Arizona Winter 2012 MS Connection

M O V I N G T O W A R D A W O R L D F R E E O F M S | W I N T E R 2 0 12

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

ARIZONA CHAPTER

BE A pART OF WALk MS Put on your walking shoes because walk MS: Tucson is just around the corner! Bring your friends, family and co-workers out for a wonderful walk through Reid Park on Saturday, March 10th! Join the movement today and visit walkMSarizona.org to register or volunteer. (Continued on page 10)

pEDAL FOR A CuRE AT BIkE MS Get ready for a ride to remember! Hundreds of cyclists from across the country are gearing up for the new Bike MS Arizona ride that’s set to take place in Verde Valley on April 14 & 15, 2012.

Advocacy PAgE 3

Picturing Disability PAgE 6

Women Unite PAgE 13

Fly Shot or Not? PAgE 10

pLENTY OF WAYS TO jOIN ThE MOVEMENT® IN ThE NEW YEAR! GET INVOLVED WITh BIkE MS & WALk MS ThIS SpRING!

INSIDELOOKIn Memoria: Shel Berman PAGE 2

National MS Society Research Next Steps PAGE 5

Photo courtesy of Carla Reidel

The Arizona Chapter is off to a great start to deliver on Bike MS: Ride the Vortex – Sedona Verde Valley presented by Sam’s Club. With all of the new changes, the Arizona Chapter hopes to raise over $500,000 to support research and local programs for more than 8,000 Arizonans living with MS. (Continued on page 11)

IN MEMORIuM ShEL BERMAN

2 | JOIN THE MOVEMENT: nationalMSsociety.org

(800) 344-4867

PUblICATION OF THE NATIONAl MUlTIPlE SClEROSIS SOCIETy Arizona Chapter

Chapter Office: 5025 E Washington St, Suite 102 Phoenix, AZ 85034

Chapter president Jim Elfline @AZnmsspresident

Director, Development Brandee Wessel

MSConnection Editor Jessica Read

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.

We mobilize people and resources to drive research for a cure and to address the challenges of everyone affected by MS.

© 2012 National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Arizona Chapter

ARIZONA CHAPTER

Shel Berman passed away in August 2011. Shel was an amazing man who devoted much of his life to his many philanthropic passions, one being the National MS Society.

Shel served as Board Chair for the Arizona Chapter from 2008-2010 and consistently dedicated his time to improve our events and overall chapter operations. Shel also served on the board for the Five Arts Circle of Arizona. When Shel was not working tirelessly to make a difference in our community he was spending time with his family and beloved wife Lynn.

All who knew Shel know the mark he made on this world. He truly will be missed by all.

FROM OuR VOLuNTEERS: BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR MS

ADVOCACY

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James & his momMy name is James Kelleher, and I am the advocacy and government relations intern for the Arizona Chapter. Currently, I am pursuing a master’s degree in medicinal biochemistry at Arizona State University. In addition to interning & my studies, I am researching a protein involved in growth of glioblastoma brain tumors, teaching chemistry courses, and working at a doctor’s office. I intend to go to medical school and I know my experiences at the Society will serve me well in advocating for my patients as a future physician.

Interning with the chapter has allowed me to combine my personal interest in activism with my desire to give back to an organization that has been an incredible resource for my mother, who was diagnosed with MS over 35 years ago. Since joining the Society in September, I have worked closely with the chapter to recruit and train volunteers who wish to play an integral role in the legislative process. This is a very exciting time for advocacy in Arizona, with the 4th Annual Day at the Capitol approaching in March in Phoenix and the

21st Annual National Public Policy Conference in March in Washington, DC.

During the Day at the Capitol, our volunteer activists will meet with state legislators to build crucial relationships and garner support for policies to benefit people affected by MS. Meeting with a lawmaker may sound intimidating, but in the weeks leading up to the event, the chapter will host a series of interactive webinars to ensure that all volunteers are well-prepared. We are continually looking for more volunteers and would love to welcome anyone interested to join our efforts. Learn more about the Day at the Capitol at arizonaMS.org.

