4 DAYS until the Mandarin MS Walk

TODAY is the last day your donations will be DOUBLED! Online donations to the Mandarin MS Walk up to $10,000 will be matched until 11:59PM tonight. Spread the word to your donors! If you’re not participating you can also donate directly to the event http://bit.ly/1il8FEy

 

 

5 DAYS until the Mandarin MS Walk!

In just 5 DAYS, our event sites will start as THIS... and turn into THIS! We can’t wait to celebrate a future free of MS with you all.

 

 

Thank You!

A big thank you to everyone in Cobourg-Port Hope, Ottawa and Sarnia for kicking off the Mandarin MS Walk season yesterday and celebrating a future free of MS! The events have raised over $100,000 so far…WOW!

MondayMotivation

TOMORROW we’ll be walking rain or shine!

Participants in Cobourg-Port Hope, Ottawa & Sarnia - keep an eye on the local weather to be prepared for your walk, because tomorrow we’ll be walking rain or shine!  And don’t forget to have your pledge sheets and submission forms ready to go. Login in to your Participant Centre to download them today - http://bit.ly/1px72LL

3 DAYS TO GO until the April 27 Mandarin MS Walk events

Looking forward to Mandarin MS Walk? Be prepared and have your pledge sheets and submission forms ready to go. Login in to your Participant Centre to download them today http://bit.ly/1nMOeSy

4 DAYS TO GO until the April 27 Mandarin MS Walk events

It is never too late to fundraise! Here are some last minute tips:

·        Wear a past Mandarin MS Walk t-shirt to work or school to help you kick-start a conversation with potential donors

·        Create a countdown message on all your social media pages and let everybody know you are walking this Sunday. Remind people their donations are being matched until April 30 – http://bit.ly/1rlTRL7

 

·        You can be a donor too - don’t forget to pledge yourself!

·        Host a pancake breakfast fundraiser the day before the event to raise some last minute pledges

Remember you can continue fundraising up until four weeks after the event, so don’t stop yet!

Participant Spotlight - Greatest Mandarin MS Walk Experience

 

After the 2010 Mandarin MS Walk at Sunnybrook Park, in which I was a finish line cheerer, I decided that I wanted to do more for MS and registered for the 2011 Mandarin MS Walk.  I was pumped up and couldn’t wait to start fundraising and setting up my 1^st Mandarin MS Walk Personal fundraising page in which I sponsored myself $445 before I sent out my mass email to my contacts.  I aimed to raise at least $1000 to enter the 1^st level of the “Elite Feet Club”.  It was challenging and I did achieve my goal the day of the 20^th anniversary walk by sponsoring myself another $35 to bring me to my goal. 

I was pumped, full of energy and ready to walk and was only intending to walk 5km, but instead I completed 10km, as I was intrigued by other walkers going up the stairs and over the bridge that was at the 1^st checkpoint.  My intrigue led me over the bridge and I discovered a beautiful path and park that went behind the Science Centre.  Like the postman, nothing stopped me from walking and experiencing a great park and beyond through “Rain/Snow/Sleet/Peak of Sun” I honored all my sponsors, setup crew, volunteers, organizers and everyone who has been affected by MS and especially for my mother-in-law (MY DEAR MOTHER ROSE).  On my way back from the 2^nd checkpoint, I met a lovely couple who lived around the corner and adjacent from me, we talked along the way back while enjoying the great scenery and a couple of memorial plaques and statues along the way.

Since my 1^st Mandarin MS Walk I participated in, I have been participating each year and aim to reach the 1^st level of the “ELITE FEET CLUB” and so far have raised just over $4000 in the few years I have been participating. With my fundraising for 2014 Mandarin MS Walk still in progress with only a few short weeks to go before the big day, which this year is a significant time in my life with my husband that is mentioned on my personal MS Walk page.  My fundraising for the 2014 Mandarin MS Walk is my most successful, with your kind support I will reach my goal of $2000 and beyond – “2GETHER WE WILL END MS”

Judy Wyatt

Click here to help Judy reach her goal! Connect with Judy on Facebook - http://on.fb.me/1iFshpE

Participant Spotlight: Why I’m a Team Captain in the Mandarin MS Walk

 

It was a cold morning in October of 2012. I was on my way to school and I noticed there was something in my eye. I thought it was makeup or an eyelash but no matter how much I rubbed it, it wouldn't go away. After research, it turned out I have MS. My family and I didn't really understand what MS was even though we searched it on the internet. This made me feel alone and I knew I had to do something so that others wouldn't feel the way I did. I started an online community group called Keep S'Myelin, which is found on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. I got the name from what MS does to our bodies.  Myelin is the protective sheath around our nerves in which our immune system attacks. With MS, I learned to stay positive as much as I can so therefore the name Keep S'Myelin!

My team name is Team Kayla, but I don't only walk for myself - I walk for all those affected by MS! Together we can make a change and one day we WILL cross out MS!

