My Fingers Look Like Little Sausages

by Marian Rezel

This is a tale of hand inflammation and other tips for a successful Challenge Walk MS.

I first joined Challenge Walk MS in 2009. Although I trained like a champion, I was not totally prepared. I remember while walking with my friend Lori that we noticed that our hands were retaining water. One of us said, “My fingers look like little sausages!” We threw our arms up in the air, getting them above our hearts and, bam, just like that the swelling went down … for about 5 seconds. We improvised a solution (arms up, open and closing hands, wiggling fingers) until we hit our next rest stop. They were handing out little squishy balls at the stop and told us that these would help us with our sausage fingers.  

Lesson learned: pack a stress ball.  You can make your own by filling balloons with flour, cornstarch, Play Dough or sand. Another idea is to cut up a clean pool noodle and squish that.  

Make your own stress ball
using balloons filled with
cornstarch, Play Dough or sand.

Or slice a pool noodle and
squeeze that to prevent
swollen fingers.

“I’ve got blisters on my toes.” I actually have not experienced this malady, but I know many who have.  You need to reduce friction and keep your feet dry to prevent blisters. Here are some tips: 

•          Wear water wicking socks (pack an extra pair in your half-day bag).
•          Use a foot powder (like Gold Bond). 
•          Prep your feet with petroleum jelly or Body Glide (that’s what I use).  

Another lesson I learned the hard way: My legs were aching after the first day. I didn’t sign up for a massage, I just toughed it out.  I didn’t get a massage the second day either. My poor old legs were so tired on Sunday. I figured it was just “supposed” to be that way. The next year I took a team mate’s advice and signed up for a massage after the first night. My legs felt so good on Saturday that I signed up for another massage that night. No exhaustion on Sunday. I will always get a massage. Note to self: self … you can sign up for the massage right now (Friday massage | Saturday massage). Don’t delay.

Did you know that the friendly drivers in the Support and Gear (SAG) Wagons carry water?  Yes they do, and they are more than happy to hand them out. Take advantage of this; don’t be a camel and try to haul around a day’s worth of water on your back. Those nice folks in the SAG Wagons will also take your empties so you won’t have to haul your garbage around with you either.  

One more tip … have fun, it really does help if you face the challenge with a smile. I’ll see you on the walk!

Fundraising Ideas

by Jill Jones

Fundraising is an important part of Challenge Walk MS. My advice to anyone who participates in the Challenge Walk is to ask people to help you, either your Challenge Walk teammates or other friends, family and community organizations. Working with other people makes fundraising so much more fun. It requires someone to take the first step, to initiate the idea, and when you see that idea flourish, it becomes something very special. 

I am part of the “Survivors-Out Move, Out Last” team and every year our team has a goal to get everyone to the Celebration Club, which is to raise at least $2,500. This year, in my second year of the Challenge Walk MS, I personally set a goal to double that. 

As mentioned in my last blog post, our team started the Milton Mud Challenge three years ago in hopes of raising enough money for every member of the team to participate in the Challenge Walk MS. (More about that later.) Our team also holds other fundraisers during the year to increase the awareness of MS and to raise as much money as possible. These are ideas that might work for you too!    

·         Pin Up sales. You can get these from the National MS Society and ask a business to put them up. This is an easy fundraiser and creates a lot of awareness for MS.

·         Make and sell decorative flower hair pins. Some of our team members are hair and color specialists so they sell these at their salon. 

·         Collection jar. These same team members also have a jar at their salon that they collect money in for our team.

·         Sell T-shirts.  A local organization sold T-shirts and donated the money to our team.

·         Send letters. Don’t be afraid to ask people in a good old-fashioned letter. People like a personal touch and if you take time to send a letter to them, they might be happy to help you out by donating to your cause.

·         Hold a fun run/walk. One team member and the Evansville Health Club hosted “Huffin for a Stuffin” on Thanksgiving morning, and the 4-H club I am part of hosted the “Shamrock Shuffle” in March in Cambria.  

We have also held roller skating parties and bake sales.  

This Saturday, August 24^th, embarks the 3^rd annual Milton Mud Challenge. Our “Survivors- Out Move, Out Last” team started this fundraiser as a way to gain funds for the Challenge Walk MS three years ago. This year our goal is to raise $40,000. We have over 650 people registered and although the event is a lot of work to host, it is worth it. Our team really works together on this event and makes it a lot of fun. The reason for the event is what makes it work so well: to find a cure for MS! 

