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The Walk

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).

Posted in Challenge Walk | No Responses »
Tags: Ashlea Deahl, inspiration, magazines, Momentum

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.

Posted in Challenge Walk, Team Building | 2 Responses »
Tags: 50 kilometers, 50 miles, format, Judaism, religion, Rosh Hashanah, three-day, two-day, weekend

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

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.

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

Posted in Challenge Walk | No Responses »
Tags: monthly update

MS Challenge Walk 2010 important changes

Written by Todd on December 9, 2009 at 9:00 am

Dear MS Challenge Walk Participants:

In recognition of the Rosh Hashanah holiday, which coincides with the anticipated dates of the 2010 MS Challenge Walk, the Central New England Chapter is adjusting the route to two days and 50 kilometers, Saturday and Sunday, September 11 and 12.

Rosh Hashanah, the first of the Jewish High Holidays, begins at sundown Wednesday, Sept. 8, and ends at sundown, Friday, Sept. 10.

Adjusting to two days and 50K allows the Challenge to take place at the same time that it has traditionally occurred, the first weekend following Labor Day.

The fundraising minimum for the Challenge remains $1,500, and participants will continue to receive the support they need to reach their fundraising goal.

Details about the route, timetable, and start/finish will be published in the near future. The basic plan is to retain the essential elements of the MS Challenge Walk, including a beautiful walk on Cape Cod and the Rail Trail, accommodations and fun at the Cape Cod Sea Camps, meaningful evening programs, and a spectacular finish line celebration. We also expect to welcome walkers and crew to the Sea Camps on the evening of Friday the 10th.

We hope you will join us again for the 2010 MS Challenge Walk, September 11 and 12. If you are already registered for the Challenge, you do not need to take any additional action. If you need to change the status of your registration, please don't hesitate to contact the MS Challenge Walk Team.

If you are not yet registered for the 2010 MS Challenge Walk, please go to www.MSnewengland.org, or call 1-800-344-4867, select option 2, and dial ext. 119. The $25 registration fee is active until December 31, 2009. Use the discount coupon code, CWPREREG, when registering online.

This change in distance and days is only for the 2010 season. We look forward to returning to the original three-day format in 2011.

Thank you for your understanding of this important change. See you on the Cape in 2010 for a spectacular MS Challenge Walk!

Posted in Challenge Walk | No Responses »
Tags: 50 kilometers, 50 miles, format, three-day, two-day, weekend

Early bird registration

Written by Ken on October 24, 2009 at 10:13 am

MS Challenge Walk 2009 may be fading into our memories, but all it's really doing is making room for its successor. MS Challenge Walk 2010 is less than a year away, and for another week, you can register for only $25!

If you participated in this year's event, you were emailed a discount code. Just visit the MS Challenge Walk registration page, and on the second page, where you choose your registration type, enter that code. Doing so will knock $50 off the usual registration fee of $75. It's our thanks to you for your continued commitment! But remember, this coupon is valid only through Halloween, so be sure to act soon.

If you lost your discount code, please contact the MS Challenge Walk Team and ask them to resend it to you.

Posted in Challenge Walk | No Responses »
Tags: code, coupon, registration, signup

Pictures, pictures, everywhere

Written by Ken on September 30, 2009 at 3:30 pm

Just a brief note to let you know that, in addition to the photos from Facebook members and Andrew Child's photography, pictures taken by National MS Society staff over the course of the MS Challenge Walk weekend are now available! If you remember what day your picture was taken or who took it, then you'll be able to find it among the hundreds in a jiff — so head on over and take a gander.

Posted in Challenge Walk | No Responses »
Tags: photography, photos, pictures

A thousand words times a thousand

Written by Ken on September 25, 2009 at 8:55 pm

Still reminiscing about the MS Challenge Walk? As previously suggested, you can view photos on Facebook and upload your own, but both require already having a free Facebook account. If you're not a member of that social networking site, your options are limited.

Fortunately, professional photographer Andrew Child — who was honored in the MS Challenge Walk's Friday night program, created this site's banner, and just happens to have a birthday today — has made hundreds of pictures available online. With his permission, I offer these links to albums, divided by the days of the event:

Friday	Saturday
Sunday - 1 of 2	Sunday - 2 of 2

Posted in Challenge Walk | No Responses »
Tags: Andrew Child, Facebook, photography, photos, pictures

Symbolic inspiration

Written by Craig on September 17, 2009 at 9:00 am

It's the last day of the 2009 three-day, 50-mile MS Challenge Walk,, and there are a little more than five miles to go. As a bicycle support crewman, I'm riding up to an intersection when I notice Carolyn coming around the corner behind me. At this crossing, we will be going uphill. I am going to ride my bicycle up that hill, as my legs work fine, I have very good balance, and I can do almost as much on my bicycle as the average person can do on two feet — but Carolyn is rounding the corner in her wheelchair. She is a vibrant young woman who is in a wheelchair because multiple sclerosis has stopped her legs from working.

I have been part of the MS Challenge walk for five years now. I've walked it twice and have been bike crew for three more. Carolyn has been here for years as well. I remember seeing her standing a while back, but for these last couple of years, I have seen her only in that wheelchair.

The road is never lonely when you have the support of your fellow MS Challenge Walkers. Photo courtesy Andrew Child.

At this moment, though, all that is on my mind is to make sure Carolyn makes it up that hill. I can see in her eyes that getting up that hill is all that fills her mind as well. She does not want the walker behind her to lend a gentle push up the hill; she is going to get up this thing herself. So off we go. I remember looking at her and thinking, she's so tiny, I hope she can pull this off. I started with my bike in first gear, and she's behind me pushing along. We're moving almost as fast as most of the walkers. But this hill is steep and long, so before you know it, we've gone about fifty or sixty yards. I have to step off the bike and walk because we are moving so slow, I can no longer maintain balance.

Carolyn is starting to labor as she thrusts her hands downward, driving her wheels forward. I can see a look on her face — the look you see on the finest athletes when they are digging deep for that last bit of strength. We go a little farther. The walker behind her says, "Let me know if you want help." Carolyn doesn't respond until she gets through this push, then she pauses for a second in her wheelchair. We are a little more than halfway up. A pretty good size group of walkers has built up behind her. She doesn't appear to know how many are back there, but they are there. So she pauses, still looking straight up that hill. I look at her and say, "Come on kid, you can do this." Carolyn looks up at me and says, "This is my Rocky moment." With a little grin on her face, she starts driving her wheelchair forward again. Over her shoulder she responds to the walker, "I'm okay, this is one of my goals, I have to get over this hill." So we continue on.

Click to continue »

Posted in Challenge Walk | 3 Responses »
Tags: determination, endurance, perseverance, wheelchair

MS Challenge Blog

Two Days, 50K