NEW MEXICO

M OV I N G TO WA R D A W O R L D F R E E O F M S • W I N T E R 2 0 1 3

Advocacy Champion:PATTI BARkERSince daughter Channing’s MS diagnosis at the age of 16 in 2006, Patti has been a driving force of the Society’s South Central MS movement. Patti chairs

the Oklahoma Government Relations Committee; she also serves on the Oklahoma Leadership Council and the South Central

Board of Trustees. As she has told legislators, “With your support, one day MS will equal ‘Mystery Solved.’ ”

Funding the Mission Champion: GERALD MERFIShGerald Merfish, owner of Merfish Pipe & Supply, has been active with the Society since 2000 and is the fifth highest-cumulative fundraiser for South Central Bike MS events. For nine years, he has been a member of the Board of Trustees,

where he has served as Board Secretary and Chairman of the Finance Committee. He is credited with forming a budget panel to review

allocation of funds for programs and services.

health Professionals Champion:DR. AMy GuTIERREzDr. Amy Gutierrez became involved with the Society nine years ago and remains actively engaged in numerous areas

of the MS mission. She has served on the South Central Board of Trustees and Leadership Council since 2008, and the Clinical Advisory Committee

since 2004. She speaks at numerous programs – such as Annual Meetings, North American Education Programs

and Golden Circle Events – and supports the Society’s advocacy efforts. Additionally, Dr. Gutierrez rides in the annual Bike MS: Louisiana and participates in Walk MS: New Orleans.

Programs and Services Champion:JINJER LEVANIn 2009, Jinjer LeVan was awarded the Kanaly Trust Foundation MS Entrepreneur Grant to develop an MS Symptom Experience Kit, helping

educate the public about living with multiple sclerosis. She is an MS Ambassador, guest speaker at Self-Help Groups, state

advocate, MS Awareness Week Public Speaker, and a Walk MS Team Captain and committee member. Jinjer is one of approximately 10 people in the United States with both MS and Leiber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy.

MEET OuR SOuTh CENTRAL VOLuNTEERhALL OF FAME INDuCTEES

Mattress FirmPAGE 3

Antonio Sabato Jr.PAGE 4

Research Round-UpPAGE 6

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Each year, local volunteers are nominated to receive national recognition for their outstanding service to the National MS Society. Congratulations to the following South Central volunteers inducted into the Society’s Volunteer Hall of Fame for 2012.

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NATIONAL MS SOCIETy

Albuquerque Trade Center3540 Pan American Fwy NE, Suite FAlbuquerque, NM 87107tel +1 800 344 4867tel +1 505 243 2792fax +1 505 244 0629www.MSNewMexico.org

STAFF & LEADERSHIPMark NeagliRegional Executive Vice President

Maggie ScholdSr. Management, Development

Vicki kowalCoordinator, Programs & Services

David PetersChair, Leadership Council

James BlackEditor

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society does not endorse products, services or manufacturers. Such names appear here solely because they are considered valuable information. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society assumes no liability for the use of contents of any product or service mentioned.

Information provided by the Society is based upon professional advice, published experience and expert opinion. Information provided in response to questions does not constitute therapeutic recommendations or prescriptions. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society recommends that all questions and information be discussed with a personal physician.

SIGN uP FOR OuRMONThLy MS eNEWS

Get the latest news on research in your inbox.Go to nationalMSsociety.org/signup.

DEADLINE IS JAN. 15FOR SChOLARShIP APPLICATIONSThe National MS Society offers a scholarship program for students with multiple sclerosis or who have a parent with MS. Applicants must plan to attend an accredited post-secondary school for the first time and to take at least six credit hours per semester leading to a degree, license or certificate.

Each recipient is selected based on financial need, academic performance, compelling personal or family circumstances, and an applicant’s essay on the impact of MS on his or her life.Awards range from $1,000 to $3,000 for one year. A small number of four-year awards are also offered.

Scholarship applications for 2013 are available on the Society’s website. There is no application fee for Society scholarships. Completed applications and supporting materials must be submitted by Jan. 15, 2013.

For guidelines and applications, visit www.nationalMSsociety.org/scholarship or call the Society at 1-800-344-4867 (press 1).

