advocacy

My MS advocacy journey and being a voice for change

For as long as I can remember, Iā€™ve wanted to help others in any way I could. As early as middle school, I tried to identify a plausible and realistic career where I could fulfill this desire, and eventually landed on therapy as a possible career path. I wanted to…

Endurance Sports Inspire Young Frenchman With RRMS

Sports was a huge part of Armand Thoinetā€™s life, and when he was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) one week before his 19th birthday, that life turned upside down. He could no longer engage in activities that mattered greatly to him, such as rugby, tennis, and skiing. ā€œI…

MS Advocacy Gives Me Strength and Purpose

I want to help in any way I possibly can. My lonely confusion in the early days after being diagnosed with aggressive relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis was mentally and physically paralyzing. However, this column isnā€™t about how ā€œHurricane MSā€ battered my body. Instead, it’s about why I chose to…

MS Society to Hold Black MS Experience Summit

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society will host the second edition of its Black MS Experience Summit, a virtual event to help forge connections among those who understand the experience of living with multiple sclerosis (MS) as a Black person. Register hereĀ to join the interactive, two-day…

Reflecting on What Makes Me Rare

Being diagnosed with a chronic illness isn’t easy by any stretch of the imagination. It comes with a new medical language to learn, a plethora of lengthy appointments, an impressive amount of blood tests, and a lot of frustration. But does it lead…

The Stigma Surrounding Depression

Lots of columns and articles look at issues surrounding the topics of depression and mental health-related disorders. I have referenced them in various columns. What saddens me is the stigma surrounding depression that prevails in our society. There are many who struggle with depression and other forms of…

MS Advocacy Resources are Many

Advocacy comes in many forms, and recently I wrote about what advocacy by individuals might look like. The other type of advocacy we have going for those of us with multiple sclerosis is the work done on our behalf by a large number of nonprofit organizations. Let…

MS Views and News to Host ‘MS Champions’ Gala on April 22 in Florida

MS Views and News, aĀ non-profit multiple sclerosis (MS) advocacy organization,Ā will host its second annual Champions Tackling MS Gala on April 22, with money raised goingĀ to support live educational events, community resources, and services intended to help improve the quality of life for peopleĀ with MS. The Saturday event at the…

Join Me and Advocate for MS

One of my sisters called to let me know that CNN was doing live coverage of the Womenā€™s March that was taking place in all 50 U.S. states, as well as many other countries. While we talked, one of the speakers came on and observed that the issues facing…