Thank you!

Veteran walker Fran McLaughlin sent out a thank you note and photo collage after the 2012 Challenge Walk MS in Door County. Here’s what the note said:

“50 Miles X 5 years—250 miles walked for MS Research so far! Thanks to everyone who supported me on this walk, extortion emails notwithstanding. I power walk around the peninsula, and love the scenery. Apple orchards, cranes, winding roads, driftwood, ramshackle farm buildings, King Kong (?!) holding a Barbie, sunflowers and sunsets. The “reverse wave” below eventually made it from the front to the back of the line as we crossed the finish line! We wear blaze orange and we’ll fundraise until they find a cure! THANK YOU for your help in 2012!

“The Door Peninsula is beautiful! Cave Point was the start on Day 2. The Olympic Torch was part of an ‘Olympic Village’ rest stop—complete with the Queen in pastel and purse without any money in it! I traded my Sheriff’s badge for a British Bobbie uniform for the occasion. Photo of my favorite team, ‘Walk the Talk’ - two of these women in photo have also done the 50-mile walk for 5 years in honor of their mother who died from complications of MS. One has MS. Info you may never need to know, but once known, is ingrained in your brain: that white wildflower is known as ‘Dolls Eyes’ which is just a little creepy. The horse greets us every year we pass this way. Gus, at left, is the resort ‘mascot.’ Very old-school Wisconsin resort—like the rusty bottle and wine openers on the medicine cabinets in the bathrooms!”

COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS - 9/16/2012

Only three days now until Wednesday, when I'll set out, with all of you behind me in spirit, for Door County. I'll have lunch with my father in Eau Claire, spend Wednesday night in Wausau, wander around a bit in nearby Rothschild, which I called home from the last two years of high school through college, maybe climb Rib Mountain (ha!) and pull into Alpine Resort in Egg Harbor on Thursday afternoon. Let the party begin! Our team of eleven, six of us new this year, is going out to dinner together to start getting acquainted. More meet 'n' greet festivities await us back at Alpine. Day One dawns bright and early Friday - we depart on shuttle buses for the first day's 20-mile walk at 7:25 AM.

I've logged 805 miles since mid-March, which is more than during any other of the ten seasons I've been doing Challenge Walk. Although Challenge Walk has always been in September, I've never before done a Challenge Walk at the end of June as well; hence the extreme mileage. No wonder my custom orthotics are showing the wear. On the other hand, I've not had the opportunity, at least not since March, to train in weather like we're most likely to get, which is lows in the 30s, highs in the 50s, and probably some rain. My theory on packing at the moment is just to throw everything into the suitcase that I might possibly need!

Challenge Walk Door County will probably be a once in a lifetime experience for me, so I intend to enjoy and be inspired by the people I meet, gawk at the fall colors and scenery, and generally have the time of my life. After the extreme brutal heat of Challenge Walk Twin Cities at the end of June, I and many others vowed never to do another summer Challenge Walk. The MS Society got the message, and next year's Twin Cities event will be back in September where it belongs.

If you're interested in seeing our daily route maps, here are the links:

Friday: http://challengewig.nationalmssociety.org/site/DocServer/Friday.pdf?docID=57605

Saturday: http://challengewig.nationalmssociety.org/site/DocServer/Saturday.pdf?docID=57607

Sunday: http://challengewig.nationalmssociety.org/site/DocServer/Sunday.pdf?docID=57609

Patience! These may take a while to load. The little numbers along the route are the mile markers.


Be watching for one last post-event post (sorry, couldn't resist) when I return that will include a link to my Door County photos. Until then, thank you for all that your support means to me personally and to the fight to end MS forever. We're now $12,182 closer to that goal.

The Journey to September

Rookie Challenge Walkers may be feeling a bit perplexed when it comes to training for a 30-50 mile endurance walk. This is especially true for Challenge Walkers like me, living with MS.


On Being Anal


I must say that Sally and I were extremely dedicated to following the training schedule TO THE LETTER our first year. We actually ended up burning ourselves out. We just shake our heads when we remember how we absolutely refused to abandon a training walk until our pedometer read 16 MILES! It was a very hot day and we were probably dehydrated and more than a little delirious – Umm, DON’T DO THAT!


