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Betaseron Champions of Courage Program Awards Grants to Five Individuals with Plans to Educate and Inspire
Washington, DC, October 17, 2002 – The Betaseron® Multiple Sclerosis Champions of Courage (BCC) program recently awarded grants to five individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) to help them achieve their goals and inspire others with this disease. The newest grant recipients include Amelia Davis of San Francisco, CA; Tracy MacDonald of Skowhegan, ME; Martha Patt of El Cerrito, CA; Patricia Miller of Tijeras, NM; and Pam Spence of Carlisle, PA. Since the program’s introduction in 1999, more than 30 individuals have received BCC grants to underwrite motivating projects.
"We are excited to be able to support these individual’s efforts to help people with MS and increase understanding about this disease," said Eric Simons, motivational speaker with MS and chairman of the Betaseron® Champions of Courage program. "We hope their stories will encourage others to do the same."
Amelia Davis: Confronting the Reality of MS Through Photography
Amelia Davis, 34, a professional photographer living in San Francisco, CA, is photographing a diverse group of people and their families who are all living with multiple sclerosis for a photographic book she plans to publish called My Story. Accompanying each photograph is a statement written by the person with MS and one written by their family or caregiver expressing, in their own words, their feelings and experiences.
"I have learned to be open and upfront about my disease and to face reality head on. By doing this, I think I can help educate others about MS and bring MS out into the public’s eye."
She has photographed 15 of the 30 people she plans to include, including celebrities Richard Pryor and David Lander. She expects the book will be published by the end of 2003. Her Betaseron Champions of Courage grant will help to defray some of her expenses.
Tracy MacDonald Bikes With a Little Help From a Battery
Tracy MacDonald, 31, of Skowhegan, ME, is using her Betaseron Champions of Courage grant to purchase a battery-operated electric bicycle that would enable her to continue to exercise regularly and ride in MS 150 rides sponsored by the National MS Society. Tracy tried an electric bike when on vacation in Switzerland and was inspired to get one of her own when she returned home. "It was so much fun to be cruising the streets on a bike with a little boost from a battery!" she recalls.
In addition to wanting to support the MS150, she also wants to continue regular exercise with her husband and two small children. Says Tracy, "I think I can set an example for other people with MS -- and even for healthy people -- to get out there and use what is given to them and, if that fails, to be innovative!"
Martha Patt and Patricia Miller: Two Who "Champion" the Benefits of Yoga
Martha Patt, 44, of El Cerrito, CA received her second BCC grant to organize a yoga workshop for people with MS in Chicago. The Yoga for MS workshop will be modeled after her highly successful workshops in Colorado in 2001 underwritten by her first BCC grant. She will bring together yoga instructors and people with MS for a hands-on day adapting yoga postures for those with MS.
"By sharing my personal experiences and introducing the exciting benefits of yoga to both clients with MS and yoga teachers, we can offer hope and direction to those trying to live productive and healthy lifestyles," says Martha.
Patricia Miller, 57, of Tijeras, NM, also received her second grant to allow her to continue offering yoga classes for low-income community members. Her first BCC grant, awarded in March of 2002, underwrote the cost of weekly yoga classes for low-income members of her MS community for five months. Before her grant, only three or four people with MS attended her yoga class. Now, as many as 12 to 14 attend on a regular basis. Because of her success, the BCC Board voted to extend the grant to cover the remaining seven months of the year. Patricia plans to seek alternate funding through local corporations once the grant is finished.
Pam Spence: Biking the MS 150 to Tell her Story
Pam Spence, 44, of Carlisle, PA, plans to do eight MS 150 bike rides (two-day bike tours that raise funds for the National MS Society) in different cities across the nation in 2003. Her BCC grant will help defray some of the expenses to help her accomplish this ambitious goal.
The reason behind all this biking: to raise awareness. Pam had MS for nine years before she told anyone outside of immediate family about her illness. Now she speaks publicly about her disease, hoping to instill hope in others with MS. She gets up at 4:30 every morning to train at her local "Y" and believes her active lifestyle has been instrumental in helping her to stay healthy. She hopes to provide a good example for others to begin making healthy lifestyle choices.
Betaseron® Champions of Courage
Funded by a grant from Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc., the Betaseron® Champions of Courage program recognizes the accomplishments of people with MS and provides grants to support their inspirational activities. To apply for a grant, individuals must be taking the MS medication Betaseron®, describe their community service activities, and outline how they will use a grant to inspire others. Applications can be obtained by visiting www.championsofcourage.org, or by calling 202-363-3378. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and are reviewed twice a year.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that randomly attacks the central nervous system, affecting the brain and spinal cord, wearing away control over the body. Symptoms may range from numbness to paralysis and blindness. Though no cure yet exists, there are now therapies available that can impact underlying disease course as well as manage symptoms. MS affects more than a third of a million people in the U.S. alone, with someone being newly diagnosed virtually each hour.
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Contact: |
Liz Garman Betaseron® Multiple Sclerosis Champions of CourageSM Telephone: 202/363-3378 E-Mail: info@championsofcourage.org |