At the National Public Policy Conference, we will learn about the Society’s priority

federal issues and then meet with members of Congress on Capitol Hill. This conference is vital to our success in achieving national funding for research, increasing awareness of MS amongst members of Congress, and gaining support for other important federal issues impacting people with MS across the country. For more information on the issues we’ll be lobbying for and details on the conference, visit the MS Activist Blog: MSactivist.blogspot.com.

DOMOREPlease consider donating to provide scholarships for volunteer activists like James to travel to these important advocacy events. For more information contact Siobhan at (480) 968-2488 x-21210 or [email protected].

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The turn of the year saw MS researchers assessing their progress in a number of areas. A think tank on progressive MS brought together MS investigators, research funding agencies and industry representatives. And, in January, Dr. Timothy Coetzee, chief research officer of the Society (see News), moderated a panel of MS researchers in a live webcast, “Repairing the Nervous System in MS: Progress and Next Steps.”

how does MS progress? At the think tank, which was hosted by the Society and its commercial drug development entity Fast Forward last December in Boston, Society President and CEO Joyce Nelson pointed out that progressive MS is the centerpiece of the Society’s

Strategic Response for the next five years, with a focus on:

• Researching what leads to disease progression,

• Finding ways to repair damage to the nervous system,

• Accelerating the development of new therapies.

Better identification faster Finding ways to more quickly identify progressive MS based on biology rather than on symptoms would mean therapies could be tested earlier in the course of the disease and possibly protect the nervous system from injury.

Some evidence indicates that nerve degeneration occurs independently of inflammatory events, but

there is other evidence that degeneration stops when inflammation subsides. Therefore, more research is needed to understand the cause of underlying nerve damage in progressive MS and to identify new targets for therapies. Participants also discussed the need for biomarkers—“footprints” that could help identify or predict MS progression. Think tank participants reported that steady progress is being made in finding noninvasive ways of detecting nervous system damage and whether protection or repair are taking place.

Additional issues The participants discussed other important issues, as well. Many clinical trials do not run long enough to make clear whether there is an effect


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against slow progression. The traditional measurement of disability progression, the EDSS scale, is not sensitive to subtle change, which poses a problem in monitoring progressive MS.

And, some previous trials used a mixed population of people with primary progressive MS and secondary progressive MS. Since it’s not clear that all types of progressive MS would respond the same way, mixing participants may be one reason that some past trials were not successful.

For a complete wrap-up of the meeting and a webcast featuring a panel of several participants, visit nationalMSsociety.org/thinktank.

Repairing the nervous system On January 11, Dr. Coetzee, chief research officer of the National MS Society, was joined by Drs. Peter Calabresi, Ian D. Duncan, Charles ffrench-Constant and Gavin Giovannoni for the webcast,

“Repairing the Nervous System in MS: Progress and Next Steps.” The four researchers recently served as leaders of four international teams in

the National MS Society’s Nervous System Repair and Protection Initiative, funded through the Promise: 2010 campaign.

The investigators discussed research on the ways that nerve fibers, or axons, and their protective myelin coatings are damaged. Certain drugs the experts have studied seem to prevent nerve cells from dying in an animal model. Since some of these drugs are commercially available right now for other diseases, they

are good candidates for future clinical trials.

New drugs emerging The researchers also talked about repairing the nervous system by stimulating the body’s own repair cells to be more active or by trying several types of stem cells to repair myelin. Part of the conversation included how

newer approved treatments may help in the battle to protect the nervous system in people with MS.

“For the first time we’re really starting to see the emergence of very, very effective drugs for treating inflammation,” Dr. Giovannoni said, noting that these therapies might also help to stave off nervous system damage and allow natural repair processes to work, although this has not yet been proven. “We’ve seen

people who have highly active disease going on these drugs and improving,” he said. For a full report or to read a transcript of the webcast, visit nationalMSsociety.org/webcasts.

part of the conversation

included how newer approved treatments

may help in the battle to protect the

nervous system in people with MS.


