Your Best Life Update - January eNews

January 2017

SKI for MS is a community skiing fundraiser that brings people together at nine mountains nationwide to help people with MS and their families thrive.

Skiing, Live Music, Celebration Ski-Down, and Prizes!

SKI for MS activities offer fun for the entire family! Race your friends in the amateur ski race, explore the mountain during the scavenger hunt, band together with your team for the Jimmie Heuga Memorial Ski Down, end the day at the Après Party, and potentially walk away with top fundraising prizes or team awards.

New Year, New Mountains!

East Coast mountains are about to bring it! We are thrilled to welcome three New York mountains to the SKI for MS event series this year: Whiteface, Belleayre, and Gore mountains.

Register Today and Start Fundraising!

Everyone is connected to a person with MS. Register now and show your support for the MS community. You will receive a personal fundraising page to send to your friends and family.

A New Partnership to Help People With MS Live Healthy Lives

Can Do MS and the Andrew C. Carlos Multiple Sclerosis Institute at Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia, are pleased to announce a new partnership that combines resources to strengthen health outcomes for people living with multiple sclerosis (MS).

"I am thrilled to see two great organizations - Shepherd Center and Can Do MS - come together to offer the MS community a unique and life-changing experience," said Ben Thrower, M.D., medical director of the Andrew C. Carlos Multiple Sclerosis Institute at Shepherd Center. Read more .

Initiating Your Wellness Journey

Following the diagnosis of MS and during periods of change in your MS, it is not unusual to feel your personal GPS becoming "out of whack" and not working as well as it had in the past - or not as well as you were hoping it would. This is true whether you are the person with MS or someone who cares about you. You may feel lost, without direction, and overwhelmed with multiple choices and decisions. You may feel that little is under your control. Read more .

Question: I am having increasing trouble stepping in and out of my stand-alone shower. I do have something to hang onto, but am having significant trouble lifting my leg over the shower pan lip. Any recommendations without spending major money on renovations?

Click here to read the answer from Occupational Therapist Stephanie Nolan.

Have a question? Ask us!

2017 Program Schedule Announced

We are excited to announce that the number of in-person programs in 2017 is doubling, delivering 15 across the nation!

The year will kick off with JUMPSTART® Programs in Oklahoma City, OK, and Milwaukee, WI, followed by the four-day CAN DO® Program in Atlanta, GA. View the full list of 2017 in-person programs .

Join Us for Our Monthly Webinars

Interact with a team of healthcare professionals, ask questions, and learn how to actively co-manage your MS from the comfort of your home, FREE of charge! Upcoming topics include weight management and nutrition, pain and depression, employment issues, research updates, and much more!

View and register for upcoming webinars.

Negotiating Reasonable Accommodations

Tuesday, February 15 2017, 8 - 9:15 pm ET

In partnership with the National MS Society.

Many people with MS at some point in their career may need to request a reasonable accommodation to help them perform the duties of their job. Please join Nina Martinez, Skadden Fellow and Staff Attorney at the New York Legal Assistance Group, and Magda Moncrief, Human Resources Business Partner for Iron Hill Brewery, who will discuss your rights under the ADA as it applies to requesting an accommodation, the process for making a request, and share the employer's perspective on how to negotiate for the best outcome.

Please join us at no charge.

Discrimination on the Job

Tuesday, February 28, 2017, 8 - 9:15 p.m. ET

In partnership with the National MS Society.

The start of a new year is a great opportunity to reexamine the directions you and your support partner are taking to thrive in your lives with MS. Just like a road trip requires diligent planning and routing, you can best succeed in your journey with MS by "mapping out" a comprehensive wellness plan with the help of your health care team. Stephanie Buxhoeveden, nurse practitioner, and Peggy Crawford, psychologist, will lead an exciting multi-disciplinary discussion on tools and techniques to help you grow, while answering your questions in our live Q&A forum.

Please join us at no charge.

The 2017 Can Do MS Webinar and Telelearning Series is made possible by:

Sanofi Genzyme | Biogen | Acorda Therapeutics

YOU DID IT!

Over $101,030 Raised

Because of you, we surpassed our end-of-year goal, raising over $51,030 and unlocking a $50,000 match to help families with MS attend our health education programs.

Together, we are ensuring that every person with MS has the opportunity to attend a life-changing health education program, regardless of financial ability.

This past year, we transformed the lives of 29,000 people with MS, doubling our impact over 2015.

Because of your dedication and generosity, we aim to continue that upward trend in the new year and provide twice as many in-person programs.

We are humbled by and so very grateful for your support. A special thank you to Joann, Nikki, and Jane who shared their stories of inspiration.