16th Annual RBC Golf Tournament to end MS

On Friday June 7, the MS Society of Canada and RBC Procurement celebrated 16 years together at the annual RBC Golf Tournament to end MS. Graciously hosted at Angus Glen Golf Course and Mandarin Golf and Country Club in Markham, the tournament was a fun filled day with great networking opportunities and a challenging game on the greens.

This year’s tournament raised an astounding $500,000 for peadiatric MS research, which brings the 16 year total to more than $6.3 million!

Participants and sponsors play a critical role in advancing the MS Society of Canada's fight to end MS. Without your support, this milestone would not have been possible.

 

 

To view more photos from the tournament visit the MS Society Ontario events Flickr page.

A&W Cruisin’ For a Cause raises $1.25 million!

Last Thursday, August 23, A&W locations across Canada took part in the A&W Cruisin’ for Cause Day, that saw $1 from each Teen Burger sold going to research and services for people living with MS. This year, $1.25 million was raised, surpassing last year’s total of $1 million. Thank you to all the dedicated A&W staff and to those who joined for the event for your efforts in creating a future free of MS.

cruisinforacause2012.ca

2012 MS Walk Highlights ̶ 2012 Timmins MS Walk

In late May, Northern Ontario faced several devastating forest fires. A state of emergency was declared for the city of Timmins. The size of the fires and strong winds led to thick smoke, highway closures and the evacuation of nearby areas. However, this did not deter those in the Timmins community commited to the movement to end MS. On May 27, participants and volunteers made their way out to Gillies Lake for the 3^rd annual Timmins MS Walk. Through the support of local sponsors and members of the community the raised  over $12,000.

2012 MS Walk Highlights - Oakville Cupcake Kick-off!

The Oakville MS Walk Committee hosted the first annual Cupcake Kick-off on March 31, 2012 to raise funds and awareness for the 2012 Oakville MS Walk. Setting up outside Garvey’s Fine Men’s Wear on Lakeshore in Downtown Oakville, the Oakville MS Walk organizing committee gave out cupcakes and brochures while accepting donations. The cupcakes were provided by Po Puff Expressions (popuffexpressions.com) and music by DJ Jim Lupo of Black Tie Entertainment.

The reception and support from the Oakville community was overwhelming. Over $700 was raised during the three hour event, with all proceeds going to the Oakville MS Walk. The money and support at the Cupcake Kick-off played a large role in another successful event, where more than 380 participants raised over $166,800 in support of those affected by MS.

St. Catharines woman raffles off a chance to fly high in the sky, to raise funds for MS.



Photo of Elizabeth taken from her blog

“Elizablog” http://www.lizzymcfly.com/

Elizabeth Murphy was diagnosed with MS in 2005. Although she suffers every day with the multiple symptoms brought on by this disease, she is determined not to let it stop her from doing the things she loves. An avid pilot, Elizabeth, who also goes by ‘Lizzy McFly’, flies above each of the Niagara Region MS Walks, taking place in St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and Welland, in her Cessna 150 Aerobat plane named Vyctor. “Flying overhead of the walks gives me such a rush when I see the crowds of people who have come out to support this cause. Seeing and meeting other people with the same illness, really gives me a great sense of community,” says Elizabeth.

Among her many efforts to raise money leading up to the MS Walk, including a fundraiser with former NHL hockey player Marcel Dionne, Elizabeth also raffled off flight giveaways, allowing those who donated a chance to fly with her. In 2011, she raised $5000. Elizabeth also writes a blog that follows her life and the challenges of living with MS.

Elizabeth raffled off a chance to fly with her again this year in order to raise funds for the thousands of Canadians suffering from this devastating disease. 

Thank you Elizabeth ‘Lizzy McFly” for your continued dedication to ending MS!

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!

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!

Yesterday, individuals  from the communities of Belleville, Brockville, Kingston-Napanee, North Bay, Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Timmins laced up for someone they love and raised over $200,000– bringing the current total for all 2012 MS Walks to an amazing $4.8 million!!!