After the first year, we learned how to find a happy medium of getting into “walk shape” and toughening up our feet enough to avoid major blister problems. What we didn’t know in 2008 is how much a difference it makes when you’re “in the moment” at Challenge Walk MS. The atmosphere of Challenge Walk Weekend is so motivating. We learned if we can do 5 miles consistently at home, we can do 10 at Challenge Walk; if we can do 10 miles at home, we can do 15 up there and so on…


On Beating the Heat


For those of us with MS, I’ve found that training in the early hours of the morning help so much. To beat the heat and humidity of summer, we often headed out by 4:30 a.m. to get our training walk in. If you’re not a morning person, try training in the cool of the evening. If you’re completely exhausted by the end of the day, try walking on a treadmill in air conditioning if at all possible. How about “water walking” at the local pool – another option on those extremely hot and humid days.


On Proper Shoes


One of the best pieces of advice we were given early on was to switch to running shoes for endurance walking. Running shoes are much lighter and allow your feet to breathe. Performance Running Centers (we go to the one in Oconomowoc) offers a discount to Challenge Walk MS walkers. Ask for Nick the manager and tell him Challenge Woman sent you. A good running shoe store will actually watch your gait, stride and observe how your foot strikes the ground and will fit you with the best shoe for YOU.

In Closing


“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters in the end.”

– Ernest Hemingway

How We Spent Our MS “Vacations"

It’s hard to believe Sally and I will be walking in our fifth Challenge Walk MS this September. When the first Challenge Walk was announced back in 2008, I immediately registered. (I’ve kept the #1 Day Bag tag neatly tucked in my Challenge Walk scrapbook as a keepsake.) I had absolutely no idea how I was going to raise the $1,500 minimum required AND how I was going to convince my partner, Sally, to do this with me – especially since she was only a year post-op from having total hip replacement surgery.

Over the past four years, we’ve come to realize that the “walking” part was easy – except when training in the summer heat and humidity made my MS symptoms rage. The “challenge” for us was the fund-raising. I feel we’ve learned so much about having an open mind when it comes to raising cash for the cause. We’ve had some creative ideas that really saved our butts and some that have really bombed! The most amazing aspect on this journey has been that the money always came in – often times from totally unexpected places. We believe making our biggest connection by turning it over to God has so much to do with our success.

Some of the things we’ve done to fund-raise:

• I held a “20th Anniversary of my 29th Birthday” Bash to End MS (for those of you who are mathematically challenged – it was my 49th birthday party): a lot of work but SO MUCH FUN!
• We started collecting aluminum cans – which really helped us meet our goal when the economy tanked. Team:CanMS was born and we now collect cans year round. Stinky and gross sometimes, but worth it!
• I’m a Mary Kay Consultant and throughout the year, I donate 10% of my profits to Challenge Walk MS and I hold one or two special sales each year and donate 100% of the proceeds to Challenge Walk.
• We started making homemade campfire starters in our kitchen with minimal cost to us. Our friend Katrina is really talented at getting old candles donated for us to melt down. One-hundred percent of the proceeds go toward our goal each year as well.
• As a side note, I sold some gold and silver jewelry to put towards my goal. Various necklaces sat neck-less for many years since my diagnosis. My MS affects my hand function so much that I can’t get the dang stuff on or off! So why keep it around to taunt me from its stand on the dresser?

I guess what I’m trying to say is there are MANY ways to fund-raise. The Wisconsin Chapter has many connections for ideas and networking opportunities to share. The MS Society is there to motivate and help you reach your goal.

For the past four years, Sally and I have sat at the Finish Line Lunch – sore, exhausted and emotionally spent. We vow that WE’RE DONE, WE’RE RETIRING – THIS IS OUR LAST CHALLENGE WALK – yet here we are, back again! This weekend in September has become our passion, an MS family reunion we look forward to each year. This Door County weekend is the culmination of a 12-month journey of hope and perseverance. MS is NO picnic, yet for one remarkable weekend each September, it is OUR MS vacation spent with friends on the journey together. Our Challenge Walk MS family is committed to walk many miles and raise many dollars for a cure, which forms connections NO disease can possibly sever.