LIVING WITh MS

pICTuRING DISABILITYby DONNA FEllMAN

Twenty years ago, in August 1991, when my children were six, four, and 11 months old, I was diagnosed with MS. My youngest child, Kaija, was taking her first steps while I was losing the ability to walk. I used a cane, but soon needed crutches, and by the time Kaija was two, I was using a wheelchair most of the time.

Last year, in a college photography class, Kaija was given the assignment to do a photographic essay. She chose “Disability” as the subject and framed images that showed her development as a little girl with portrayals showing the progression of my disability. There is a photo of her little shoes with my cane, representing her learning to walk alongside my difficulty walking. Included is a sequence of shoes to illustrate her growing up, my mobility aids, our legs together, her self-portrait in a wheelchair, and other images depicting her memories and perceptions of disability.

We talked about what it was like for her and her brothers growing up. Looking at her little red shoes, I said to Kaija that I had never held her hand and walked with her.

Her reply: “I always had your lap.”

Donna Fellman lives in rural Maine.

Copyright Kaija Fellman

SuppORTING ThE MISSION


jOIN ThE 2012 ARIzONA MS LEADERShIp CLASS AND NETWORk WITh OThER pROFESSIONALS IN OuR COMMuNITY The MS Leadership Class campaign was established to honor and recognize senior level professionals for their outstanding contributions to the business, civic and cultural betterment of Arizona. The Arizona Chapter implemented this event to honor community leaders for promoting high ideals with a definite sense of purpose, for taking pride in a

Felipe Ruiz

job well done and for making this community a better place.

These leaders will be invited to partner with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Arizona Chapter in its movement to create a world free of MS. Through participation in this campaign, members have an opportunity to build a network with other

business professionals who are committed to a vision of a better community and a better world.

If you are interested in joining the 2012 Arizona MS Leadership Class contact Brandee at (480) 968-2488 ext 21218 or [email protected].

GOLDEN CIRCLE: A SpECIAL COMMITMENT TO A WORLD FREE OF MSThe Golden Circle is our premier recognition program, targeting annual donors capable of making gifts of $1,000 or more. The Golden Circle campaign seeks annual gifts from our friends and partners that will propel us toward our collective vision– a world free of MS.

As a member of the Golden Circle, you carry on a tradition

from the Society’s founder, Sylvia Lawry, who raised $100,000 in 1946 from friends and family members to try to find an answer to the puzzle of this unpredictable

disease.

The Society is the largest private sponsor of MS research in the world and has funded over $610 million cumulative

investments since 1947 when the first three grants were issued. We devote nearly $40 million each year to a spectrum of key initiatives and other projects based on guiding principles of Speed, Collaboration and Possibilities.

For more information contact Brandee at (480) 968-2488 ext 21218 or [email protected].


MARkYOURCALENDARS

phOENIx-METRO

Cognifitness Keep the Mind Moving Thursdays February 9 - March 29 6:00-8:00pm Disability Empowerment Center Classroom B Cost: $30 A fun & educational 8-week course for people living with MS to realize optimal thinking skills utilizing techniques that have everyday applications. Facilitator: Sara Nichols, MS, CCC-SLP

No Boys Allowed MS Women’s Group Wednesday, February 22nd 6:00 PM Disability Empowerment Center Nina Mason Pulliam Conference Center Topic: Exercise, MS, & Wii Speakers: Suzanne O’Neal (Physical Therapist) and Jessica Amato (Recreational Therapist)

PHOENIX PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT

Living Well with MS In person fitness/counseling each Tuesday, 5:30-7:40pm March 12 - May 25 Virginia G. Piper Sports & Fitness Center 5031 E Washington Street, Phoenix Cost: $300, which covers the entire 12-week course and all materials received. Sliding scale and/or payment plan is available. It is our commitment that the fee not be a barrier to participation.

Living Well with MS is a comprehensive wellness course that takes a wellness approach, sharing information about different topics such as treatments, symptoms, employment/careers, and preventive health from different wellness perspective.

