Happy Canada Day Long Weekend!

This Sunday, July 1, Canada will celebrate its 145^th birthday! This is an important day to celebrate being Canadian and to reflect on how lucky we are to live in such an amazing country. So get outside and enjoy the summer sunshine… and with your extra time off this weekend, why not take your bike out for a ride in order to prepare for your upcoming MS Bike Tour or start prepping for next year’s MS Walk with a hike!

 The MS Society would also like to remind you to take a moment and think about the thousands of Canadian families who are affected by multiple sclerosis. Thanks to all of our supporters for their continuous effort and contribution in the movement to end MS.

We hope you have an amazing Canada day and a fun-filled long weekend!

Reminder: Pre-register for a chance to win $500 towards your 2013 fundraising total!

Don’t forget that you can pre-register for a 2013 Ontario MS Walk online right now, by visiting http://www.mswalks.ca and selecting your location. If you register before July 15, you will have the chance to get a head start on your fundraising by being entered into a draw to win $500 towards your 2013 fundraising total – courtesy of Mandarin Restaurants.

Pre-register today and lace up for someone you love in 2013! http://www.mswalks.ca

Purdy's Chocolate wins Canada Sings!

Courtesy of CanadaSingsTV

Congratulations to Purdy's Chocolate for their big win last night on the season finale of Canada Sings! Their win means that the MS Society of Canada will receive an amazing $25,000.

Thank you to Purdy’s Chocolate for your generous donation and for your support in the movement to end MS!

Check out the 2012 MS Walk photos!

Pictures from the 2012 MS Walk are now available online, including some awesome team photos and fun event day shots! To view photos visit http://bit.ly/KUv7bN.

If photos from your local MS Walk have not been posted, please check back soon. If you have photos that you’d like to send us, please contact Ella Craig at ella.craig@mssociety.ca.

Purdy’s Chocolate will compete in support of the MS Society of Canada tonight on the season finale of Canada Sings!

Tune into Global TV tonight at 10pm et/pt to watch the Purdy’s Chocolate glee club team “Sweet Day” compete for a chance to win a $25,000 donation to the MS Society of Canada!

Good luck and thank you to Purdy’s Chocolate for supporting the movement to end MS.

http://www.globaltv.com/canadasings

"The Tail and I" by Angela Kirby

Angela, walking the beautiful beaches of North Topsail
Island, NC, fashioned her past MS Walk bibs into a tail.

Angela Kirby shares her inspirational story on how she participated in her own MS Walk while on vacation during this year’s Pickering-Ajax MS Walk event:

“I ‘had’ to (sniffle, sniffle!) WALK while on vacation this year – a real hardship WALKing the beautiful beach of North Topsail Island, North Carolina...NOT! I took my reasons for WALKing over the years with me so I wouldn’t be alone and wore the fabulous 2011 MS Walk 20^th anniversary t-shirt so anyone else would know what I was doing. I received lots of smiles but no further donations. Ah well, so what! I had fun!” 

Thank you for sharing Angela and proving that you can lace up for someone you love anytime, anywhere!

Happy Father’s Day!

Still haven’t found the perfect gift for dad? Why not get him the perfect walking accessory! 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.

Here are some great gift ideas for any walker:

·         Sunglasses - it is very important to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays.

·         Athletic shoes - having the right footwear is essential to preventing injuries and improving comfort when exercising.

·         iPod/Mp3 player - music is a great motivator during exercise and can help you keep your pace.

·         Water bottle/Water bottle holder - hydration is very important when exercising, especially in the summer heat!

Of course, the greatest gift to give your dad this Father’s Day is your time. So why not get outside and enjoy the sunshine by joining your dad for a walk this Sunday. Or REGISTER for next year’s MS Walk together!

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

mswalks.ca

Richmond Hill mom gathers local residents to walk for her daughter



Cheryl Amar with son Jason Amar

Cheryl Amar has been involved with her local MS Society Chapter since 2011, following her daughter Jaclyn’s diagnosis. When Cheryl was told by doctors that there was no cure for MS, she believed that she had to do everything she could to help raise money for vital research, so that one day her daughter would be free of the debilitating effects of this disease.

“We never know what each day is going to bring us,” says Cheryl, “some days Jaclyn feels great and other days it’s a challenge for her to get out of bed.” Jaclyn was diagnosed with MS at the age of 22 and the disease has put her life on hold. “Despite the struggles that MS brings, my daughter remains positive, outgoing and takes full advantage of the good days,” Cheryl continues.

Support from family and friends allow Jaclyn to live her life as best as possible, but assistance and support from within the community are always required.  Cheryl’s team, Kaki’s Krew, raised over $24,400 in 2012 and was the Richmond Hill-Thornhill-Aurora MS Walk’s #1 fundraising team for the second year in a row.

Congratulations to Cheryl and her amazing team on their continued fundraising efforts and their dedication to ending MS!

MS Summer Camp!



From August 11 to 18, 2012, children and teens with MS will gather at beautiful Big Rideau Lake for a week of outdoor adventure, fun and building new friendships as part of the 6^th annual MS Summer Camp. The camp provides participants with a break from the stress associated with MS in a supportive environment where they can share similar experiences and just enjoy being kids!

The camp is FREE to attend.  All costs associated with the camp (including travel) are covered thanks to a fifth year of generous funding from the RBC Foundation and Foundation Bergeron-Jetté.

For more information and to download a camp application, visit mssociety.ca/camp

OR contact us kidsandteenscamp@mssociety.ca or 1-800-268-7582 ext. 3135.



“[The best thing about camp was] seeing friends from last year and

meeting new friends this year, and having a network of MS family”

– A camper



Continue the Movement to end MS by volunteering for the MS Bike Tour!

Attention Walkers –The 2012 MS Walk season may be over, but there are still plenty of other opportunities to show your support for those living with MS this summer!


Right now we are gearing up for the MS Bike Tour and we need YOUR help! Tours are taking place at various locations across Ontario from July through September and there are many different ways to show your support as a volunteer. 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 one of the MS Bike Tours, please contact Nicole Dube at 416 922 6600 ext. 3111 or volunteer@mssociety.ca.

Check out our NEW video!

Visit our YouTube channel to check out the NEW fast-motion video of the 2012 Toronto MS Walk http://youtu.be/tQItNq5nnkI

Thank you to everyone who laced up in 2012! We look forward to seeing you all next year!

Reminder: Pre-register for a chance to win $500 towards your 2013 fundraising total!

Don’t forget that you can pre-register for a 2013 MS Walk in Ontario online right now, by visiting mswalks.ca. If you register before July 15, you will have the chance to get a head start on your fundraising by being entered into a draw to win $500 towards your 2013 fundraising total – courtesy of Mandarin Restaurants.

Pre-register today and lace up for someone you love in 2013! mswalks.ca