Your bright idea can change thefuture for people living with MS.

Re-introducing MS Entrepreneurs - a grant program that provides individuals with funding to create solutions for the challenges faced by people living with MS. Submit your idea for consideration by 10.15.12 or 4.15.13.

Visit MSentrepreneurs.org to learn how.

TOLL FREE NUMBER 1 800 344 4867 | 3

by STACY SMITH

MATTRESS FIRM hELPSPROVIDE GOOD NIGhT’S REST FOR PERSON IN NEED

LIVING WITh MS

Society employees recently teamed up with a generous company to make one woman’s house a real home.

After spending days in an unfamiliar hospital, most people look forward to the basic things that make their home a welcoming place: their couch where they can sit and rest, their favorite meal to cook, or their own comfortable bed. For one South Central resident with MS, continuing her recuperation at home on her worn 15-year-old mattress was far from a comfortable prospect.

Within the last few months, she experienced a relapse that worsened her MS symptoms and placed her in the hospital. After being released, the woman went home

for much-needed rest, though she was unable to replace her uncomfortable, disintegrating mattress due to tight finances.

After Society staff members told the woman’s story to Mattress Firm representatives, the company agreed to help by donating a new bed equipped with rails, along with a new bed for her daughter. Through dedication and teamwork, Mattress Firm and Society employees ensured one family would have a good night’s rest.

Stacy Smith is a volunteer with the Society’s Tulsa, Okla. office.

FARMINGTONLean on Me Support GroupMeets at 1 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday monthlySan Juan Regional Offices2325 East 30th St. in FarmingtonContact Donna: 505-334-3316 or 505-320-0784 Contact Debbie: 505-326-0657or 505-320-8095

RIO RANChOWestside Self-Help GroupSelf-Help Group for people with MSand their familiesMeets 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. on the 3rd Thursday monthlyRio Rancho Church of Christ1006 22nd St. SERio Rancho, NM 87124Contact Tina: 505-896-6728

ROSWELLRoswell Self-Help GroupMeets 4:30 – 6 p.m. on the 4th Tuesdayof every monthRoswell Adult Center807 North MissouriContacts: Shellie Hinkle at 575-910-4528 or Panda Moffittat 575-624-0573

NEW MExICOSELF-hELP GROuPSThe National MS Society offers a variety of Self-Help Groups across the state. For a complete list, visit MSNewMexico.org or call 1-800-344-4867.

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LIVING WITh MS

Actor and model Antonio Sabato Jr. helped pump up MS awareness during a recent visit to Tulsa, Okla.

An avid fitness enthusiast, the star of TV shows such as “General Hospital” and “The Bold and the Beautiful” came to Tulsa in October to open his first weight loss center and fitness gym called iNutrition. Because he has a friend with MS, Antonio expressed an interest in getting involved with the National MS Society’s mission.

To show his support, he and Brandi Moore, the Society’s South Central Regional Communications and PR Manager, appeared on Tulsa’s Channel 8 “Good Day Tulsa” program. Antonio and Brandi discussed multiple sclerosis, the Society and the benefits of a healthy lifestyle in managing MS symptoms.

Later, Antonio met with Aimie Dwyer and Mason Hoffman, two young Oklahomans who shared their experiences about living with the daily challenges of multiple sclerosis.

ANTONIO SABATO JR. ADDS MuSCLE TO MS MOVEMENT

TOLL FREE NUMBER 1 800 344 4867 | 5

2013 NEW MEXICO PUBLIC POLICY CONFERENCE

National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyJanuary 30, 2013 Santa Fe, NM

Make a Connection. Make a Difference.Join New Mexicans Impacted by MS!

You are invited to make a difference in the lives of people living with multiple sclerosis

by sharing your story with your state legislators at the 2013 New Mexico Public Policy

Conference. This one-day event held at the Capitol is a great way to educate lawmakers

about the importance of supporting legislation that can make a difference in the lives of

New Mexicans affected by MS.

Never been to the Capitol? Don’t know your elected officials? Don’t worry - experienced

MS Activists and National MS Society staff will be your partners every step of the way!

