MS Challenge Blog -- Walking Cape Cod, Massachusetts, for a cure for multiple sclerosis

Girls Night Out fundraiser

Written by Events on March 8, 2010 at 8:17 am

Mar 20, 2010
3:00 pm	to	8:00 pm

Monoosnock Country Club
40 Monoosnock Avenue
Leominster, MA 01453

Come to treat yourself and shop for springtime gifts all while supporting a great cause! All your favorite home parties plus many unique crafters all in one places.

Vendors include Pampered Chef, Tupperware, Tastefully Simple, Silpada, Lia Sophia, Creative Memories, Discovery Toys, Scentsy Candles, and NYR Organic. There will also be a Chinese auction and a used book sale.

All proceeds benefit Team Joe. Please bring a friend! Hope to see you there!

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Walking 30 at 30

Written by Ken on March 3, 2010 at 11:34 am

The spring 2010 issue of the National MS Society's quarterly magazine, Momentum, is now online and features a great story by Ashlea Deahl, who recently turned 30.

Ashlea's expectations for her third decade changed regularly, the first time being at age 23, when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. "I'll be in a wheelchair by the time I'm 30," she feared. But after coming to terms with her condition, she set out to conquer it. She had a new mission: "If — and only if — I ever lose the ability to walk, at least I'll know that I have done what I could with these legs when I had the chance… That [resolution] led to spinning, kick-boxing and yoga classes, surfing lessons, a rather impulsive purchase of a skateboard, and my first marathon in 2005."

It was only a matter of time before Ashlea set her sights on the MS Challenge Walk. In October 2009, she joined NMSS president Joyce Nelson and several other hundred walkers in marching to our nation's capital.

Ashlea is exemplary of the spirit and determination that every Challenge Walker must possess. Some of us walk for those who can't; others walk while they still can. All know that the challenge of walking fifty miles is trivial next to the challenge of finding a cause and cure for MS. Anything we can do to empower ourselves and disempower MS is a step in the right direction.

Read the article, "How I spent my 30th birthday" (PDF).

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Glass half full

Written by Susan on February 1, 2010 at 10:34 am

I was surprised when I went to enter the dates for the Challenge Walk 2010 into my calendar. Rosh Hashanah, one of the two most important holidays in the Jewish religion, overlapped with the walk. How would I handle this? How could I decide between an important religious holiday and something as important to me as the Challenge Walk?

Fortunately, the National MS Society recognized the conflict and chose not to put its supporters in the position I briefly found myself in. I am incredibly thankful that the NMSS took steps to eliminate that very difficult choice by shortening the event to a two-day walk for this one year.

But to walk 31 miles instead of 50 miles? How disappointing, I thought — for a few hours.

Just as I wouldn't choose to have MS, having MS has taught me to approach life differently and to look for the opportunities hidden within the challenges. As disappointing as it will be to walk two days and 31 miles, instead of three days and 50 miles, 2010 is presenting us with an incredible opportunity. I have heard people say that they could never walk 50 miles — it's just too long. Have you heard the same thing? Well, here is a chance for those who do not believe they can walk the 50 miles to walk a more manageable 31 miles. And when they walk those 31 miles, they'll find that participating in the Challenge Walk is such an amazing experience that they will walk the 50 mile route the following year.

This is your chance. Pull in all those people who balked at the 50-mile distance. Turn them into rookie Challenge Walkers, and watch them return year after year.

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Team Rally (Portsmouth)

Written by Events on January 26, 2010 at 7:20 pm

Feb 16, 2010
6:00 pm	to	8:00 pm

Redhook Brewery
35 Corporate Drive
Portsmouth, NH 03801

You are invited to join us for a night of fun and hanging out with other team captains and team members. The Central New England Chapter is hosting a series of Team Rallies designed totally with you in mind. What a great way to shake off the winter doldrums, have a little fun, and pick up some new fundraising ideas that are successful for other teams!

If you would like to RSVP you and your team, please email Heidi Roy or call 800-344-4867.

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Bonnie's Believers FUNdraiser Pizza Hut Night

Written by Events on January 25, 2010 at 11:36 am

Jan 27, 2010
4:00 pm	to	7:00 pm

Pizza Hut
199 Daniel Webster Hwy. S.
Nashua, NH 03060

Bonnie's Believers is having a fundraiser night at Pizza Hut. The restaurant will donate 20% of your purchase (excluding alcoholic beverages) toward the team's fundraising for the MS Challenge Walk. You can either dine in or carry out, but you must present this coupon. Please sign up for our Facebook event, too!

