A Guest Blog by Penny Ake, Springfield, Ohio
Penny Ake and family at Walk MS Springfield 2012.
Left to Right: Caleb, Penny, Erin (with pup), Michael, Kristen.
Walk MS 2013 has been quite a journey for our team this year! Since this is just our second year participating, we are learning and evolving into a better organized and creative group! Thankfully, I was also asked to participate in the organizing committee for the Springfield walk by Jim and Brooke Bodenmiller. They bring much experience in preparing for this event.
The amount of preparation which takes place prior to Walk MS is truly an eye opener! As the leaders of this event in Springfield, the Bodenmiller’s coordinate everything from securing volunteers for the registration area to planning activities which add fun to the event.
Our team, Triple Threat ~ Taking MS to the Cure-Ibean has been very active since the MS society opened up the link to register! We have been able to secure so many generous donations from both personal friends with businesses and also with small businesses in our community. Our team also received sponsorship from our local Springfield Police Department Union which donated enough money to purchase our first 50 T shirts!
On April 5th, our team will be hosting our first annual fundraising party at our local policeman’s lodge. We will be holding raffles for all of our donated items, offering a 50/50 drawing and selling our newly designed T shirts. The T shirts were designed by a local business which will allow us to donate 50% of the proceeds to the MS society!
Our team is so blessed to have so many supporters this year! Whether walking or not, we have received many donations either online or through the purchase of our T shirts. Whatever we do, we know we have worked hard to try to further research and someday find the cure!
The views, endorsements, and opinions of the guest blogger do not necessarily reflect the views of the National MS Society. If you would like to be a guest blogger, please email Rich Walburg.
