(NAPSA)—Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain and between the brain and body. More than 2.3 million people are living with MS worldwide. If you or anyone you care about is ever among them, you may find the National MS Society’s awareness campaign, Together We Are Stronger, inspiring. It features people affected by MS and how their fierce resolve has developed diverse, innovative solutions to overcoming the challenges and staying stronger than the disease. One Man’s Story For example, consider Dan Melfi, who says it is part of his family culture to fish. “My grandfather was a great fly fisherman into his late 90s,” remembers Melfi. “I can’t fly-fish where you stand out in the middle of the stream.It’s going to be tough for me to stream fish from now on,” says Melfi, referring to mobility challenges related to his 2009 MS diagnosis andthe hike that is often required to access a mountain stream. So he found and stocked a special vest— a fishing coat—with everything he needs: “my fly hook, bait, bug spray.” The vest is lightweight so Melfi can wear it, with the strap of his folding chair slung over his shoulder as he uses his arm crutches to travel from his car to the lake’s edge. “T can’t stand for an extended period of time. So I take the chair.” Melfi loves that he can stay out fishing “for hours, because I have the chair. And my pole. And everything’s on mybody. “T’m still getting the hook in the water. Once you get in the chair and you start casting, you’re fishing. You sit back and you look Dan Melfi, diagnosed with MS in 2009,is still getting the hook in the water and considers exercise to be part of his medicine. minutes to do anything, after 15 or 20 ... I feel so much better.” Hecites the importance of routine to help him stay independent and in control of his health. “You makeit into a routineof yourlife. That’s part of my medicine now, is exercise.” pretty cool.” What’s Being Done The National Multiple Sclerosis Society mobilizes people and resources so that all people affected by multiple sclerosis can live their best lives as it works to stop MSinits tracks, restore what has been lost and end MS forever. The Society devotes over $122 million a year to connect more than a million individuals to the people, information and resources they need. To move closer to a world free of MS, last year alone the Society also invested $54 million to support more than 380 new and ongoing research projects around the world. home to help resolve the spasticity, stiffness and other symptoms that MS canbring, particularly in his legs. “Even though it’s so hard for me in the first three or four You can see videos of Melfi at http://ntl.MS/Danstronger and other’s solutions at WeAre StrongerThanMS.org. Learn more at nationalMSsociety.org. at life and it’s like, ‘Wow, this is Melfi also practices yoga at Learn More
