Howdy Ags!
Meet Mallory.
Mallory is an 8 year old girl that was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when she was 3 years old. She takes an injection every day to slow the progression of her disease. She has taken over 1,800 shots since she started. And the shots don’t just sting for a second and then they are gone. Each shot leaves a red welt like a bee sting for several hours and can leave the area around the shot location reddened and sore for days afterward. Imagine getting a flu shot in a different part of your body every day for years of your life and you will understand what she is going through. When you look at her, you may not recognize MS in her body, but when she runs you see the determination on her face as she focuses to get the foot that drags to keep up.
The bottom line is that no 8 year old kid should have to put up with that every day of her life, when she should just having fun and living the life of a normal kid. But there is something Texags can do to help that… My wife and I are riding in the BP MS150 this weekend to raise funds for the National MS Society Lone Star Chapter. The MS Society’s Lone Star Chapter provides funds for research into treatments for MS and hopefully one day, a Cure for MS. They also provide other support programs including emotional, physical, and financial support to over 20,000 Texans living with MS.
I should know, I am one of those Texans living with MS. I was diagnosed in 2006 after riding in my 2nd MS150. I took the same medicine that Mallory does for over 3 years, and know the pain she goes through with her shots. The ride this weekend will be my 6th MS150, and my wife’s 5th. I am one of the lucky ones with MS that can still ride 180 miles in 2 days on a bicycle…so I will. We will ride for those who can’t.
So here is where I am hoping Texags can help us. I have currently raised $489, and my wife has raised $150 (she got a later start than I did). We have set a goal to raise $1000 each. That seems like a lot of money…but it isn’t if we put the power of Texags into it. There are thousands of folks who read Texags every day. We need $1361 to reach our goals. If 272 people from Texags give just $5 each, we will get there. If 136 people give $10 each, we will get there. If just 68 of you give $20, we can get there. Texags owns the vote in online polls and reaches out to help each other in times of need. How about if we all reach out and try to help find a cure for MS so that Mallory can stop doing her shots every day?
Look, I know the economy sucks right now. I know times are tough. But $5 is the cost of one full priced mixed drink or a large coffee at Starbucks. $10 is the cost of one movie ticket and a coke. $20 is one meal out. Can you pass that up just once this year to maybe help find a cure so that there are no more Mallorys who spend their childhood taking shots and worrying about the progress of a disease they can’t control?
All donations to the National MS Society are tax deductible, and can be made online using the secure links below. If you would prefer to send a check, send me a PM or email me at my username a t swbell dot n e t for an address. If you live in the Houston area, let me know and I can try to arrange to come to you and pick it up if you want. Also, just so you know, my wife and I have already paid an entry fee to cover the expenses for our ride, so your money is not subsidizing our “fun” (if you can call 180 miles on a bike saddle “fun”). The National MS Society is very frugal with your money as well, putting 83 cents of every dollar directly into programs, research, education, and support. So your money will be well spent helping find a cure for folks like Mallory and I.
Thanks Ags and Beat the Hell Outta MS!
Bill and Michele Foss – Class of 92
These are the secure donation links to use for online donations:
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/goto/BFoss
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/goto/Michele.Foss
Meet Mallory.
Mallory is an 8 year old girl that was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis when she was 3 years old. She takes an injection every day to slow the progression of her disease. She has taken over 1,800 shots since she started. And the shots don’t just sting for a second and then they are gone. Each shot leaves a red welt like a bee sting for several hours and can leave the area around the shot location reddened and sore for days afterward. Imagine getting a flu shot in a different part of your body every day for years of your life and you will understand what she is going through. When you look at her, you may not recognize MS in her body, but when she runs you see the determination on her face as she focuses to get the foot that drags to keep up.
The bottom line is that no 8 year old kid should have to put up with that every day of her life, when she should just having fun and living the life of a normal kid. But there is something Texags can do to help that… My wife and I are riding in the BP MS150 this weekend to raise funds for the National MS Society Lone Star Chapter. The MS Society’s Lone Star Chapter provides funds for research into treatments for MS and hopefully one day, a Cure for MS. They also provide other support programs including emotional, physical, and financial support to over 20,000 Texans living with MS.
I should know, I am one of those Texans living with MS. I was diagnosed in 2006 after riding in my 2nd MS150. I took the same medicine that Mallory does for over 3 years, and know the pain she goes through with her shots. The ride this weekend will be my 6th MS150, and my wife’s 5th. I am one of the lucky ones with MS that can still ride 180 miles in 2 days on a bicycle…so I will. We will ride for those who can’t.
So here is where I am hoping Texags can help us. I have currently raised $489, and my wife has raised $150 (she got a later start than I did). We have set a goal to raise $1000 each. That seems like a lot of money…but it isn’t if we put the power of Texags into it. There are thousands of folks who read Texags every day. We need $1361 to reach our goals. If 272 people from Texags give just $5 each, we will get there. If 136 people give $10 each, we will get there. If just 68 of you give $20, we can get there. Texags owns the vote in online polls and reaches out to help each other in times of need. How about if we all reach out and try to help find a cure for MS so that Mallory can stop doing her shots every day?
Look, I know the economy sucks right now. I know times are tough. But $5 is the cost of one full priced mixed drink or a large coffee at Starbucks. $10 is the cost of one movie ticket and a coke. $20 is one meal out. Can you pass that up just once this year to maybe help find a cure so that there are no more Mallorys who spend their childhood taking shots and worrying about the progress of a disease they can’t control?
All donations to the National MS Society are tax deductible, and can be made online using the secure links below. If you would prefer to send a check, send me a PM or email me at my username a t swbell dot n e t for an address. If you live in the Houston area, let me know and I can try to arrange to come to you and pick it up if you want. Also, just so you know, my wife and I have already paid an entry fee to cover the expenses for our ride, so your money is not subsidizing our “fun” (if you can call 180 miles on a bike saddle “fun”). The National MS Society is very frugal with your money as well, putting 83 cents of every dollar directly into programs, research, education, and support. So your money will be well spent helping find a cure for folks like Mallory and I.
Thanks Ags and Beat the Hell Outta MS!
Bill and Michele Foss – Class of 92
These are the secure donation links to use for online donations:
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/goto/BFoss
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/goto/Michele.Foss