Jill and her sister Heidi

Conference Call #2 Recap

The second Challenge Walk MS conference call was held August 14 at 6 p.m. Highlights are as follows:

Numbers Update: Currently 124 walkers, 13 Super Crew members and 29 crew members are registered. Ten walkers and a crew member have registered since last month’s conference call! Keep recruiting friends and family members to join the event or donate. The goal is 155 walkers and $415,000 raised.

Celebration Club: This is your year to become part of the Celebration Club, a special designation for those who secure $2,500 or more in pledges. You earn different incentives at each level: Bronze: $2,500 to $4,999; Silver: $5,000 to $9,999; Gold: $10,000 or more.

Massage Reservations Massage therapists from Signature Body & Mind Solutions provide massages on Friday and Saturday afternoon and evening. No reservations required, though advanced reservations can be made online. Cost is $1/minute.

Commemorative Wear: A special Challenge Walk MS “souvenir,” this wearable item is available for purchase to commemorate your participation in the event. A different item is made available each year and are sold through the Wisconsin Chapter website. This year’s item is a lightweight jacket with lower front zippered pockets, and a back vent and mesh lining for breathability. Orders must be placed online at challengewalkMSwi.org by September 11. Jackets will be available for pick up at Challenge Walk MS and cost $30 each.

Rooming: Chapter staff will call all participants at the end of this month or beginning of September to let you know what cabin or room has been reserved for you and who you will be staying with. There is an incremental cost for those who plan to stay over Thursday night; lodge rooms start at $79.00 (plus tax). Let the Chapter office know by  Friday, August 30 if you need a room for Thursday night.

Thursday Night – Registration, Meet ‘n’ Greet: Most participants arrive Thursday night and participate in the Meet ‘n’ Greet, where you can drop off auction items; meet other walkers, Super Crew and crew members; and check out the “wine pull” (you pay a flat amount and choose any of the wrapped bottles of wine set out for display – it’s a great way to raise a few extra dollars to support the MS Movement and get a tasty beverage for yourself to enjoy during the weekend). During the conference call, veteran participant Connie Plier added that coming Thursday is a big help because it’s easier to get settled in and get ready for the big walk in the morning.

Meals for family members, support team: Meals for Challenge Walk walkers and Super Crew are included as part of your fundraising and include breakfast, lunch and dinner on Friday and Saturday, and breakfast and lunch on Sunday, plus snacks throughout all three days. Family and support teams who are staying at the resort but aren’t participating can purchase meal tickets available online at challengewalkMSwi.org. Tickets can be purchased for specific meals or for the entire weekend. The prices are being confirmed.

Silent Auction: The silent auction is open Friday and Saturday evenings. Each Challenge Walk MS participant has the option of providing items, with the dollars raised going toward their fundraising totals. $50 minimum value per basket is requested. Basket description(s) are due by Friday, September 13. Email descriptions with estimated value to: jamie.baker@nmss.org, then drop your items off in the Lodge Thursday night or Friday before the walk begins. If you put a basket together, it’s suggested that you try to get the items donated instead of paying for them yourself. Special thanks to Marian and Hayley Rezel for volunteering to help run the auction. If you would like to help them, email jamie.baker@nmss.org.

Additional Reminders 

Medical Assistance will be available on site at Alpine for blisters, strained muscles, other needs before and after each day’s walk, and also along route. As one person on the conference call said, “The work they can do to prevent blisters is amazing!”

Letters of Inspiration Let family, friends, colleagues, church members or any group you belong to know they can send in letters, cards or notes for you to receive during the weekend. Suggest it to anyone who says they can’t be there or can’t donate. Letters need to be received at the Chapter office by September 13. Email jamie.baker@nmss.org or have them sent to 1120 James Dr., Ste. A, Hartland, 53029, attn: Jamie Baker.

Your Photos and Quotes Each year we like to share a photo of each participant and a quote about why you are part of Challenge Walk. Send your photo and quote via email before the end of this month. 1 MB (1,000 KB) or larger, jpg or eps format, head shots preferred.  Quotes should be 1-2 sentences (anything longer may be edited for length). Email to jamie.baker@nmss.org by August 31.

