Birkie Skiers for Cures and the National MS Society in Wisconsin

As most of you know, I write for HealthCentral.com. In fact, I write for three of their disease-specific websites: MultipleSclerosisCentral, MyRACentral, and MyObesityConnection. In the process, I work with three individual great producers.

Last weekend one of my producers was in Wisconsin participating in the legendary cross country skiing race called the American Birkebeiner. "It’s this crazy long, crazy hard race through the north woods of Wisconsin on nothing but two pieces of fiber glasss," says Sara.

After she returned from the race, she tells me that a good friend of hers was diagnosed with MS a few years ago. Since then she has skied in her friend's honor through Birkie Skiers for Cures and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

"This year, I was skiing for you, too! Here’s a pic of me at the end…all smiles!"

Can I just say - WOW!! Nobody has skiied, walked, or biked for me before. Well, except those piano student families who walked WITH me that first year at the MS Walk in 2006. I guess that counts. ;o)

I'm a bit surprised at how touched I was by Sara telling me this. So touched that I didn't know how to respond at first and I just now answered her email.

Last week I visited the HealthCentral main office here in Arlington, VA to give my MS producer some short videos I had taped. They will be posted throughout the month of March and the 1st one made it up on the site yesterday. Here's the 2nd video and post regarding "getting diagnosed with MS." Next week, several of us are telling our diagnosis stories.

While I was at the office, I got to meet face-to-face each of the lovely persons I currently work with and have previously worked for. It's nice to put a face to the person on the other side of the keyboard and computer screen.

This just reinforces that there are real people behind the blogs and screennames. Real people who do great things. I hope that I will always one of those approachable folks who are "real" in discussing their lives and their diseases. Seriously, how can you be anything but honest when talking about MS or RA or even obesity.

It might take me awhile to answer emails (read above) but I do try to respond. Remember, though, that I do have two diseases which can make the brain a bit foggy. If I don't respond, please feel free to email again.

So here's to MS Education & Awareness Month in the United States. I am now aware of the Birkie Skiers for Cures which sounds like a great organization and bunch of folks who have fun while raising money for good causes. This year the National MS Society got hooked up. Go NMSS!!