Canada Day!

July 1^st marks Canada’s 144^th birthday. This is a day where we as Canadians celebrate how fortunate we are to be able to live in such an amazing country. Canada Day is also a time of reflection where we celebrate the history, the growth, and the accomplishments of our country. The MS Society would like to wish all our members, volunteers, sponsors and partners a happy Canada Day! On this day we would also ask you to take a moment with us and think about the thousands of Canadian families living with multiple sclerosis and to help us give thanks to all of our supporters for their help and contributions in the fight to end MS.

This holiday, don’t be bashful and reserved; make sure to wear your red and white proudly and join Canadians across the country as we celebrate this important day! Have a great weekend!

Keep Walking!

We had an amazing MS Walk season, and although we’re sad to see it over, we can’t wait till next year!  We would like to thank you once again for all the support and effort you put into helping raise an amazing $5.3 million!

But why stop walking now?  There is no doubt walking provides health benefits including reducing the risk of morbidity and mortality from chronic diseases such as heart disease and high blood pressure.  Also, regular walking has also been associated with improved mental health, including reduced anxiety, tension and depression and improved self-esteem.

Start off with little changes in your daily routine, something as simple as trying the stairs instead of the escalator or elevator in public settings.  After that you can start to increase your walking frequency by walking to your grocery store, or picking up your children from school on foot.  Walking to and from a restaurant for dinner is a great idea, not only do you support your local businesses but you can enjoy a nice glass of pinot noir with your meal.

So don’t just stand still this summer, get out there and walk around, it is free after all!

2011 Belleville Walk

On Sunday, May 29^th the Belleville community gathered together on a warm sunny day at Moira Secondary School in support of the 2011 Belleville MS Walk. The event was a great success with 281 eager participants raising over $52,000! Participants enjoyed a scenic 5km or 10km route, some wonderful live entertainment and a delicious breakfast and lunch provided by Tim Hortons and Marc’s No Frills.

The 2011 Belleville MS Walk Volunteer Organizing Committee would like to congratulate and thank Deborah Best on another fantastic year of fundraising.  Deborah raised over $12,000 for the 2011 Belleville MS Walk, since 2002 she has raised over $53,500! The money raised is used to provide support locally as well as research at the national level. Deborah’s hard work and dedication is really inspirational, she is truly making a difference in the movement to end MS.

                                                                                           

Deborah Best

We would also like to thank all of the hard working volunteers who dedicate their time to the Belleville MS Walk. Without them, the event would not happen, whether they are a returning volunteer or a new one, they are the people who make the MS Walk a success every year.  Thank You!  

Volunteer at the RONA MS Bike Tours!

Volunteers provide riders with refreshments
 at the 2010 Acton to Waterloo Tour.

Just because the MS Walks are over for 2011, it doesn’t mean there aren’t still plenty of opportunities to help support the MS Society.  Right now we are gearing up and getting ready for a great summer full of volunteer opportunities! We need YOUR help for the upcoming RONA MS Bike Tours. There are five bike tours throughout Ontario that need volunteers and support. There are many options for volunteer roles, ranging from registration for the cyclists, to cheering them on as they cross the finish line. We will match you with a position that complements your interests, skills, and availability. 

For more information about how you can volunteer at the RONA MS Bike Tours, please contact Nicole Dube at 416‑922‑6600 x3107 or nicole.dube@mssociety.ca.

Father's Day Gift Ideas

Still looking for gift ideas for your father?  Why not get him something that will help him be better suited for when he walks. Walking is very beneficial to your health and well-being and having the right gear goes a long way in making sure your dad is comfortable when he is exercising.

•  How about taking him out for a walk? Walk in the park, or on a busy street, how about a walk to the ice cream store?

• Walking shoes. Who would have thought that they had specific shoes just for walking?  These can be extremely lightweight and very stylish, (for those dads that are interested in fashion!)

• Sunglasses. It’s always a good idea to protect your eyes from the sun! 

Happy father's day and thanks for your help in the fight to end MS!

14th Annual RBC/MS Gold Tournament a Success!

Friday’s Multiple Sclerosis Charity Golf tournament hosted by RBC Procurement was a huge success!  We would like to offer a sincere thank you to all the participating golfers and to Mother Nature for offering up sunny weather!

The tournament took place at two different courses in Markham - the Angus Glen Golf Club and Mandarin Golf and Country Club. 432 golfers raised over $400,000 for the MS Society.  Proceeds from the tournament will help fund vital research devoted to the study of multiple sclerosis in children.  Much of this research is led by Dr. Brenda Banwell, Director of the Paediatric MS Clinic at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. 

Thank you to all participating golfers, sponsors, and volunteers for your support. Photos from the event will be posted shortly, stay tuned!

MS Walk Photos!

You probably noticed that while you were having a great time walking, someone from the MS Society or a helpful volunteer was there with a camera snapping photos.  Visit us on Flickr and see if you or your team is in one of the photos!  Also, upload your photos to our Facebook page and share your story with everyone!  Take a gander at a couple of our early favourites:

While we haven’t received photos from all of the MS Walks across Ontario yet, keep looking at our Flickr page to see if you and your team are there!

Can’t wait to see your pictures!

Walk of Champions!

The MS Society of Canada, Ontario Division, is proud to announce that four of our participants joined the MS Walk of Champions which took place in Las Vegas this past April 9!  Adam Goldberg, Nancy Kastner, Nancy Lester, and Tracey Ostermann each fundraised over $10,000 for the MS Walk last year and were awarded the opportunity to participate in the 2011 MS Walk of Champions.  We would like to extend our congratulations to these four inspirational participants and thank them for being strong examples of what is possible when you put your heart into supporting people with multiple sclerosis. We’ll send more details about these four champions in future blog posts.

We’re hoping to congratulate even more Walkers who’ve reached the fundraising level of $10,000 and will have the chance to participate in the 2012 MS Walk of Champions which takes place in New York City.

Lots of Opportunities Left!

Now that you’ve made every step matter and helped us raise over $5.2 million, how do you continue to be a part of the movement to end MS while awaiting the 2012 MS Walk?

• Gear up for an exciting RONA MS Bike Tour

• Take your best shot during The 14th Annual Multiple Sclerosis Charity Golf Tournament, hosted by RBC Procurement.

•  Join Women Against MS (WAMS).

• Fundraise with Marathon Strides Against MS.

• Promote your children or student’s love of books and fundraise to end MS by participating in the MS Read-A-Thon!

• Let a young person with MS in your life know about the MS Society of Canada Summer Camp.

• Try your hand at the MS Climb.

The MS Society of Canada has many exciting events to keep you engaged in the movement to end MS.  Select one of the events above to learn more or  contact your local chapter for additional information.