Congratulations to all our participants! We hope that you had an amazing MS Walk and that you feel proud of the difference you have made in the lives of the tens of thousands of Canadians living with multiple sclerosis!

We invite you to share your favorite MS Walks photos, stories and videos on our Facebook page. We can’t wait to see them!

Keep in mind that you still have time to continue fundraising to collect pledges.  

We look forward to seeing you again at the 2013 MS Walk!

And the winner is…

The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada – Ontario Division is pleased to announce the winner of our April draw for a chance to win a weekend getaway for two to New York City or Chicago!*

Congratulations to Dr. Sarah Morrow for all her efforts in raising over $500 online for the MS Walk.

                                                                                                      
Stay tuned for more details in June.

Thank you for lacing up!

One Hundred and ninty-five people laced up for the Sault Ste Marie MS Walk yesterday and raised $17,865 for individuals living with multiple sclerosis. Thank you to everyone who laced up for someone they love this weekend! It was another great MS Walk! View FUNDRAISING RESULTS in your community.
 
For those of you who walked this weekend, don’t forget that there is still plenty of time to reach or surpass your fundraising goal! You can continue to fundraise, submit pledges online, and request any prizes for which you are eligible for the next 4 weeks.

We would also love to hear about your experience at the 2012 MS Walk! Share your MS Walk photos, stories and videos on our Facebook or Twitter page. We can’t wait to hear from you!

We look forward to seeing you again at the 2013 MS Walk!

And good luck to everyone participating in an MS Walk on May 27! We can’t wait for event day! For more information about the upcoming MS Walks, please visit mswalks.ca.

Thank you to everyone who laced up this weekend for the 2012 MS Walk!

      

More than 17,500 people laced up for the annual MS Walk yesterday in communities across Ontario to raise more than $4 million for individuals living with multiple sclerosis. We are proud of the community spirit and remarkable commitment and dedication that we saw from every participant and volunteer, both at the event and in the many months of preparation! Find out the results of the MS Walk in your community at mswalks.ca.

 

Keep in mind that there is still plenty of opportunity to reach or surpass your fundraising goal! You can continue to fundraise, submit pledges online, and request any prizes for which you are eligible for the next 4 weeks. And just think, if every walker in Ontario raised just $10 more, we would have nearly $200,000 more that could help those with MS!

We would also love to hear about your experience at the 2012 MS Walk! Share your MS Walk photos, stories and videos on our Facebook or Twitter page. We can’t wait to hear from you!

We look forward to seeing you again at the 2013 MS Walk!

And of course, we haven’t forgotten about those participating in the MS Walk on May 6 or May 27, who are no doubt still busy preparing for their event and continuing their fundraising. We look forward to seeing you on event day!  For more information about the upcoming MS Walks, please visit mswalks.ca.

   

And the winner is…

 
Thank you to everyone who participated in the “Share the Love” story contest that took place in February.

All of the entries were truly remarkable, but we are happy to congratulate Janet M. Vandenberg, from “Team Cindy”, who won Subway gift cards for all of her team members by writing about her love for her Team Captain. You can watch for the runner-up stories in future e-newsletters*.

  

Now, here is Janet’s loving story about her Team Captain, and daughter, Cindy:

 “Our Team Captain is my daughter, Cindy.  She was diagnosed with MS in September of 2011.  She is my only daughter, my love and my inspiration.  She has taken everything in stride and does not let this disease and what goes along with it tie her down.  She keeps trucking along, not letting the ups and downs stop her.  She’s the strongest individual I know of and has taught everyone she knows to not give up and reach for the stars.  She brings joy and laughter to everyone she is around and keeps such a positive attitude. She is amazing, she is everything, she is my daughter who I love with all my heart ....... XOXOXOXO”

Congratulations to Team Cindy! And good luck to all MS Walk teams as we countdown to event day!!

* If you’d like to sign-up to receive the MS Walk’s e-newsletter, click here.