Local MS Society to Honor Colorado State University at 2016 Dinner of Champions

The president of Colorado State University (CSU), Tony Frank, will be accepting the Norman Cohn Hope Award on behalf of his university, recognizing its work in advancing research into multiple sclerosis and helping people with the disease. The ceremony will take place at the Annual MS Society Dinner of Champions, set for Sept. 7.

Tony Frank, president of Colorado State University.

“This is a wonderful honor that really is a tribute to Colorado State University’s longstanding support of the National MS Society and our local chapter,” Frank said in a press release. “The MS Society is our partner in research and in supporting members of our community who are living with multiple sclerosis, and they share our university’s deep commitment to advancing human health and wellness through research and outreach. I sincerely appreciate this recognition for our campus.”

The Hope Award is the most prestigious honor given by the Colorado-Wyoming Chapter of the National MS Society. The ceremony also marks the first time that CSU has received such honor, even though a number of CSU researchers have won the Hope Award in the past.

“We are pleased to publicly honor and recognize CSU President Frank and the University this year,” said Carrie Nolan, Colorado-Wyoming Chapter president. “This is the 10th year that CSU has hosted our Bike MS Colorado ride, which raises nearly $4 million annually for programs and research that benefit more than 100,000 people affected by MS in Colorado and Wyoming.”

At the event, Jonna Patton will also receive the MS Champion Award — an honor reserved for MS patients who contribute significantly to raising awareness of, and boosting involvement and support for, the MS community. Patton, who was diagnosed in 1997 at age 25, has served as a volunteer for the MS Society, participated in its fundraisers, and worked as a Bike MS team captain and as a member of the chapter’s government relations committee. She also assists with the MS Society’s National Information and Resource Center.

Tickets for the dinner and cermony, at the Embassy Suites in Loveland, Colorado, cost $150 per person. For more information or to register, please visit the event’s webpage or call (970) 494-5986.