Second Quarter • 2011 Mid-Atlantic Chapter

M O V I N G T O W A R D A W O R L D F R E E O F M S

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

New Friendly Visitor Pilot Program Connects Person with MS to Exciting Opportunities As a young man, Tom Hartman, of Charlotte, N.C., was quite the artist. However, after being diagnosed with MS in 1987, Tom rapidly lost mobility, finally having to remain in bed all day due to quadriplegia (complete paralysis). His wife, Lois, became his full-time caregiver.

In 2008, the MS Technology Collaborative provided Tom with hands-free assistive technology that allowed him to “paint” on the computer. He has since created beautiful artwork that looks like oil paintings, which have been used frequently by the Chapter for cards and projects.

Tom’s art has gone largely unnoticed by the rest of the world, however. That is, until his Friendly Visitor intervened! The new Friendly Visitor Program, being piloted in the Charlotte metro area, connects a trained

volunteer to a person with MS living in a long-term care facility or who is homebound. The volunteer alleviates social isolation felt by the person with MS and connects them to National MS Society programs that may be beneficial.

Tom Hartman’s Friendly Visitor took his commitment a step further, connecting Tom to a business that designed a website for him to sell and showcase his artwork, www.hartmanart.com, and getting his artwork featured in local art café FABO (2820 Selwyn Avenue in Charlotte).

Experience the joy of being reconnected through the Friendly Visitor Program. Charlotte area residents, sign up today! Other areas coming soon.

Eating Well with MS Research Advocacy Challenge Walk MS CalendarPage 2 Page 3 Page 4-5 Page 6 Page 7

Tom Hartman, circa 1975

The Friendly Visitor Program offers companionship to individuals living with MS. We are looking for people with MS in the Charlotte metro area who are in long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities or homebound to participate in this pilot program.

The program is completely voluntary and requires completion of a short program application. If you think you would like to participate in this program, visit www.nationalMSsociety.org/mac, or call 1-800-344-4867.

Friendly Visitor Program Tom and Lois Hartman, 2010

Publication of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society

Mid-Atlantic Chapter

9801-I Southern Pine Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28273

2700 Middleburg Dr. • Suite 220 • Office DColumbia, SC 29204

Board of Trustees

Chairman of the Board. . . . . Allison Mertens

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 research, 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.

We mobilize people and resources to drive research for a cure and to address the challenges of everyone affected by MS.

© 2011 National Multiple Sclerosis Society

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Jim Cantalupo Kim CountsMike DaisleyCutter DavisTravis HubbardMary Hughes, MD Jackie Jones Brevin KnightJeff Lax

Craig LynchE.J. RabellDick Robberts Nikhil SawantDavid SmithSandi O. ThormanDan WarrenMarlene Wilson

Eating Well With MSTurn Healthy Food into Convenient Foodd

While it is well known that most convenience foods are typically high in sugar, fat, salt, and calories, many people still decide that the convenience outweighs the nutritional value.

Dealing with fatigue caused by MS can make these convenience foods even more tempting due to the shorter time and less effort required to prepare them.

Avoid convenience foods by making traditionally healthy food more convenient with these tips:

• Choose pre-cut and pre-washed fruits and vegetables.

• Utilize cooking methods that don’t require long periods of standing, such as the microwave, the oven and the crock-pot.

• Frozen vegetables are as close to fresh as you can get and they take very little preparation.

• Double or triple the recipe so that you have plenty of leftovers that only require reheating.

• Frozenpre-cookedmeatorfish,suchasgrilledchicken strips or salmon steaks, can be quickly heated and added to a salad, stir-fry or pasta dish for some extra protein.

Shelley, diagnosed in 2006

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Research Next StepsNational MS Society research is progressing daily and is focused on a number of different areas, including progressive MS and nervous system repair.

Primary-Progressive MS Initiative

A think tank on Progressive MS, hosted by the Society and its commercial drug development entity Fast Forward, brought together MS investigators, research funding agencies and industry representatives last December in Boston. Progressive MS is the centerpiece of the Society’s Strategic Response for the next five years, with a focus on researching what leads to disease progression, finding methods to repair damage to the nervous system and accelerating the development of new therapies

Better identification faster

Finding ways to more quickly identify Progressive MS based on biology rather than on symptoms would mean therapies could be tested earlier in the course of the disease and possibly protect the nervous system from injury.

Participants in the think tank also discussed the need for biomarkers—“footprints” that could help identify or predict MS progression. Think tank participants reported that steady progress is being made in finding noninvasive ways of detecting nervous system damage and whether protection or repair are taking place.

For a complete wrap-up of the meeting and a webcast featuring a panel of several participants, visit www.nationalMSsociety.org/thinktank.