Challenge Walk blog If you haven’t seen it already, visit challengewalkmsdoorcounty.blogspot.com/. A number of new posts in the past month from veteran walkers.Share your own training photos, pictures from last year, your own insight into the weekend by emailing them to maureen.waslicki@nmss.org.

Posters Were sent out to registered participants at the end of July. If you need any, you can download from the Challenge Walk website’s fundraising headquarters.

Upcoming Call The last call before the walk will be Wednesday, September 11 at 6 p.m. If you haven’t been on a call yet, this is the one to join. Get all your last minute questions answered! Call 888-279-3775 and use conference code 4804. 

Jackie’s Top 12 Challenge Walk Favorites (when 10 isn’t enough!)

by Jackie Piper

1.  The Alpine Resort  

I'm pretty sure the movie "White Christmas" was filmed here in 1954. I love every quaint, kitschy inch of it!

2.  Door County Scenery
What a lovely walk through the countryside, every day, rain or shine.

3.  Wilson's Ice Cream
If the powers that be ever change the Day One route, our team will be making a looooong detour for this!

4.  Amazing Rest Stops
In a comparison study, Door County CW volunteers received the highest ratings compared to other really, really long walks. (Just kidding...but they would!)

5.  Mile Markers
Is there any more welcome site in the world those three days than Mile Markers 19, 39, and 49? Surely, I can walk ONE MORE MILE.

6.  Massages  
My calves thank you. My thighs thank you. My lower back thanks you!

7.  Basket Auction
I never knew I needed so many items until I saw them at the auction and I HAD to bid!

8.  The Teams
Your team, my team, all the teams are incredibly inspirational! Will there ever be a better team name than "MS is BS"??  And, how do you thank teammates who meet you at mile marker 40 with a hard cider??

9.  Dinner Programs  
I am so tired that I think I can't hold my head up another minute. Then an amazing speaker stands up and gives a testimonial that has me hanging on every word.

10. A Wisconsin Welcome  
I'm from Illinois. I used to live in Wisconsin many moons ago and I miss hearing “bubbler” and “stop and go lights.”  But, I feel I've come home when I walk in the door of the resort and get a warm and wonderful, “We're so glad you're here! Thanks for walking.”

(left to right) Annie Welch and
Cammie Meerdink with their mom,
Jackie Piper, at the 2012
Challenge Walk MS finish line

11. The Ultimate Inspiration  
When I see the number of people who have MS who are participating in the Challenge Walk, I stand in awe.

12. The Finish Line

I don't remember when I first heard this line, but it is so true:  "Challenge Walk changes your life.”  When I cross the finish line, I’m not helpless against this terrible disease. I’m powerful. When the day comes that a cure for MS is announced, I can say, “I helped.”

Multiple Rest Stops for Multiple Screwballs

Challenge Walk MS team Multiple Screwballs pitched in and helped out earlier this month at Bike MS: TOYOTA Best Dam Bike Ride by hosting a rest stop for cyclists. The CWMS veterans have plenty of experience: they've hosted wonderful stops for fellow Challenge Walk MS participants in the past and will continue the tradition this year. Below are a few photos of their Best Dam Bike Ride stop.

The Multiple Screwballs' stop was on the "Century Loop," where riders who chose the 100-mile route received special stickers signifying their accomplishment. Many riders chose to showcase their stickers on their rider bibs. 

Spread the Word About Challenge Walk MS with a Letter to the Editor

If the story of why you are participating in Challenge Walk MS is newsworthy or compelling (which, of course, it is!), share it with others. Write a letter to your local community paper – even send a picture. Editors will be interested in your connection to multiple sclerosis and the fact that you’re doing something positive to help everyone affected by the disease.

When deciding whether or not to send a letter to the editor, consider the potential results:

• Increased awareness of MS in your area
• Additional donations to your personal or team fundraising
• Increased media coverage of the event, resulting in additional event participant registration, additional volunteers and more donations overall
• The editor may ask for more information or a photo shoot

If you have decided to send the letter, include the following:

• Who you are and why you are participating. Provide your contact information (email address, phone number or both)
• Accurate information about the event, including its name, location and dates 
• Details on how readers can help (e.g. join, volunteer, donate)

Remember that ANYTHING you mention or write to the publication could be printed – nothing is “off the record.”

