Rainy days can be very reflective. I woke up the other morning, and the thought that went through my head might have been the same as the one that went through yours, "Ugh rain… so messy… more traffic." I went about my usual morning routine and continued to think about how the rain would impact my day. I need to do a training walk today for the Challenge Walk (I was a little lax over the long weekend!) — do I suffer the elements outside, or relocate to my local gym?

Then it hit me: MS Challenge Walk. The reason for my training is to help those living with MS. That is why I am walking.

On my drive into work, I thought more about my attitude towards rain. Those living with MS experience unexpected rain storms throughout the disease. I thought of my friends and loved ones whom I know who have MS. They have such courage and tenacity when bearing those storms. I am training and working for them, and a cure for this disease. I am training and working for all of you who are joining me that weekend on the Cape. A little rain is not going to stop me!

How is your training going? Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns. I would love to hear your story on why you walk.

Congratulations to our top teams (so far):

1. The Lombardi Party – $25,393
2. Cocktails for a Cure – $13, 897
3. Team DEA and Friends – $13,202
4. Sarah's Sponsors – $10,612
5. The Believers – $7,433

And kudos to our top individual fundraisers:

1. Kate Carlson – $10,725
2. Kevin Lombardi – $10,170
3. Ann Scannell – $5,300
4. Tom Olafsson – $5,025
5. James Derick – $5,010

Jumpstart Your Fundraising

Thursday, June 6 at the National MS Society's Waltham Office from 6:30 – 8:30 PM.

Come and talk to your Challenge Walk peers about how to reach your goal in fundraising and take it to the next level! Pizza dinner will be provided. RSVP on Facebook or on the Challenge Blog.

Training Walks

Walk MS Wakefield: Saturday, June 22. All MS Challenge Walkers are welcome to attend and waive the registration fee! This will be a great opportunity to meet a number of your Challenge Walkers before September! Please register by clicking here.

Franklin, MA: Every Saturday at 8:30am, some South Shore members of the Lombardi Party will walk, starting at the Kennedy School on Pond Drive. All are welcome to join! Any questions? Email me.

I have loved meeting so many of you just in these past few months and look forward to continually meeting and talking with you all!

Warmly,

Aileen Callahan
Development Manager of Challenge Walk

Aileen is the Director of Development for the Greater New England Chapter of the National MS Society responsible for the 2013 Challenge Walk. She has interned with the National MS Society at the Greater Delaware Valley Chapter with Program Events and is looking forward to working closely with the Steering Committee and Challenge Walk Teams to make this year's MS Challenge Walk a memorable one!