Fight MS

Greater LA WalkMS 2009

MSwalk09-feetI just got back from a nice long weekend vacation to the Sequoia National Park. Absolutely stunning and wonderfully relaxing. Just what we needed.

While walking along trails weaving around mammoth trees thousands of years old, I was sometimes reminded of the last time Nahleen and I did some heavy walking. 

It’s been about a month since the WalkMS event for Greater Los Angeles. We walked the same path as last year, but the Rose Bowl was much hotter. And of course, the current financial End Times made fundraising more challenging. Despite that, our team still managed to raise $10,000. And where people couldn’t donate, they were inspired to support us in other ways, either by walking with us, walking at local events in their neighborhood, talking about MS to others, or sending encouraging thoughts our way. Everything made a difference.

Like last year, the money we raise will go directly to fighting multiple sclerosis and providing resources to making daily life easier for those with MS.

Once again our friend Rose Kwasnicki and her camera was there with us. Here’s some choice moments.

(Oh and yes, those are Nahleen’s feet at the top picture.)

 

MSwalk09-teamHere is us with the rest of TeamMS. Lots of people came back from last year and we also had some new faces! Great team and great group of people! Kelly Garver (center with the black shirt) was a great captain. Zena Leigh returned with her husband Conor Logan of The Logan. 

Of course, we weren’t the only people there. 

MSwalk09-crowdHey, down in front! There’s always that guy.

MSwalk09-vipBecause of our mighty fundraising efforts from last year, Nahleen and I were given special VIP passes. This gave us access to a special tent with refreshments, food and, most valuable of all, shade. 

It also made us frighteningly cheery.

MSwalk09-coreynahleenvip… although everyone around us was pretty much ambivalent.

Once we composed ourselves, we were back to the task at hand. Walking!

MSwalk09-nahleenteamwalkWe sure look happy and energetic. Nothing can stop us!

MSwalk09-teambreakOK… so maybe we took a little break. But it wasn’t our fault. It would never have happened if it wasn’t for all that walking. And the hot hotness. And not the sexy kind of hot hotness, but the temperature kind where you get unsexy hot. For further proof, there’s this:

MSwalk09-coreyhot

But we got back on our feet and made it to the finish line!

MSwalk09-nahleenfinishHere’s Nahleen at the finish line getting her Medallion of Walkery! 

Exhausting yet inspiring. Thank you to everyone who participated in some way. And congratulations to those who walked. Each foot step is bringing us closer to putting multiple sclerosis in its place, and giving hope and strength to those who live with it still.

WalkMS aftermath

I’m still collecting pictures and recovering from the record heat we braved for WalkMS, but one of our team members actor Zena Leigh has posted on her blog about the day with plenty of pictures.

More soon!

WalkMS ’09 is nigh

Thank you so much for all of you who have donated! This year in particular, every dollar is precious to everyone. It takes a lot of courage to part with your hard-earned money no matter how worthwhile the cause. Thank you also to those who joined our team or are also walking with another team. I’m inspired by the great generosity and selflessness I’ve witnessed this year.

For those who have yet to donate, it’s not too late. In less than 24 hours, Nahleen and I will be putting foot to pavement. Every dollar makes a difference. $1. $2.50. $5. $25. Whatever you’re comfortable with, it does just as much good. I’ve seen first hand the invaluable work the National MS Society does. They have directly helped my wife and I in the day-to-day challenges of multiple sclerosis. If you can’t donate this year, I understand. Your emotional and spiritual support is equally valuable.

Like last year, I’ll be bringing some cameras along. If something comes together, I’ll post a video. I’ll also post pictures.

Thank you for your support!

A Certain Kind of Beauty doc raises MS awareness

The kind folks at Film Truth Productions released a powerfully honest documentary last year called A Certain Kind of Beauty. It follows the struggle of Martha’s Vineyard resident Dan Aronie as he fights with multiple sclerosis over a six-year period.

The entire documentary is now viewable online for free thanks to a partnership with SnagFilms. I’m supposed to be able to embed a player here but WordPress is notoriously resistant to embed codes. So, you can go right here to see it.

As a reminder, my wife Nahleen (who has MS) and I are participating in the Los Angeles Walk MS.

Quick links:

WalkMS 2009 approaches – and you can help defeat MS!

Quick links:

You might remember that last year, Nahleen and I participated in the WalkMS event for Greater Los Angeles. Our team raised over $17,000 in the fight to wipe out multiple sclerosis forever. The entire event raised over $1 million. The money we raised went far in finding a cure and creating programs that help people with MS live their lives day to day. For that, I thank you deeply.

In case you missed it, I put together a video of our day at last year’s WalkMS.