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MS Challenge Comedy Night

Written by Events on January 23, 2010 at 10:34 am

Mar 28, 2010
6:30 pm	to	10:30 pm

517 Broadway (Route 1 South)
Saugus, MA

Come to Giggles Comedy Club for the Lombardi Party's third annual MS Challenge Comedy Night! We have three comdedians hosting a night of fun and laughs with many raffles and all the pizza you can eat. It's a great stress reliever with no nothing to do but sit back and laugh! Tickets are $25 per person.

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New Year update

Written by Kara on January 21, 2010 at 9:00 am

Dear Challenge Walkers and Crew,

Happy New Year! Thank you for accepting the challenge and registering to walk in the 2010 MS Challenge Walk. We are already working hard to plan this special event and are excited about your participation in it. It will be the 9th year (can you believe it!) of the MS Challenge Walk and the event is the highlight of the year for so many walkers and crew who are committed to creating a world free of MS.

As you all know, this year's MS Challenge Walk will be two days and 50K. The MS Challenge Walk Team is finalizing details of what the event and more information will be shared with you in the upcoming weeks. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact the MS Challenge Walk Team with any questions or concerns.

Walker & Crew Welcome Packets

We are putting the finishing touches on the welcome packets that are sent to all registered walkers and crew. This packet includes your walker number (crew will not get a number), training t-shirt, Training and Fundraising Guide, and other important information to aid in your preparation for the MS Challenge Walk. It is our expectation that the packets will be mailed in the next few weeks, so keep an eye out for them. We highly encourage all Crew to try and raise at least $200 and become a "Super Crew."

Fundraise with Facebook!

"Boundless Fundraising" is a Facebook application that enables MS Challenge Walk participants to extend their fundraising efforts beyond their Participant Center and Personal Page. See our blog post for more details!

Challenge Walk Social Networking

Challenge Blog

This blog will give you a look at the training, fundraising, and inspiration that are a part of the experience. We hope to give you ideas, answer your questions, and invite you to share your thoughts and stories. You can leave public responses to these posts and to each other — no signup or registration needed! If you're organizing a Challenge Walk-related fundraising or training event, you can submit it to our event calendar.

Facebook

Are you a member of Facebook? If so, join the Cape Cod Challenge Walk's group on Facebook. Stay in touch with your friends from the walk and meet new people dedicated to the cause. You can post pictures of past events, discuss fundraising ideas, and receive invitations to upcoming events. (Also become a fan of the Central New England Chapter!)

Twitter

Twitter is a free service that lets you keep in touch with people through the exchange of quick, frequent updates. Join today to start receiving the MS Challenge Walk's updates.

Team Rallies

Worcester Team Rally
February 18th from 6-8pm
Jillian's
315 Grove St
Worcester MA, 01605

Boston Team Rally
February 24th from 6-8pm
Lucky Strike Lanes
145 Ipswich Street
Boston, MA 02215

Southeast Team Rally
February 24th from 6-8 pm
Bertucci's
1285 Belmont Street
Brockton, MA 02301

If you would like to RSVP you and your team, please email Todd Krohne or call 781-693-5119.

Team T-Shirts

Here is your chance to order t-shirts for your team! We have partnered with Spreadshirt.com to create an easy-to-use application to design and order shirts. You can order as many or few t-shirts as you want or need. They can even create and ship your order in less than 48 hours. The best part about it is that Spreadshirt.com will donate 20% of each order back to the National MS Society. Learn more in our blog post!

Thank you again for your commitment to the MS Challenge Walk. If you should need any help with fundraising or training, please do not hesitate to contact the MS Challenge Walk Team. We are with you every step of the way!

The MS Challenge Walk Team

National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Central New England Chapter
101A First Ave, Suite 6
Waltham, MA 02451

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Team Rally (Brockton)

Written by Events on January 20, 2010 at 4:00 pm

Feb 24, 2010
6:00 pm	to	8:00 pm

Bertucci's
1285 Belmont Street
Brockton, MA 02301

If you would like to RSVP you and your team, please email Todd Krohne or call 781-693-5119.

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Two Days, 50K