It is 12 weeks in length and is specially designed for those recently diagnosed. These perspectives include medical managements, nutrition, fitness, and emotional/spiritual. Participants will learn many different ways to manage different aspects of MS and their life through each of these practices, and will work with MS experts to design their own plan for making proactive lifestyle changes.

This blended learning program includes multiple weekly components: online course work through UCLA, fitness classes designed for MS, teleconferences with course instructors, and group counseling with a licensed professional.

Registration is required and space is limited. Application includes a signed physician waiver. Completed applications are due by February 27th. For more information or to request an application, call 1-800-344-4867 option 1.

Tear out this insert and put it somewhere you will see often!The following programs are in your neighborhood! Check them out!

unless otherwise noted, to register for these events, call 1-800-344-4867 or visit http://calendar.ArizonaMS.org and select the date of the class to register online.


TuCSON

Free From Falls Thursdays February 23 - April 12 10:00am - 12:30pm Health South Rehabilitation Institute of Tucson 1921 W. Hospital Drive Cost: $60 per person Call 1-800-344-4867 to learn more about this program and determine if it is right for you. An application and other registration materials will be provided.

Chair Yoga for MS February 2012 Casas Adobes Congregational Church | 6801 N. Oracle Rd. Tucson 85704 Cost: $15 total for 6-week series Registration: Call Carol Hunter at 520-797-0405

Tucson MS Social Club join us for various social activities and meet others affected by MS. RSVp to Sue at (480) 837-8068 or [email protected].

Laser Light Show Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” Saturday, February 4 5:00pm Flandrau Planetarium U of A Campus, 1601 E. University Blvd. (& Cherry) Members are free; guests bring $5.00 cash- exact change SVP by January 25

Oro Valley Classic Car Show, BBQ and Blues Family Festival Saturday, February 18 12:00pm (Event runs from 10am-4pm) Oro Valley Marketplace, Oracle and Tangerine Roads Members and children under 10 are free; guests pay $5.00 RSVP by February 14

NORThERN Az

T’ai Chi for MS Thursdays February 2 – March 8 Church of the Epiphany 423 N. Beaver Street Flagstaff Cost: $35 total for 6-week series

NEW! Kingman Self-Help Group 3rd Saturday of the month 3:00 pm Kingman Regional Medical Center, Choila Room 3269 Stockton Hill Rd. Kingman, AZ 86409 Contact: Ralph (928) 897-3801

STATEWIDE EDuCATION

National MS Society Teleconferences Join us from the comfort of your own home for these informative conference calls on living with MS. This educational series is free. To register, please call 1-800-344-4867 and press 1.

“Maintaining Your Balance with MS – How to Stay Active and Not Fall Down” February 2, 2012 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. PST

“Addressing Unfinished Business” February 14, 2012 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. PST Feburary 21, 2012 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PST

“Current and Future Drugs for Multiple Sclerosis Treatment” March 1, 2012 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. PST

“Finding Inspiration and Motivation” March 13, 2012 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. PST March 20, 2012 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PST

FuNDING ThE MISSION


WALk MS (CONTINuED FROM COVER)Walk MS is our rallying point, a time and a place for us to stand together and to be together — to help raise critical funds that support cutting edge research, drive change through advocacy, facilitate professional education and provide programs and services to help people with MS move their lives forward. Walk MS is the rallying point of the MS movement, a community coming together to raise funds and celebrate hope for the future.

The 19th annual Tucson Walk MS will take place on Saturday, March 10, 2012. Registration starts at 8:00 a.m. and the walk kicks-off promptly at 9:30 am and will take you through the newly renovated Reid Park! Walkers will enjoy our expo, entertainment, snacks and of course most of all a fabulous walk with your friends and family! Every walker that raises $50 will also receive entry into the Reid Park Zoo. So get registered and start your fundraising today!

