Molly Wood
Columbia, SC
Molly Wood, 45, has enjoyed singing her whole life. As a Betaseron® Multiple Sclerosis Champions of CourageSM,she shared the gift of music with her community, while helping to find a cure for multiple sclerosis, which she herself has battled for over 25 years.
Molly’s Champions of CourageSM grant helped to underwrite two benefit concerts which took place on June 8-9, 2001 in Columbia, SC. The choral concerts were performed by the Arpad Darazs Singers, a prestigious Columbia, SC choir of which Molly has been a member for over 12 years. The group performed The Requiem by contemporary composer John Rutter.
By all accounts, the concerts were a great success! Through Molly's efforts, the concerts raised more than $4,000 for MS research and were attended by 400 people. Molly's story made the local news, including appearances on local CBS and NBC TV stations to talk about the importance of music in her life and how she has dealt with her MS. Once the concerts were behind her, Molly had to focus on her new role as the MS Society's National 2001 Mother of the Year.
Diagnosed with MS in college, Molly has had to overcome numerous physical challenges. She can no longer stand during choral performances and has difficulty reading music and words at the same time. To learn the music, Molly sings on “la” until she memorizes her voice part and then adds the words. Molly says that while it takes her longer to learn the music, it’s worth it to be able to continue singing with her fellow sopranos.
“Even though I need to sit down during our performances, the choir still wants me for my voice and my positive attitude,” says Molly. “There is a chair sitting center-stage for me at concerts. I would not let MS keep me from something I dearly loved.”
Another obstacle is the public’s lack of understanding about MS. “I tell anyone who asks, or those I don’t know who look at me with concern seeing me walk with a cane or riding on my power wheelchair, that I have multiple sclerosis, and it doesn’t have me,” says Molly. “I’m OK. Actually, I’m great! I can do most of the same things those who aren’t disabled can do. But, don’t ask me to run!”
Since she retired in 1997, Molly still keeps a full schedule of activities, including coordinating a volunteer support network to help troubled teens. Additionally, she volunteers for her chapter of the National MS Society, and was recently selected as the True Blue Volunteer of the Year. Molly has been married to Dean Wood for over 20 years and has two daughters who as teenagers, submitted her story to the MS Society which won Molly the “MS Mother of the Year” honor in May 2001.
- Updated 1/2/03
