Dear Challenge Walkers & Crew,

Thank you so much for accepting the Challenge. By accepting the challenge, you have not only embarked on an experience that will truly change your life, but you are helping to create a world free of MS. When it's all over, you will look back and be astonished by how many miles you walked, how many friends you made, and how much of an impact you have had on the lives of people living with MS. It will be the most rewarding journey you'll ever make.

Chapter News

As of March 1, 2010, four New England states — Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont — have joined together to form a single 'Greater New England Chapter' of the National MS Society, serving 19,000 individuals and their families who are affected by multiple sclerosis. We are excited and energized by this new development and hope to spread the word about the MS Challenge Walk throughout all four states!

Challenge Walk Friday Night Festivities!

Although this year's Challenge Walk will take place on two days rather than three, we will be opening the Cape Cod Sea Camps on Friday evening to kick off the event! Participants will be able to "check-in" and get their credentials, stay over in their cabins that night, and mingle with other walkers and crew in our Big Top Tent!

For those of you who have walked in the past, we will be beginning the walk on Saturday morning from the Cape Cod Sea Camps and walking the usual Saturday and Sunday routes. The Sunday Finish will still include the BBQ at the Wixon School and the parade down Main St. in Hyannis. As the event nears, we will provide you with more information but in the meantime, if you should have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the MS Challenge Walk Team.

Training Walks

Training season is finally upon us! The Greater New England Chapter is offering some great opportunities for Walkers to start your training this Spring!

One-day Walks:
The National MS Society, Greater New England Chapter's one-day walks will be held in April and May. For MS Challenge Walkers, there are no registration fees or fundraising minimums to participate. Routes range from three to eight miles (both MA and NH's Journey of Hope walks are eight miles), and there are many locations to choose from. Check out the schedule of walks.

If you are interested in walking in any of the one-day walks, please contact the MS Challenge Walk Team to sign up.

We are looking for more training walks! If you or your team would like to organize a training walk for the MS Challenge Walk, please contact the MS Challenge Walk Team.

Social Networking

The Central New England Chapter's MS Challenge Walk has many different outlets for participants to connect over the web. Join our Facebook Group, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to our blog!

Check out the Greater New England Chapter's YouTube channel! In September 2009, Brenda Neary and her video crew were at the MS Challenge Walk and shot some wonderful footage of the event, from which we have created several videos. Feel free to use this footage in your fundraising efforts!

Team Shirts for the MS Challenge Walk

Are you considering making Team Shirts for the MS Challenge Walk? Check out the Greater New England Chapter's Spreadshirt Page. We have partnered with Spreadshirt.com to create an easy-to-use application to design and order shirts. You can order as many or as 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.

You can design team hats, t-shirts, jackets, and more! Choose from any style, color, cut, etc. Use the pre-selected images or upload your own. Once you have designed a t-shirt you can order for the whole team or customize yours individually (to let each teammate customize their shirt with their names just email your final image to challenge@mam.nmss.org and they will add it to the Image Gallery).

Thanks again for your participation in the MS Challenge Walk. If you and/or your team would like to get together to discuss training, fundraising, logistics of the Challenge Walk, please reach out to Todd Krohne and Kara Kelley, the MS Challenge Walk Team, at mschallenge@mam.nmss.org. We are happy to assist in any way we can.

The MS Challenge Walk Team

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

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