Today, May 26, 2010, is World MS Day.
Spread the word. Awareness is a powerful weapon against this disease.
I was hoping to have a video from my day walking in a dress and heels at this year’s WalkMS, but unfortunately it just wasn’t in the cards. But you can still check out pictures here.
Also, it’s not too late to donate to help raise money for the National MS Society. Every little bit counts!
[Updated the date. March, May. Same thing.]
Distance walked: 3.2 miles / 5 kilometers
Ensemble inspired by: Lan Yin Tsai
Height of heels: 3 inches
Size of shoes: 10 (American Eagle By Payless)
Dress donated by: Jeffrey Schoenberg’s AJS Costumes, Burbank
Bike helmet donated by: Enci of illuminateLA and Stephen Box of SoapBoxLA
Money raised: $3,331.00
Members on team: 21
Money raised by team: $12,891.18
Money raised by WalkMS event: $870,792.01
Goal of WalkMS event: $1,200,000.00
Deadline to raise more money: June 1, 2010
Days left to donate: 15
Link to donate: http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/corey.blake
Link to more pictures of Corey in a dress: http://www.flickr.com/photos/coreyblake/sets/72157623754072167/
On April 18, 2010, it really happened. I walked the entire 3.2-mile WalkMS in a dress and high heels. To be honest, I wasn’t sure I could walk the whole way with the shoes, and seriously considered taking them off a couple of times. But I knew that at the end of the Walk, I can take the shoes off and the discomfort would eventually go away. My wife, and everyone else with multiple sclerosis, doesn’t have that luxury. So I just kept walking. One step at a time.
Thank you so much for everyone who sponsored me – your donation is helping to make the National MS Society an even better resource for people with multiple sclerosis. Thank you very much for everyone who walked with me on our team – I’m glad you didn’t mind going so slow. Thank you to everyone who has enthusiastically responded to this whole thing – every message I received really inspired and touched me. Thank you to Lan Yin “Eiko” Tsai for inspiring the look of my ensemble. And most of all, thank you to my wife for encouraging me and understanding the very serious ‘why’ behind this silliness.
(And… Psssst! If you would still like to donate, it’s not too late! We’re able to accept donations until June 1.)
Click on the Flickr set on the right to check out all of the pictures.
Photos by Rose Kwasnicki, Nahleen Blake and Michelle Hazan (and a few by me).
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!
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!
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:
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.
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.
Corey Blake 