Lori “Challenge Woman” Kolosowsky poses
with team member Sally Eubanks, Watertown Rotary Club guest
John Blackman and Watertown Rotary Club
President Diane Kennedy.

 Challenge Walk MS Team:CanMS members Sally Eubanks and Lori Kolosowsky attended the Watertown Rotary Club's meeting on Aug 8 to promote Challenge Walk MS and MS Awareness. Sally and Lori are participating in their 4th Challenge Walk MS. Lori was diagnosed with MS in 1999 and is a MS Volunteer Community Ambassador. She uses the "Challenge Woman" costume to get her point across with humor.

Let the fundraising begin!

My first year as a Challenge Walker I thought, “How in the world am I going to raise $1,500?” Jill, my Team Captain, said start by making a list of 30 people that you know who might donate $50. I started making my list, and then I hesitated. I was concerned about the awkwardness of asking friends and family for money. Today, two years later, I am eager to talk about Challenge Walk MS and request a donation from anyone who will listen!

What did I learn that changed my mind? Two very important lessons.

First, one of the goals of Challenge Walk MS is to spread awareness about MS. In order to do that, you have to start talking about MS. More than once I have heard, “You’re walking for MS? That’s great! My mom/friend/professor/co-worker/aunt has MS. Thanks so much for what you’re doing.”

Last year our team did a brat fry at a local grocery store. Our profit was a little disappointing, but we did a great job of informing the community about MS. We had posters up on our booth and had fliers available for people who had questions about the disease and about the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. MS is a disease that people know little about and one of our jobs as Challenge Walkers is to help inform our communities.

The second thing I’ve learned about fundraising is a little obvious, but here it goes: people can’t donate if you don’t ask them. I was nervous when I asked to speak to the owner of Fantastic Sam’s in West Bend about donating and participating in our team’s Pin Up program. She was wonderful though. She said her store would be glad to run the Pin Up campaign and that she would match whatever her customers donated. I’m really excited about getting Fantastic Sam’s involved with Team Marty and Clyde and I can’t believe I almost didn’t ask because I was scared.

So my advice to first time Challenge Walkers (or veteran Challenge Walkers) is to talk about Challenge Walk to everyone who will listen and to make a list of at least 30 people and 10 businesses that you can ask for donations. You’ll be happy you did.



Anne Rogalski, Fran McLaughlin
and Nicole Youngstrom

 Welcome New Challenge Walk MS Participants

Challenge Walk 2011 will be my fourth time experiencing the incredible beauty of Door County in the fall, as well as enjoying what I consider hours of very entertaining conversations with my two walking companions: my sister Nicole, who makes the trip every year from North Carolina; and Fran, a friend I made the first year of the walk, who also happens to have MS.

For those who have been involved with the walk in the past, you probably recognize the three of us as “the ones who skip lunch to beat their personal best.”  FYI: not only do we have photos to prove otherwise, we also typically gain 3-5 pounds over the course of the weekend … the meals and rest stop treats are irresistible! You would think walking 50 miles in three days would make up for the increased calories. We just keep telling ourselves it is “muscle weight.”

For the 30-plus people joining Challenge Walk MS for the first time this year: welcome! As an individual living with MS, I also want to say thank you for donating your time, energy and talent to bring us closer to finding a cure.

At times the task of raising $1,500 seems daunting. However, over the years I have accepted the fact that when I ask, the worst that can happen is the individual will say no. On the rare occasions that someone does turn my request down; they do so with regret, and then find a way to say yes the following year.

I officially kicked off my training yesterday at Walk Wisconsin, a non-competitive marathon in Stevens Point. My husband, a non-walker, and I agreed to split the difference; we walked 16 miles, ending at our front door. Typically I walk four miles a day, with increased mileage on the weekends. I should probably also mention that the weekends include a mandatory Starbucks “walk through” with my “Walking BFF” Marian.

Good luck to all! May the wind be at your back and the donations in your online thermometer!

Anne Rogalski