Walk MS is an opportunity for the community to come

together to support those affected by MS. MS can stop people from moving. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society exists to make sure it doesn’t. Funds raised from this event goes to support direct services, programs and research for over 8,000 Arizonans affected by MS and their families. In 2011 alone we designated over $40,000 through our emergency financial assistance program in Arizona. Your generous time, energy and contributions pave the way to create a world free of MS!

How can you get involved with our 2012 walk MS Tucson? Sponsor the walk, start a walk team or join a team! Volunteer before, during or after the event! Please contact Lisa Cleary, Development Manager, if interested in getting more involved with the walk MS Tucson at [email protected] OR (480) 968-2488, Option 2, press 1, extension 21228.

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FuNDING ThE MISSION

BIkE MS (CONTINuED FROM COVER)

Bike MS participants will receive a great value, as the fees for Bike MS are minimal. Registration is only $50 through February 29, 2012 – a savings of $25! This fee pays for your full weekend and includes: five full meals, full support on the route, frequent complimentary rest stops, and more! There is also a minimum fundraising requirement of $250. This minimum helps the Arizona Chapter continue its mission of finding a cure for MS and providing Arizonans affected by MS the programs and services they need to live quality and fulfilled lives.

The new route will take participants through Cottonwood, Camp Verde, Clarkdale, and Sedona, exploring a few wineries in Verde Valley along the way. Another new feature to the ride this year will be the expo on Friday and Saturday night of the event at the campsite located at the Verde valley Fairgrounds in Cottonwood, AZ. The expo will provide participants and their families the opportunity to visit with local businesses, artists, and vendors as they showcase their

talents, products, and services.

Moving the ride to the Verde Valley will also provide a challenge for participants. The ride will begin and end at the Verde Valley Fairgrounds on both days and cyclists can choose from multiple route options. On day one, cyclists have their choice of a 45-mile route, a 65-mile route, or 100-mile route; while on day two, a 30-mile route or 50-mile route will be available.

The region, known for its beautiful landscapes and mountains, consists of route options that can prove to be

trying to say the least. With this in mind, the Arizona Chapter is advising all participants to take advantage of the local training program and the plethora of support on the route during the ride as well. Known as one of the best supported bike rides in the state, Bike MS will be fully supported with rest stops, medical personnel and support vehicles to help along the way.

For more information or to register to ride or volunteer visit bikeMSarizona.org or send an email to Blaine at [email protected].

Photo courtesy of Carla Reidel

LIVING WITh MS


OVERWhELMED BY MEDICATION COSTS? ThE MEDS CONNECTION pROGRAM MAY BE ABLE TO hELp.Financial security is on most people’s minds these days. The state of the economy and rising cost of living is enough to strike fear into even the most calm. For many living with MS, economic anxiety is nothing new. The increased financial burden carried by a diagnosis can be great. Everything costs money, from doctor visits to physical therapy.

What do most people find to be the greatest expense? The answer should come as no surprise. Medication. For those who are either uninsured or underinsured, medication costs can be overwhelming and unsustainable. According to a recent Gallup-Healthways poll, a whopping 21% of US residents reported having difficulty paying for necessary medications.

Enter Sheila Fitzgerald. As someone with Parkinson’s disease, Sheila understands the struggles of living with a chronic illness. In 2009, Sheila and her family decided to funnel their efforts – and funds – into providing needed medication for those with Parkinson’s disease could not otherwise afford it. The result was a program, established

through a donation to Banner Health Foundation, called Meds Connection.

Three years later, and with over $800,000 worth of medication provided for those in need, the program has expanded its services to the MS community.

Meds Connection provides a place where people can obtain help receiving critical prescription medication, without worry and with dignity. The program works by utilizing a number of methods, including Patient Assistance Programs provided by pharmaceutical companies, to receive free or very low cost medications for those who are eligible.

If you or someone you know is having trouble with medication costs, get in touch with Meds Connection. The program is offered statewide and free to individuals.

Thanks to the commitment of one woman and her partnership with Banner Health, those livings with MS in Arizona can now take one weighty financial concern off the table.

