007 or 125 Buena Vista Circle (434) 731-9069 Leader: Starr (434) 378-2031 Fredericksburg Fred-Spotsy MS Support Group Surry County Meeting times vary - call for details 2nd Thursday at 7pm Mary Washington Hospital - Classroom Hope Christian Alternative Leader: Candice (540) 623-4095 325 Banks St., Surry (Program locations and times vary, please call leader Leader: Stephanie (757) 267-2329 if planning to attend!) Tappahannock Neuromuscular Support 2nd Monday at 10:30am Call for location Leader: Pat (804) 443-9657 Leader: Margaret (804) 472-4781

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MS Activism Reception

On December 10, 2010, the Central Virginia and Hampton Roads Chapters of the National MS Society co-hosted an MS Activism Reception! The event was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Williamsburg and was an opportunity for chapter mem-bers to meet our staff, gather materials and information about advocacy, and learn about the new health care reform laws. As the evening began, hot apple cider was served and guests mixed and mingled while viewing various displays around the room. The displays included poster boards that show-cased how the Society is addressing the issues of af-fordable and accessible housing, accessible transpor-tation and the high cost of prescription drugs in Vir-ginia. Centerpieces adorned the tables and depicted pictures and personal stories shared by Virginians liv-ing with MS and their family members. The Guest Speaker for the night was Bari Talente, As-sociate Vice President of State and Local Government Relations for the National MS Society. She provided an in-depth look at the Patient Protection and Afford-able Care Act (PPACA) and how it will affect people living with MS. According to Ms. Talente, there are several provisions in the new laws that will positively benefit people living with MS. In 2011, the Community Living Assistance Services and Support (CLASS) program will begin. CLASS is a voluntary long-term-care in-surance program that will help cover the expenses of home-care if one acquires a

disability. Another exciting provision - the FDA has been authorized to approve generic versions of biologic drugs. In time, this may help to lower the cost of MS disease-modifying therapies. Fur-thermore, in 2014, no insurance plan will be able to deny people coverage based on pre-existing conditions. There are also a number of changes to Medicaid which include an expansion of eligi-bility and a greater focus on community-based care.

Following Bari’s presentation, Ashley Chapman, the Virginia Statewide Advocacy Manager, talked about activities that are happening on the state level. She intro-duced the 2011 state policy platform which is an outline of the top five issues state advocates are focusing on this year.

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ADVOCACYADVOCACYADVOCACYADVOCACY

Bari Talente

In 2011, Virginia MS Activists will advocate for: ⇒ affordable cost sharing for prescription medication ⇒ the development of affordable and accessible housing ⇒ increased efficiency and coordination of accessible transportation ⇒ the need for a system of coordinated and quality respite care across Virginia ⇒ the protection of disability rights in the workplace

The platform was developed by the state Government Relations Committee using data gathered from a statewide survey done early this year. Overall, the MS Activism Reception was a great success and several people committed to joining the move-ment and becoming MS Activists!

Ways for YOU to get involved in 2011: √ Sign up for Action Alert emails to stay abreast of what is happening at the local,

state and federal levels √ Write letters to your state legislators √ Volunteer to meet with your legislators at our Legislative Action Day in Richmond or

Public Policy Conference in Washington, DC

Also, if you are interested in learning more about the National MS Society's 2011 Vir-ginia state policy platform, you can join our FREE teleconference and webinar on January 10, 2011 at 7pm. During this presentation we will assess the current political climate in Virginia and discuss how we will address our issues with legislators during the 2011 General Assembly Session. To register for the teleconference or to simply learn more about advocacy and how

you can JOIN THE MOVEMENT®, email advocacyVA@nmss.org or call 804-591-3048.

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To learn more about the Patient Protection and

Affordable Care Act, contact the Virginia Bureau of

Insurance at 1-800-552-7945.

Staff from Central VA and Hampton Roads MS Chapters with speaker, Bari Talente. Standing: Robyn Hirsh, Shannon Rice, Kathryn Zapach, Ashley Chapman, Sherri Ellis

Sitting: Bari Talente, Sara Booker

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We Remember As another year draws to a close, we want to honor and remember our friends and family who have lived with the challenges of MS. Some

people listed below are still facing those challenges and others are no longer with us. All of them are heroes to those around them.