Repairing the nervous system

On January 11, Dr. Timothy Coetzee, chief research officer of the National MS Society, was joined by Drs. Peter Calabresi, Ian D. Duncan, Charles ffrench-Constant and Gavin Giovannoni for the webcast, “Repairing the Nervous System in MS: Progress and Next Steps.” The four researchers served as leaders of four international teams in the National MS Society’s Nervous System Repair and Protection Initiative, funded through the Promise: 2010 campaign.

The investigators discussed research on the ways that nerve fibers, or axons, and their protective myelin coatings are damaged. Certain drugs the experts have studied seem to prevent nerve cells from dying in an animal model. Since some of these drugs are commercially available right now for other diseases, they are good candidates for future clinical trials.

New drugs emerging

The researchers also talked about repairing the nervous system by stimulating the body’s own repair cells or by trying different types of stem cells to repair myelin. Part of the conversation included how newer approved treatments may help in the battle to protect the nervous system in people with MS.

For a full report or to read a transcript of the webcast, visit www.nationalMSsociety.org/webcasts.

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Federal AdvocacyThe National MS Society is committed to improving the lives of people living with MS.

• We are moving politicians and legislation to champion the needs of people with MS throughactivism,advocacyandinfluence.

• We are moving to mobilize the millions of people who want to do something about MS now.

Federal Public Policy Conference

More than 300 MS Activists gathered in Washington, D.C., on March 7-9, 2011, for the National MS Society’s Public Policy Conference. Activists learned about the National MS Society’s federal issues and then met with their federal legislators to discuss issues that impact people with MS.

The Mid-Atlantic Chapter was represented by two staff members and two volunteer MS Activists. Luanne Kirkland, director of programs for North Carolina, and Angela Jacildone, director of programs for South Carolina, attended with North Carolina MS Activist Mike Daisley and South Carolina MS Activist Mike Thompson.

Activists at the Public Policy Conference lobbied for the following issues impacting people with MS:

• A $15 million appropriation to the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) in the Department of Defense for multiple sclerosis research in Fiscal Year 2012. The CDMRP is a peer-reviewed program that targets research that does not duplicate or overlap work conducted by other research organizations.

• Passage of the Adult Day Achievement Center Enhancement Act, which would establish competitive grants within the Administration on Aging to sustain and grow adult day centers that focus on the

Luanne Kirkland, Mid-Atlantic Chapter director of programs for North Carolina, poses with MS Activist Mike Daisley of Charlotte, N.C., in front of the capitol building during the conference.

MS Activist Mike Thompson of Simpsonville, S.C., with Angela Jacildone, Mid-Atlantic Chapter director of programs for South Carolina, at the 2011 Federal Public Policy Conference.

Become an MS ActivistWith the help of MS activists, the National MS Society’s Mid-Atlantic Chapter is able to address the federal and state legislative issues that impact people living with MS.

Sign up today to become an MS Activist and call for change through positive legislation.

MS Activists:• Give a voice to people with MS • Relentlessly advocate, and empower

people to advocate for themselves• Champion the rights of people living

with disabilities• Work to establish or improve local

community resources• Join forces with others who share the

same goals to increase impact

To sign up as an MS Activist, visit www.nationalMSsociety.org/mac and click on “Take Action.”

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State AdvocacyBoth North and South Carolina state legislative issues remain focused on potential budget cuts. MS Activists are working hard to ensure that programs and services for people with MS receiveadequatefundingduringthisdifficulteconomic time.

If you would like to get involved with state advocacy, consider becoming a member of the South Carolina Government Relations Committee or signing up as a North Carolina District Activist Volunteer. To sign up, visit www.nationalMSsociety.org/mac and click on “Take Action.”

younger disabled population.

• A correction to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to allow neurologists to qualify for Medicare payment incentives as primary care physicians. Neurologists often serve as primary care physicians for people with MS; however, as currently written, the legislation allows for reimbursement only as specialists.

In addition to lobbying for the three issues listed above, activists encouraged their legislators to join the Congressional Multiple Sclerosis Caucus. The caucus is a bi-partisan group serving as a forum on the critical issues affecting people living with MS and other conditions. The 105 Representatives and 22 Senators in the caucus seek creative solutions for MS issues and raise awareness about the disease.

Virtual N.C. Advocacy DayIn conjunction with the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation’s World MS Day on May 25, the N.C. chapters of the National MS Society are hosting a virtual N.C. Advocacy Day. This will be a day for you to express your opinion on issues affecting people people with MS to your legislator (via e-mail, postal mail or face-to-face).

Sign up for MS Action Alerts for more information about how to participate:

www.nationalMSsociety.org/msactivist

Great Gatsby GalaAugust 6 marks the 23rd annual Great Gatsby Gala in Charlotte, N.C. Join us for an evening of music, dancing and amazing food as we relive the days of the Roaring ‘20s!

