In just a few months, Cape Cod will see 600 people walk for multiple sclerosis. What they won't see is what each walker carries with them: their reason for walking. Everyone who accepts the challenge of walking 50 miles has a story. Some people walk for their loved ones; some walk for themselves; others walk simply because someone has to. Every walker's story is one of hope, dedication, and courage — and the NMSS wants to help you tell your story.

The surest way we can defeat multiple sclerosis is by making it a personal cause; when others see the impact it has on them and their loved ones, they can't help but want to contribute to a world free from MS. That's why the NMSS is asking you to tell your story by filling out its online form. The NMSS's communications department and their public relations firm will collaborate to get your story in front of potential donors, spreading the word about our movement.

The power of effective marketing cannot be understated. I filled out the form a few years ago and got a call from my hometown's newspaper. They sent a reporter and photographer to my mom's house to interview us; here's the resulting story (opens as a PDF). It ran on the paper's front page just a week before the MS Challenge Walk and resulted in a few pledges and phone calls — several hundred dollars over the years that I otherwise would not have raised.

Not feeling particularly eloquent? Don't worry — that's the publicist's job! Just give us the details, and our public relations machine will get to work. We've already had other successes in getting your stories told, and we'll repost them here throughout the summer.

I encourage you to take the time to tell your story. It's a great way to show how proud you are of the people in your life!