Tanzania

by Diane Thompson

It is hard to believe that in less than four months, I will be in Tanzania, Africa! Yes, that's right, I am going to AFRICA! Multiple sclerosis is not going to hold me back this time.

Diane Thompson will be traveling to
Tanzania this summer. What a way
to train for Challenge Walk MS!

I have been preparing for this trip since November by working out at the local YMCA with a friend who will also be making the journey with me. Four to five times a week we lift weights, walk or even run a few laps, and enjoy some much needed stretching.

Even more important than the physical strength that I have gained, I have also gained a travel companion who can tell if I am close to "overdoing it." This is very important since I don't always want to listen to my body when I travel. I want to GO, GO, GO!

My neurologist has also been working with me by making sure that all of my shots are up to date and that I will have all of my daily and precautionary medications.

Who knows, maybe I will come back from Tanzania even healthier than when I left. I will be in a village where they don't use any pesticides or herbicides on their food, there is plenty of sunshine, the temperatures will be in the mid 70's and they take naps in the afternoon.

Stay tuned for further details on the "Tanzania Treatment". I will be back from Tanzania for about a month before Challenge Walk MS. I can't wait to share my adventures with all of you!

Ready to Walk?

Walk MS kicks off in Wisconsin this weekend with 10 events throughout the state. Another six events will take place next weekend, and four more walks are scheduled for September (including two new sites in Oshkosh and Stevens Point). If you're at any of the locations, spread the word about another great walk event -- Challenge Walk MS!

For details on the Walk MS dates and locations, visit walkMSwisconsin.org.

When Do You Replace Your Shoes?

According to "The Walking Site" (www.thewalkingsite.com):  

"Keep track of how many miles you have put on your shoes, and replace them every 300 to 600 miles. (If you are wearing very light weight shoes, are overweight, or you are hard on your shoes stay toward the low end on mileage.) To extend the life of your shoes be sure to only wear them only for your walks. Also rotating two pair of shoes will give them time to 'bounce back' between walks."

What recommendations have you heard?

He's Such a Ham

In case you missed it, Bernie Hengels was featured in the March edition of the Wisconsin Chapter's Volunteer e-Newsletter. Bernie is one of the fabulous ham radio operators who act as the eyes and ears of Challenge Walk MS to keep participants safe while they're on the routes. He was asked to share why he is involved in the event. Here's his answer:

Being an amateur (ham) radio operator and providing communication service for Challenge Walk MS for the past 5 years has been personally rewarding in that I have met many people that I now call friends. Being part of a team, which includes the SAG drivers and the medical trainers, allow us to work as a cohesive unit and not as individuals. Each team member adds to the success of the event.

Our preparation is year-round as we typically meet 6 weeks prior to the event, immediately after the event for a recap, and throughout the year planning for improvements and securing additional equipment to augment our efforts. As we speak, some of us have already acquired new equipment to use at Challenge Walk MS 2014 and are working on an interactive mapping program that will show the whereabouts of each team member vehicle any time. 

I continue to participate and serve as I have co-workers and personal friends with the disease. Together we can win this.

73,

Bernie de N9YMC

Bernie (third from left) with other ham radio operators for Challenge Walk MS

Challenge Walker Hires New Training Coach

by Jackie Piper

How many of you out there are logging miles this winter in anticipation of Challenge Walk 2014? If you are like me, you are using this ridiculous weather as an excuse to postpone training. I mean, really, walk when there's 18 inches of snow on the ground and it's -39 wind chill?? While this excuse has been working really well for me, I finally decided I needed to do something to get moving in spite of winter. So, I went out and found a Training Coach to get me motivated. 

When I first approached Goofy and explained the purpose of Challenge Walk MS and how much I needed him to motivate me, he said: "Garsh"!  

Then, he tried to put on my T-shirt to show how excited he was to help.

We couldn't get it over his nose.

He was super enthusiastic about holding up the Challenge Walk MS T-shirt for a photo, though, against the wishes of his handlers. And, he gave me a big thumbs up about being my Training Coach to get me in shape to walk 50 miles. All I could say was, "Garsh, thanks Goofy!"

If you think you would like a "Training Coach" to help you get moving, there is an entire cast of characters hanging out with Goofy ready to sign on. I would be happy to return to Orlando and make the arrangements for you!

On a more serious note, the arrival of my T-shirt in the mail gave me a push to start walking now and not wait for the snow to melt. I don't have a treadmill or belong to a gym, but our local mall is open early every day for walkers. Time to tie up my shoes and get walkin'! 

Jackie Piper with her celebrity Challenge Walk MS Training Coach.

Training T-shirts Are On the Way

This year's training T-shirts are packaged, posted and waiting for the mail carrier to pick them up today. If you've already registered for the 2014 Challenge Walk MS (Sept. 19-21 in Door County), watch for your shirt to arrive next week.

Just how many have registered? As of this week -- 90; and 21 of those are new participants! (By comparison, there were 50 people registered at this time last year.) That means you're doing a great job of telling others about the event and encouraging them to give it a try or return for another year.

Haven't registered yet? Sign up during the month of February and receive a certificate for a free massage during Challenge Walk MS weekend. We'll also send you your very own T-shirt to wear while you're training.

How have you been training?
Share your best practices and fun ideas for training. Those tips are especially helpful for rookie participants who have never prepared for Challenge Walk MS before. Email your suggestions and advice to maureen.waslicki@nmss.org. Include a photo of you in your training T-shirt, too!

A Fun Way to Warm Up and Fundraise

Challenge Walk MS team Multiple Screwballs is holding a Zumbathon fundraiser in January.

Looking for ways to increase your fundraising total? Visit the fundraising page on the Challenge Walk MS website for ideas and resources.