Visit http://bit.ly/1nqXpcJ  to help Kayla reach her goal!  Or become a participant to help end MS at

www.mswalk.ca

Connect with Kayla:

 

Instagram - @Keep_SMyelin

Twitter - @Keep__SMyelin

Facebook - www.Facebook.com/KeepSMyelin1

A message from our new Provincial Partner - Genzyme

Team Genzyme at the 2013 Mandarin MS Walk

Founded in 1981 in Boston, Genzyme evolved from a tiny start-up with just a handful of employees to one of the world's leading biotech companies.  Acquired by Sanofi in 2011, Genzyme now benefits from the reach and resources of one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, with a shared commitment to improving the lives of patients.

Known for producing medicine focused on rare genetic diseases, Genzyme has also expanded to other disease areas such as thyroid cancer and now multiple sclerosis.  Driven by our commitment to patients, we strive to develop strong relationships with patient communities and listen to their perspectives so that we can understand their needs.  These collaborations guide us as we continue to develop therapies where none existed before.  Genzyme is proud to partner with the MS Society for the MS Walk which will ultimately provide support and services to help those living with MS, their families and caregivers.

We look forward to speaking to you at our Genzyme Team tents in Ottawa, Hamilton, London, Toronto and Mississauga or visit us at our website  – genzyme.ca.
 

Mission First Club

Are you a member of the Mission First club? You can join this special group of people when you generously donate your reward back to the MS Society, which in turn allows us to dedicate additional funds towards the cause.  As a member you’ll receive a tax receipt for the value of your reward. To learn more, visit www.mswalks.ca/ontario/rewards

Monday Motivation

Team up and use the Team Toolkit!

Go for it! Start a Mandarin MS Walk team and take full advantage of the team tools available at www.mswalks.ca/ontario/teamtools to put you on the road to fundraising success. To make things a little easier for you there is a Team Captain’s Manual, a Team Goal Thermometer, a Recruitment poster and more. Team members say they have more fun and raise more funds together!

This month your pledges will be doubled!

Thanks to the generosity of a special anonymous donor, online donations up to $10,000 to the Mandarin MS Walk will be matched until April 30, 2014.

Spread the word by letting your donors know that whatever they donate will have double the impact.

Aren’t able to participate in this year's event?

DONATE DIRECTLY TO THE MANDARIN MS WALK

Happy National Volunteer Week!

Volunteers are essential to the success of the Mandarin MS Walk and an inspiration to all – THANK YOU! We have lots of volunteer positions available at the Mandarin MS Walk in your community, such as: Set-up Volunteers, Registration Volunteers, Food Preparation Volunteers, Route Marshals, Greeter/Information Volunteers and many more.

To volunteer, contact us at volunteer.ontario@mssociety.ca today! Or visit www.mswalks.ca/ontario/volunteer for more info.

National Volunteer Week

In honour of National Volunteer Week (April 6-12) we would like to thank our volunteers for making the Mandarin MS Walk a success every year!

30 DAYS UNTIL THE MAY 4 MANDARIN MS WALK

The weather is getting better and there is still plenty of time to register and reach your fundraising goals for this year’s event. Here are some quick tips to get you started:

 

-Create a team and fundraise together

-Spread the word using social media sites like Facebook and twitter.

-Ask 3 new people to make a pledge

 

Find all the info you need to register and fundraise at www.mswalk.ca/Ontario.

Participant Spotlight - Noah Levin: Why I became a Team Captain

 

Eight years ago, my father uttered the most ghastly words that could be said to a child. “Noah, your mother and I would like to have a word with you,” he said, as I trembled in fear. On my way to my parents’ room, I went over all the things I’ve done wrong in the past month, but this conversation went much differently than expected. My mother told me that she suffered from multiple sclerosis, and has for the last twenty years.

 

As time went on, my mother’s condition worsened. She still works as hard as she possibly can to provide for my sisters and I. My mother is a hero. She has the heart to sacrifice for the life I want to live. I became a team captain so I can reciprocate. There are thousands of other heroes who live with MS, each with their own powerful story and reasons to fight. Please join me in my quest to end MS, so my mom, and thousands of others, can live easy

MEDIchair Sponsorship

Thank You MEDIchair!

During the month of April, our generous partner MEDIchair in Halton has agreed to donate $2 for every Facebook "like" they receive, and $5 for every “like” they receive the day of the Mandarin MS Walk - Sunday, May 4th.

MEDIchair sells home medical equipment and care products designed to increase mobility and create a safe living environment. Learn more about MEDIchair at www.medichair.com.

Fundraising tip Tuesday: Optimize with Social Media Tools

Check out these easy to use social media tools to spread the word about your fundraising  by email, on Facebook, Twitter or other social media pages. There are banners, videos, logos and more. Visit www.mswalks.ca/ontario/social to download them today.