But all of that good news doesn’t mean the fight is over.

Every hour of every day, someone is still diagnosed with MS. And every hour of every day, those with MS still struggle with a myriad of symptoms, from fatigue and cognitive problems, to muscle weakness and speech problems, to paralysis. That’s why I registered for the MS Walk and that’s why I’m asking you to support my fund raising efforts with a tax-deductible donation. 

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is dedicated to ending the devastating effects of MS but they can’t do it without our help. It’s faster and easier than ever to support this cause that’s so important to me. Simply click on the link at the bottom of this message. If you prefer, you can send your contribution to the address listed below. 

Any amount, great or small, helps to make a difference in the lives of people with MS. I appreciate your support and look forward to letting you know how I do.

Thank you!

P.S. If you would like more information about the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, how proceeds from the MS Walk are used, or the other ways you can get involved in the fight against MS, please visit nationalmssociety.org.

Click here to visit my personal page.

Click here to view the team page for TeamMS-GLA.

Stand and Fight – WalkMS 2008

On April 6th, 2008, the Walk MS event was held at the Pasadena Rose Bowl in southern California. Nahleen Blake, co-captain of the National MS Society’s TeamMS who has MS herself, walked to raise money to help find a cure for multiple sclerosis. She brought some cameras to follow her on the 5K walk.

Her team helped raise nearly $17,000 for the National MS Society. The event itself raised over $1.3 million.

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society funds more MS research than any other private organization. In addition to supporting studies which hope to reveal the cause and course of the disease, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society also provides much needed education, programs, and services to everyone who is affected by MS – including the diagnosed, their friends and families, and the healthcare professionals who work with them.

Please visit http://www.nmss.org for more information.
Please visit http://main.nationalmssociety.org/sit… for more information on the April 6th Walk.
Also, here’s more pictures from the Walk. 

The song used in this video is “Stand and Fight” by James Taylor from the 1981 album, Dad Loves His Work.

Mini-update

I know you’re all sitting there waiting with baited breath, constantly hitting refresh to see what could possibly be added to the site next. Well golly-gee, do I have great news for you! On the About page, there is now a downloadable .PDF of my resume. Oh, you lucky dogs!

You think that’s all? No, no. Keen observers might also notice that my newest headshots have been added as well. They are currently the first thing you see when you go to the Photo Gallery. Now there’s no need to play it cool. We all know you want to click over and check them out faster than the internet can carry you. Well you go right ahead. There’s no judging here. You can stair at my amazing headshots to your heart’s content.

A bit of sad news as well. The Sanger Talent Agency is discontinuing their representation of actors, which unfortunately includes me. Over the Winter, you might have heard about the Writer’s Strike. As you can see, Hollywood is still feeling the repercussions of that. I always felt really fortunate to be represented by Karl Sanger. When talking to others about my plans for the work I’ll be posting here, I’ve recently been mentioning the excitement of independence and creative freedom. I think someone somewhere took me a little too literally. That’s OK, though. I’m eager to see where it takes me.

A bit of good news, too. As an addendum to the MS Walk post, Nahleen and Kelly both won the Most Spirited Award for their team! The National MS Society‘s blurb:

Most Spirited Team: teamMS –GLA
When the Chapter asked Kelly Garver and Nahleen Blake to lead the teamMS team they enthusiastically agreed to take on the challenge. They brought together individual walkers to create a team that was a force to be reckoned with in their first year. They welcomed any and all who wanted the great experience of being on a team. The 25 members showed incredible spirit and have already raised more than $15,000. Thank you!

They got trophies and everything!

Greater LA MS Walk 2008

On Sunday, April 6th, I participated in this year’s Greater Los Angeles MS Walk. Held by the National MS Society, the 5k walk helps to raise money to battle multiple sclerosis.

My wife Nahleen Blake was diagnosed with MS in 2002. This year she was invited by the National MS Society to co-captain their new team for the walk. The TeamMS – Greater LA gives people a team to join if they are participating in the Walk and want to be on a team but don’t have one. Soon the team had 25 members, including myself and former fellow Foe Pa‘ers Zena Leigh and Aaron Lyons. Together, we raised over $15,000. And money is still coming in. (4/21 Generosity update: Our total is now over $16,500!) That money will go to help find a cure for multiple sclerosis. It will also go to finding better treatment for people living with MS, including programs and events that help make the day-to-day struggles easier.

If you’d like to donate, it’s not too late. Donations for our efforts in the MS Walk will be accepted until May 23, 2008. Click here to donate.

Fellow walker Rose Kwasnicki took some great pictures of our walk. (Thank you, Rose!) Click through for the pictures along with my commentary. (more…)