Registration is now open! Visit www.NationalMSSociety.org/nmx to learn more, or contact Vicki Kowal at 505-243-2792 (opt 2, ext

33302) or vicki.kowal@nmss.org

One voice connecting with one legislator can make a huge difference

for thousands of individuals living with chronic illness.

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RESEARCh

FDA Approves Second Oral Drug for MS

In September, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved teriflunomide once-daily pills to treat relapsing forms of MS. This is the second oral disease-modifying therapy approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

“We are greatly encouraged to see a new oral therapeutic option become available to people living with MS,” said Bruce A. Cohen, M.D., Professor, Davee Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurosciences at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, and incoming Chair of the National MS Society’s National Medical Advisory Committee. “As with any new therapy, the long-term safety of Aubagio will need to be carefully monitored.”

Dr. Timothy Coetzee, Chief Research Officer at the Society said, “With the collaborative research underway around the world today, this is an extremely hopeful time for anyone who is diagnosed with MS.”

Weight Training Improves Walking and Quality of Lifefor Women with MS

Women participating in a small study of progressive resistance weight training improved significantly in walking, and reported improvements in quality of life as well. The study, funded by the National MS Society, used standard measures to evaluate the effects of the program, along with in-depth interviews of the participants to determine the full effects on quality of life.

During the training period, participants performed three supervised exercise sessions per week in a university-based fitness center using conventional weight-lifting machines. Trainers had previous experience working with people with MS. Training protocols were individualized to meet individuals’ differences in fitness and to accommodate day-to-day variability in fatigue.

Walking performance improved by more than 13 percent. All participants reported enhanced

muscle endurance or delayed muscle fatigue, as well as strength. These experiences impacted performance of a variety of daily life tasks.

“I have not used any of those electrical carts in any of the big stores in a long time now,” said one participant. Another noted, “Since I’ve been doing this, I’ve been having stuff [to do] every single day of the week. In the past, I would do something one day and then rest the next day.”

Six participants reported improved physical capabilities that impacted daily tasks such as yard work, shopping and chores around the house. Seven perceived a social impact, including making new friends, camaraderie with the other participants and research staff, being less of a burden on caregivers, and the development of a support network. Six claimed they had positive emotional responses due to the exercise program that included pride of accomplishment and a better mood. “I smile a lot more and that’s good,” noted one woman.

RESEARCh ROuND-uP

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Testosterone Prevents Nerve Impairments in MS Study

Researchers funded by the National MS Society have shown that the male sex hormone testosterone prevented or restored impairments in nerve impulse transmission in mice with EAE, an MS-like disease. The improvements specifically occurred in an area of the brain associated with cognitive function, lending evidence to the potential for the future use of sex hormones to treat this MS symptom. This team is currently conducting clinical trials to determine whether estriol (another sex hormone, added on to standard therapies) improves disease activity and cognition in women with MS.

Genes May help Categorize Disease Course and Response to Therapy

A team led by Philip L. De Jager, M.D., a Harry Weaver Scholar of the National MS Society from Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s

Hospital in Boston, has discovered that differences in active genes – detectable in blood samples – have the potential to be used to group people with MS into categories that predict disease course and response to therapy. Further research is needed to refine this approach before it becomes a tool that can benefit treatment decisions made by people with MS and their health care providers.

New Innovation Prize Created to Spur Research Progress

A new $100,000 annual cash prize has been established to recognize scientists whose inventive work is propelling measurable MS research progress. The Barancik Prize for Innovation in MS Research recognizes an exceptional scientist or team whose work in MS research has demonstrated outstanding innovation and originality. The prize is made possible by the generosity of the Charles and Margery Barancik SO Foundation, and is administered

through the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

“We are proud to steward the new Barancik Prize, the largest ever established to spur progress toward stopping MS, restoring function and ending MS forever,” said Cyndi Zagieboylo, President and CEO of the National MS Society. “This is the latest in a long history of generous support for MS research provided by Charles and Margery Barancik, and it reflects their wish to speed this vital work.”

The first prize will be given in May 2013. Nominations are accepted until Jan. 31, 2012. A selection committee comprised of leaders in science, medicine and MS advocacy will review nominees for their exceptional innovation and originality, impact and potential of the research to lead to pathways for the treatment and cure for MS, and accomplishments that merit recognition as a future leader in MS research.

RESEARCh

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