About Meds Connection Meds Connection is a statewide program providing direct medication assistance for those

living with MS, Parkinson’s disease, Peripheral Neuropathy, Epilepsy, Restless Leg Syndrome and Essential Tremor. For more information and to determine eligibility, call toll-free (866) 995-6432 or email [email protected].

About Banner Health Foundation Banner Health Foundation fosters a spirit of giving by making health care solutions a reality for our community. Contributions made to the Foundation are invested locally in Banner Health’s not-for-profit facilities and programs to advance health and wellness. Caring for the future of Arizona since 1978, Banner Health Foundation is supported by the generosity of individual donors, the public and private sectors, and thousands of active volunteers.

Meds Connection Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center Neuroscience Clinics 1012 E Willetta Street Phoenix, AZ 85006 T: (866) 995-6432 F: (602) 839-3593 www.bannerhealth.com

SuppORTING ThE MISSION

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WOMEN uNITE AGAINST MuLTIpLE SCLEROSIS!

Mark your calendars for the 2012 Women Against MS Luncheon! As you may know, nearly 75% of all multiple sclerosis (MS) patients are women. When faced with this diagnosis, many women and their families face physical, informational, emotional, and financial crises. In order to better educate and galvanize our community against MS, we are pleased to host the 7th Annual Women Against MS Luncheon (WAMS).

The Women Against MS Luncheon is scheduled for Thursday, April 19, 2012 and will be held at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa. Guests will share the joys of a fine lunch while watching an inspirational program emceed by Tara Hitchcock formerly of “Good Morning Arizona” and will hear from our keynote speaker, Kate Milliken.

Kate calls herself “a bit of a cliché,” and it’s true that except for the MS diagnosis, she could be a Sex and the City character. A spunky, video producer with a strong work ethic and a winning smile, Kate is devoted to the art of

the narrative. At her company, Milligrace Productions, that means creating “Videodes®” — life tributes for business leaders or loved ones. Outside the office it means trying to make sense of something as senseless as multiple sclerosis. Kate also has hosted webcasts for the Society’s MS Learn Online® and Real Talk. Real Answers series. Now this ex-sports reporter is turning the camera on herself. In Kate’s Counterpane, (katescounterpane.com) a multimedia project she recently launched on the Web, Kate explores the multiple facets of multiple sclerosis through a combination of videos, photos and text.

Counterpane is an old word for quilt and the site resembles a quilt, with each patch leading to a different subject, from diagnosis to dating to diaita (Greek for “way of living” — the word that “diet” comes from). Along the way we meet lots of heroes, including Kate’s family, doctors, complementary-medicine practitioners, and a woman in her Manhattan apartment building who also lives with MS.

For more information about being a part of this great event, contact Brandee Wessel at (480) 968-2488 ext 21218 or [email protected].


MEDICARE DEADLINESMedicare recipients still have the opportunity to review, renew or replace drug plans during the annual open enrollment period, which began October 15 and runs until December 7 this year. The 2006 drug law imposes a penalty on those who need prescription drug coverage (and who do not have creditable coverage), but do not sign up in time. That penalty grows larger every year.

In 2012, the “donut hole,” or gap in prescription drug coverage, still exists, but the Affordable Care Act requires insurers to give Medicare Part D participants a 50% discount on most brand-name drugs, including the MS disease-modifiers, while they are in the coverage gap. Drugs prescribed “off label” for MS symptoms are still excluded from coverage and exempt from the discount.

Visit www.medicare.gov for general information, publications and to compare the drug plans available in your area. Call an MS Navigator® at 1-800-344-4867 for free health-insurance counseling.

People with a Medicare private health plan, also known as a Medicare Advantage plan, (but not including a Medicare Medical Savings Account plan), can switch to Original Medicare during the Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period from January 1, 2012, to February 14, 2012.

The “Extra help” program

People who receive SSI (Supplemental Security Income) benefits, or who get help from the state Medicaid program to pay Part B premiums (Medicare Savings Plan),

automatically qualify for “Extra Help,” which means no donut hole for prescription drugs as well as lower coinsurance and copayment costs. People with low incomes also qualify. Apply directly through the Social Security Administration at www.socialsecurity.gov/i1020.