Here’s a sample letter that you can use, or you can write your own:

To the editor:

Challenge Walk MS is a three-day, 50-mile fundraising walk benefitting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. I will be part of the event in Door County September 20-22 because [insert your own personal connection here/why you have chosen to participate].

Multiple sclerosis, a chronic disease of the central nervous system with no known cure, is believed to have a higher prevalence rate in Wisconsin than other states, with more than 10,000 children, women and men diagnosed. Events like Challenge Walk MS fund the cutting-edge research as well as the programs and services that benefit everyone touched by the disease.

I’m asking our community to show its support of the Movement for a world free of MS with a donation to the National MS Society or by joining Challenge Walk MS in Door County. Anyone interested can visit challengewalkMSwi.org or call 800-242-3358 in Wisconsin.

Thank you.

[your name]

[your phone or email]

[your neighborhood or town]

Oh, The Places You'll Go

by Jackie Piper

“Congratulations!

Today is your day.

You're off to Great Places!

You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes

You can steer yourself

any direction you choose.

You're on your own.  And you know what you know.

And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.”

-“Oh, The Places You’ll Go,” by Dr. Seuss

So, it’s my second blog post and you have figured out that I spend a lot of time hanging out with kids. One of the many things I’ve learned is that all of life’s lessons really are found in children’s literature! Leave it to Dr. Seuss, in his famous and popular “graduation gift” book to remind us what we are capable of.

However, for those who are affected with MS, hopes and dreams for the future can be quickly, viciously and painfully dashed with the words, “you have MS”. I have never heard those words. My young son-in-law, Dylan, has. At age 27, with a 1-year-old son, he was diagnosed with relapsing remitting MS.

As a nurse, Dylan was certainly aware of the range of symptoms possible with MS. It could have been enough to stop him from heading off to any “Great Places.” But, Dylan has been unstoppable.

This is what Challenge Walk MS and other MS Society fundraising has done and will continue to do. The research and progress in treatment enables people to live life, pursue their dreams and move forward.

Since diagnosis 4 years ago, the “Great Places” Dylan has been off to include a nursing degree, a new house,

Jackie is involved in Challenge Walk MS to honor her
son-in-law, Dylan,shown here with his wife (Jackie's
daughter) and their two children. (Baby #3 is due
in December.)

a full-time job, a passion for fly fishing, another little boy, and Baby #3 due in December.

So, this is why I walk. I want Dylan and every person diagnosed with MS to be “off and away” to “Great Places,” with hope and confidence that we are doing everything we can to beat MS.

My First Challenge Walk MS Experience

by Jill Jones

      This will be my second year walking in Challenge Walk MS. My sister started this tradition for our family two years ago. I went with my mom and dad that year to cheer on my sister and brother-in-law. I was so impressed with the walk and how everyone cheered for each other and how everyone treated each other as one big family. I knew I wanted to be a part of that “family” the next year.       

      I am walking for my mom, Peggy, who was diagnosed with MS about five years ago. I am also walking for my mom’s best friend, Nancy, who was diagnosed a year later. I want to find a cure for them and all of the others that fight this disease every day. I feel that there is a good chance that can happen in their lifetime if we keep working to raise funds to support research. 

Challenge Walk MS is a unique adventure, unlike Walk MS that I also participate in every year. It is a chance to challenge yourself, to do something that might at first seem impossible. When my sister first said that she was participating in the Challenge Walk two years ago I thought she was crazy. I thought that there was no way I would ever do that, or that she would even be able to finish it. Today I am proud to say that I have completed one Challenge Walk and my sister has completed two. 

Last year I was very nervous before the walk because I really wasn’t sure if I could do it. I saw other people blogging about their “training” and thought I was not as prepared as they were. I have since learned that everyone has their own training and what I had done prior to the Challenge Walk worked for me. I live on a farm and actively help my children prepare their cattle for the county fair. My training consisted of walking our animals almost every day for many months. I also took many long walks in our fields and country blocks, which I believe also helped me. So that worked for me, but whatever you do to prepare, I’m sure will help you too! 

Jill’s family at last year’s Milton Mud Challenge, a fundraiser
that her sister and brother-in-law started three years ago to
support MS and raise funds to stop the disease. (Front row:
Jill’s mom, Peggy; Jill; Jill’s sister-in-law Erika; and sister
Heidi. Back row: Jill’s husband, Greg; brother Ben;
dad, Jim; and brother-in-law Jeremy)