Here’s what I posted on Ay-ziggy-zoomba.com. I know a lot of people who come to this site DON’T go to that site, so please excuse the cross-posting, but here’s the deal…

It’s that time of year again everyone! April 18, I will be participating in the National MS Society’s MS Walk. Last year you all helped me be one of the top fundraisers in the Northwest Ohio area! I became a “Golden Toe” (and got a snazzy yellow wind-breaker) for raising over $700! Maryellen was THE TOP rookie fundraiser last year! Our team of 4 (The Mellen Heads) raised over $2000 for the charity!

I want to thank all of you who helped out last year from the bottom of my heart. Maryellen and I were touched by the outpouring of support.Not just monetarily, but also all the notes and cards we received. You guys are all like family to me!

The National MS Society is a very worthwhile organization. The money raised in NW Ohio stays in NW Ohio too! Luckily Maryellen doesn’t need a wheelchair, transportation or any of the other tangible services they provide…but with MS, that can change at ANY time. The foundation also funds educational programs as well as medical research; programs that have helped to develop the drugs Maryellen takes which will help keep this disease at bay for a little while longer.

I’ll post the same story below that I put up last year…those facts haven’t changed. What HAS changed is our determination to raise even more money for the National MS Society!! I’m once again asking for your help. If you gave last year, please consider giving again. If you weren’t able to last year, maybe you can this year. Your contributions ARE tax deductible. If you still can’t give this year, at least keep us in your prayers.

Here’s what I posted last year. If anyone has any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask either publicly on the board, privately via email, or give me a call if you’d rather…Thanks everyone! — G

…The same summer my dad was diagnosed with cancer, my wife was diagnosed with MS. MS is a terrible, scary, unknown that not only robs its victims of their motor skills, vision, strength, sleep, coordination and more, but also of their innocence and often all of their hope. MS isn’t a well known disease, people remember reading books to raise money back in school, or maybe recognize the Bike-To-The-Bay each year, but they don’t really know what MS is.

My wife, Maryellen, woke up one morning and couldn’t see out of her right eye. After a trip to the emergency room and several doctors visits later, she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Neither of us really knew what that was. MRI’s showed scars in her brain where the electrical impulses “jumped the circuit” and caused damage. Since then she’s lost feeling in her legs, experienced numbness, dizziness, fatigue and depression. Maybe more devastating, she never knows what tomorrow will hold…it’s very probable that one day she’ll wake up and not be able to stand up.

I give her a shot once a week to help slow the progression of the disease. Thankfully, she’s recovered from each of her exacerbations (although there’s always some residual damage that holds on…her vision returned, but isn’t normal, etc.), and she’s only had to miss a few weeks of work. I can’t stand wondering what tomorrow may hold for her and can only imagine what it’s like from her perspective.

So now that I’ve given you the story…here comes the action item. April 18, I’m going to be walking in the MS Walk to help raise awareness and monies for the National MS Society. I’m looking for sponsors. The MS Society helps fund research and education. Please consider giving. Send a check made out to the “National MS Society” to me directly:

Grant Cummings
P.O. Box 73
Elmore, OH 43416

It’s not easy for me to be public about this very private part of our lives…I hope you all don’t mind my openness. If you can’t help, that’s fine, but if you can, please do! If not for Maryellen, then for someone you may or may not know. It seems like almost everyone knows of someone with MS. Now would be a great time to help do something about it! Thanks for reading.

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