Dear MS Challenge Walkers and Crew,

The MS Challenge Walk is only a month away!  Try to think back on all the hours of training you've completed and all your efforts in fundraising to fight MS.  The MS Challenge Walk weekend is the culmination of a tremendous amount of work and a celebration of all that we have accomplished together.

As event weekend quickly approaches, we are putting the finishing touches on all details.  Please let the MS Challenge Walk Team mschallenge@mam.nmss.org

know if you need any last-minute fundraising help or have any lingering questions about the weekend.  We look forward to seeing you all very soon.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Training Walks — THIS WEEKEND!

For each Challenge Training Walk you attend, your fundraising account will be credited 50 "bonus bucks!"

THIS SATURDAY, August 22: 8:00 am — Cape Cod Canal Training Walk, sponsored by EMD Serono!  Start/Finish at the Buzzards Bay Recreation Area for a 14-mile walk.

THIS SATURDAY, August 22: 8:00 am — Minuteman Bike Trail Training Walk. Start/Finish at the Greater Boston Running Company, Lexington, MA.  20% discount on all purchases made that day and 10% off all purchases made during the summer! Walk along the Minuteman Bike Trail for a 13 mile walk.

If you are interested in walking in any of these training walks, please contact the MS Challenge Walk Team to sign up.  If you are a Crew member and would like to help out at one of these MS Challenge training walks, please contact the MS Challenge Walk Team mschallenge@mam.nmss.org

September 10th Early Check-In & Party

For those of you arriving to the Cape Thursday evening, please join us at the Cape Codder Resort and Spa for an early check-in gathering.  Pick up your walker/crew credentials and sign the appropriate waiver forms, drop off your change of clothes bag, and meet other walkers and crew!  Enjoy catering provided by the resort on the outdoor patio!  We hope to see you there.

6 pm — 9 pm

Cape Codder Resort and Spa
1225 Iyannough Rd., Hyannis, Mass.
Route 132 & Bearse's Way
(888) 297-2200

Travel and Information Guide Mailing

The last mailing for the MS Challenge Walk should be in your mailboxes next week.  This mailing will include the Travel and Information Guide, luggage tag, and change of clothes bag (walkers only).

The Travel and Information Guide has all of the who/what/whens of the MS Challenge Walk.  Use this guide to find directions down to the Thursday evening check-in party and the Kalmus Beach Parking Area in Hyannis (where all walkers and crew park their cars for the weekend).  The guide also has useful information on packing and the schedule for the weekend. The Travel and Information Guide is also available on the Challenge Walk webpage. You can also download this document from our Web site.

Walker's change of clothes bag should be used for items (extra pair of shoes, clothes, sunblock, etc.) that you wish to have at the 1/2 way point (lunch rest stop) of each day's walk.  We will take your bag Friday and Saturday morning and transport it to the 1/2 way point for you.  When you are done with your bag, you will return it to the Crew representative overseeing the change of clothes area and it will be transported back to the Cape Cod Sea Camps. Don't for get to write your name and walker number on the bag!  You can view your walker number online.

Please put the luggage tag you will recieve on your luggage and write your name and walker number on it.  You will drop off your luggage at the Kalmus Beach parking lot and it will be waiting for you after your walk at the Cape Cod Sea Camps.  Depending on the color of your luggage tag, your luggage will be placed in a certain zone depending on your cabin assignment.  If you have made housing arrangements off-site, your luggage will be waiting for you by the check-in tent at the Cape Cod Sea Camps.

Every Crew is a Super Crew

We are encouraging all crew members at the Challenge Walk to become a member of the Super Crew.  A member of the Super Crew is someone who raises at least $200 for the MS Challenge Walk.  Last year, crew members raised over $50,000 for the MS Challenge Walk. Members of the Super Crew will receive a Super Crew cap and 2009 pin to commemorate their success.  As of right now, we only have a handful of Super Crew and would like to add more, so please send in your donations!

Challenge Has Talent

Time to dust off your tap shoes and find your baton.  New in 2009 – "Challenge Has Talent."  Join us on Friday afternoon, September 11th under the big tent for a Challenge Walk Talent Show. Walkers and Crew members are invited to show off their talents (karaoke will be available).  If you and/or your team has a talent they would like to show off, please contact the MS Challenge Walk Team at MSChallenge@mam.nmss.org with any music you may need and we will put you on the schedule!

Team Contest!

The MS Challenge Walk Team that recruits the most NEW WALKERS to their team will receive special benefits the weekend of the walk. Benefits will include recognition at the Challenge Walk start and reserved tables at the evening programs.  Only a few weeks left!!

Here are the standings as of today:  

• EMD Serono Striders: 9 new walkers
• Bonnie's Believers: 7 new walkers
• WWW (Walk With Wendy): 7 new walkers
• All Smiles for 50 Miles: 5 new walkers
• The Miss Fits: 5 new walkers
• Team Babci: 5 new walkers

Last Minute Fundraising Notes

We are striving to reach our goal this year for the MS Challenge Walk. Donations are coming in online and through the mail everyday and will continue to do so after the walk — but we need your continued efforts to ensure we hit this mark.

Are there friends and family members who have promised to donate but have yet to do so?  We encourage you to send them and email or letter reminding them of their pledge.  We need all Challenge Walkers to reach their fundraising goals so that together we can all continue to create a world free of MS.  If you are having troubles reaching your goal, please do not hesitate to contact the MS Challenge Walk Team and we can work together to find the best fundraising methods for you.

Thanks to you all for your dedication to a mission we all hold dear to our hearts.

National MS Society
Central New England Chapter
101A First Avenue, Suite 6
Waltham, MA 02451

Kara is the former Development Coordinator for the Greater New England Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.