“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and

endure despite of overwhelming obstacles.”

“To live in hearts we leave behind, is not to die.” -Thomas Campbell

Dick Abernathy Karen Bailey Susan Bodin Joy Bolin Steve Brann Lesa Cole Carey Cole Anne Dodd Mary Gallardo Anneliesa Gaunt Gail Gilmore Suzy Graham Bernice Gregory Robert Gregory Fred Gross Martha Hagy Jade Harmer Emily Hatch Janey Herring Lorrie Hicks Melanie Hofe

Greta Houck Regina Humphrey Melanie Humphreys Lauren Hyland Tracey Jeter Jessica Jimenez Marilyn Jimenez Joy Johnson Lisa Bleattler Kelly Andrea Loth Julie Luke Amanda Mallory Ilona Manger Ava Marshall Emily Martin Trudy Martin Salvatore Mattia Gene McDowell Sheri Millikin Sharon Mulvihill Dana Nelson

Kemel Patton Dave Peters Jeanne Peters Robert H. Raimo Barbara Reisinger Joan T. Roberts William L. Rosser, Jr. Betty Russell Dee Schickler Leslie Shelton Caren Shoop Arnie Snukals Thomas F. Sordelett Barbara Squitieri Ginger Weber Linda Wilkinson Carolyn Rose Jones Winn Ed Wolfgang Amy Wolkey Kyle Yocom

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The Golden Circle is recognition of annual campaign gifts of $1000 or more to the Central Virginia Chapter. Golden Circle members lead by example, making a powerful statement and demonstrating their commitment to the CAUSE, CARE and CURE of MS.

The Golden Circle provides invaluable assistance for more than 3,000 people with MS and their 7,500 family members and friends in Richmond, Chesterfield, the Tri-City Area, the Fredericksburg Region, Hanover and the Northern Neck.

So far this year we’ve joined forces with researchers and neurologists at VCU Health Systems to offer Golden Circle members tours of the MS Research Labs in Central Virginia and a sneak peak of the new comprehensive MS clinic, which is still in its early stages.

For more information, please contact April Bass at (804) 591-3038 or april.bass@nmss.org.

Greater Fredericksburg Region MS Leadership Class of 2011 The Leadership program recognizes professionals in Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania and Stafford Counties for their commitment and outstanding contributions to both their profes-sion and to their community.

Leadership: Co-Chairs Joe Wilson & Senator Edd Houck Kick off: January 5, 2011 Final Celebration: March 3, 2011

The Leadership Class is a unique campaign that raises money for the National MS Society to support local programs, services and research for individuals and their families affected by MS. It’s an opportunity to have a positive and lasting impact on these families.

Each honoree is challenged to raise a minimum of $1500. Nominees receive the MS Leadership Award, networking oppor-tunities, as well as recognition in the Freelance Star. The award ceremony will be held at the Snowden House.

For more information, please visit our website www.moveVA.org. To nominate someone from the Fredericks-burg area, please contact April Bass at (804) 591-3038 or april.bass@nmss.org.

Dr. Unsong Oh, Clinic Director

2010 Leadership Class

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4200 Innslake Dr., Suite 301 Glen Allen, VA 23060

Clip this convenient form and mail it with your check today! WE NEED YOUR HELP!

One Year Membership ____$1,000 - Golden Circle to the National MS Society ____$ 500 - Supporter Mail to: ____$ 100 - Patron Central Virginia Chapter ____$ 25 - Sustaining 4200 Innslake Dr., Ste. 301 ____ OTHER Glen Allen, VA 23060 Please Check: ____Person with MS ____Relative ____Other Name_________________________________________________ Address_______________________________________________ City___________________________ State______ Zip__________

Save the Date

Free MS Family Day Sunday, April 3rd

1-4pm

Chester YMCA

Be on the look out for more details. We

hope to see you and your family there!