History of the MS JAM
Over the past 8 years, our goal as the MS JAM FOUNDATION has been to raise awareness about multiple sclerosis and money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. We have been blessed to be able to give the Northwest Ohio, National Multiple Sclerosis Society over $110,000.00 in these seven years.
Bill was diagnosed with ms in August of 2003. His neurologist told us to learn as much as we could about multiple sclerosis since the disease affects everyone differently. I contacted the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and they were so helpful bringing us up to speed about this chronic disease. Dr. Zangara recommended that Bill start one of the four injection therapies as soon as possible but he was not sure that he wanted to start giving himself an injection on a regular basis. We contacted the MS Society and they assured us that the injection therapies significantly reduce ms relapses. He started the injections about a week later, and has had very few minor effects from ms for almost 8 years, and no side effects from Copaxone since he started therapy 8 years ago. Copaxone is one of the drug therapies to manage relapsing and remitting ms.
A few weeks later we attended a seminar in Dearborn MI, hosted by Shared Solutions (Copaxone), on the subject of multiple sclerosis. There was a neurologist there to speak about ms, along with country music star and ms spokesman, Clay Walker, who was diagnosed with ms about 12 years ago. Clay Walker talked about how ms had affected his life, but was very positive about how he was able to have a normal family life, perform his shows, play guitar, and raise awareness about ms through the Band Against MS Foundation that he had founded.
Having been an amateur musician for over thirty years, Bill started thinking about how many musicians he knew in Northwest Ohio. Several had talked for years about getting some musicians together to jam and bring "old friends" together. We contacted the National MS Society about the idea to put on a third party fundraiser for the National MS Society. Then we talked to our friends John and Lou Luce about the idea and the first "MS JAM" planning committee was formed. From there on, it's history… for a great cause. Many of our sponsors and volunteers have been a part of it from the beginning and look forward to The MS JAM year after year.
Each year our support from businesses and organizations has grown. The MS JAM Foundation sincerely thanks each and every one of you for your trust and assures you good stewardship with your money and donations, and promises to make the MS JAM a worthy family event to raise as much awareness about ms as we can. All of the proceeds from the MS JAM go to the Northwest Ohio Chapter, National MS Society to be used locally to support the UMBRELLA of CARE PROGRAM, which assists people afflicted with multiple sclerosis in Northwest Ohio.
The National MS Society has presented the MS JAM FOUNDATION with numerous awards, including the 2007 OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTOR AWARD. Thank you for believing that we few can make a big difference in the lives of many if we all just do, "what we can, while we can" to help.
We appreciate you for coming to this year's MS JAM and we hope you have as much fun as we have putting it all together.
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THE MS JAM FOUNDATION