FLu ShOT, OR NOT?Flu season brings not just coughs and sniffles, but the question: Get a flu shot, or not?

Because there is a much higher risk of an MS relapse due to flu than to the flu vaccine, the Society generally recommends that people with MS get the shot. “Don’t wait for flu season to catch up with you. Discuss getting the flu shot with your doctor to protect yourself this year,” says Rosalind Kalb, PhD, vice president of the Society’s Professional Resource Center.

The injectable flu vaccine—which is an “inactivated” vaccine—has been studied

NEWS

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extensively in people with MS and is considered quite safe. It may be taken by people on an interferon medication, glatiramer acetate, or mitoxantrone. It is not yet clear if the vaccine is as effective for those talking natalizumab or fingolimod.

It’s best to delay vaccination for four to six weeks after the onset of any serious exacerbations. People with MS should avoid FluMist, a live-virus flu vaccine (sometimes called LAIV for “live attenuated influenza vaccine”) delivered via nasal spray. For more information, go to www.nationalMSsociety.org/vaccinations.

TAx DEDuCTIONS BEYOND MEDICINEMany of the expenses associated with managing MS might be tax deductible, beyond medicines. (Keep in mind that only unreimbursed medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income are deductible.) Here are additional possibilities:

• Equipment and extras, such as service dogs (and dog food!) and transportation to doctor appointments via car service or taxi if you can no longer drive.

• home modifications that don’t increase a home’s value. “Get a doctor’s prescription for ramps, wider doorways, grab bars, even a swimming pool, as well as a letter from a real estate agent stating that these changes don’t make your home more valuable,” suggests Anne Davis, program director of Legal Services for the Society’s New York City and Southern New York Chapter.

For people receiving SSI or disability benefits, impairment-related work expenses may be deducted from their earnings, if their income might otherwise jeopardize their government benefits.

Two IRS Publications—907, Tax Highlights for Persons with Disabilities (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p907.pdf) and 502, Medical and Dental Expenses (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p502.pdf)—may be helpful. Consult an accountant to make sure your particular situation is in line with current IRS regulations.

NEWS

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

VISIT ThE “MARk YOu CALENDARS” SECTION ON pAGE 7 & 8 FOR A COMpLETE LISTING OF EVENTS

FEBRuARY

2 Maintaining Your Balance with MS - Teleconference

14 & 17 Addressing Unfinished Business - Teleconference

MARCh

1 Current & Future Drugs for MS - Teleconference

2 walk MS: Tucson

13 & 20 Finding Inspiration & Motivation - Teleconference

ApRIL

14&15 Bike MS: Ride the Vortex

19 Women Against MS Luncheon

Arizona Chapter

5025 E Washington St, Suite 102 Phoenix, AZ 850334

Irish Mist 4 MS presents the 5th Annual Irish Mist Golf Scramble Saturday, March 17, 2012 from 11:30 am to 6 pm.

This year’s event will be held at Club West Golf Club (16400 South 14th Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85045).

The cost of the event per player is $125.00.

Each player will receive a player pack, green fees, range balls and dinner.

The Irish Mist Golf Scramble will be benefiting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Arizona

Chapter, Emergency Financial Assistance Program. This program provides resource for Arizonans living with MS. These clients often need just a small amount of assistance to help them make home

modifications, pay rent, utilities or purchase groceries.

If you’re not a golfer, come and join us for dinner, the cost is $40 a ticket.

For more information call Tracy @ 602-694-3576 or Pat @ 605-558-1888 or visit our website www.irishmist4ms.org

join us at the 5th Annual Irish Mist Golf Scramble

Saturday, March 17 11:30am - 6:00pm

Club West Golf Club Phoenix, AZ

Each player will receive a plaery pack, green fees, range

balls and dinner!

Tickets to golf: $125 Dinner only: $40

For more information visit irishmist4MS.org

Documents

Arizona Winter 2012 MS Connection