Tickets are only $50 per person until May 31.

www.GatsbyGala.org

Challenge Walk Crew & Volunteers ROCK!

Crew members are volunteers that work at Challenge Walk all three days: loading and driving trucks, cheering, running rest stops and providing safety and support to the walkers.

This year, we had 85 crew members work tirelessly to make this event such a success!

In addition, 88 one-day volunteers came out and helped, including a large group from Bank of America that came to support their Challenge Walk MS team.

Thanks to everyone who came out and helped. We couldn’t have done it without you!

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Challenge Walk MS SuccessThe 2011 Carolinas Challenge Walk MS saw record numbers, from participants to volunteers to funds raised.

Participants increased by 77 percent over last year, with 175 people walking the 50-mile route compared to 98 walkers in 2010.

Thus far, with money still coming in, we have raised $416,000. That is a 53 percent increase over last year’s total of $272,000.

Thank you, Challenge Walkers, for making Mid-Atlantic Chapter programs and services available for 8,000 people living with MS.

PhotobyBerlinskyPhotography,Charleston,S.C.•www.berlinskyphoto.com

2011 Carolinas Challenge Walk MS

Help Us “Go Green” Convenient and eco-friendly: If you would like to receive your MS Connection via email, please send your name, email address and mailing address to mac@nmss.org or call 1-800-344-4867 (option 2).

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Calendar of Events

June

Tuesday 14 Multiple Sclerosis, Sex and Intimacy teleconference

July

August

Tuesday 12 Integrating MS Into Your Life teleconference

Fri-Sat. 15-16 Couple’s Retreat (Asheville, NC)

Saturday 6 Great Gatsby Gala (Charlotte, NC)

Tuesday 9 Women’s Issues and MS teleconference

May

Sunday 1 Walk MS: Myrtle Beach, SC Walk MS: Greenville, SC

Tuesday 10 Nutrition teleconference

Saturday 14 Walk MS: Cabarrus County, NC Walk MS: Columbia, SC

Monday 16 Newly Diagnosed teleconference

Saturday 21 Challenge Walk MS Awards Party (Charlotte, N.C.)

Wednesday 25 Virtual N.C. Advocacy Day

Join us for Bike MSJoin us September 24-25 for two memorable days as more than 1,600 cyclists head for Sunset Beach, North Carolina, riding toward a world free of MS.

If you are not a cyclist, please consider signing up to volunteer! There are opportunities for every physical and cognitive ability level. You canhelpusintheoffice,staffareststop,helpoutatthefinishlineandmuchmore.

To volunteer, call 1-800-344-4867 (option 2) or email Tabithia at tabithia.engle@nmss.org.

Congratulations to our Scholarship Winners

The following students were awarded $3,000 scholarships for the 2011-2012 academic year.

Rebecca Calhoun, of Marion, N.C., plans to attend High Point University in the fall as a Journalism major. “I strongly believe that if my mother hadn’t been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, I would not have developed into the person I am today,” she says.

Mckenzye McCole, also of Marion, N.C., plans to attend Montreat College in the fall as a Biology major, with plans to continue his education in medical school. “MS has impacted every area of my life,” he says. “It slowly took away the strong, reliable, determined man that I knew as my dad. It is my hope that I can attend school and have a career in order to give backtomyfamilyforalltheyhavesacrificedand all this disease has taken away from them.”

Read more about the winners on our website, www.nationalMSsociety.org/mac.

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Charlotte, NCPermit # 1635

Mid-Atlantic Chapter

9801-I Southern Pine Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28273

2700 Middleburg Dr. Suite 220, Office DColumbia, SC 29204

The National MS Society Needs Your Recipes!

For more information, visit www.SeniorCareCharlotte.net or call 1-800-344-4867

Your help is urgently needed!

We hope you have heard about the cookbook that Homewatch CareGivers of Charlotte is creating as a fundraiser for the Mid-Atlantic Chapter.

We still need recipes to create the cookbook, and there are several *NEW* conventient ways to send them in! Let’s make this cookbook great and raise a lot of money to help people with MS.

Deadline for recipes: May 31, 2011

To submit your recipes: • Fax your recipes to (704) 527-0406,

ATTN: Jennifer Harper

• Mailyourrecipestoouroffice: National MS Society ATTN: Cookbook 9801-I Southern Pine Blvd Charlotte, NC 28273

• Email your recipes to jennifer.harper@nmss.org

• Submit your recipe online at www.seniorcarecharlotte.net

thank you to our event sponsors!RubyCollins Avanir Pharmaceuticals Lance Pepsi J.F. Hurley YMCA

Bojangle’s Carrabba’s Franklin Signs Harris Teeter Wild Dunes Resort