This is a very difficult letter for me to write for obvious reasons. I'm sending this to everyone I know. If you are in my address book, you're getting this email.
Thanks for taking the time to take a look at it. Having done that, you can do any of three things, I'll never know, unless you tell me. You may:
- donate a couple bucks to my sister
- hit delete
- forward to this to someone you think may be interested
As many of you know, my mom had Multiple Sclerosis. Beginning at age 9, my brother and sister joined me and the rest of the kids on our block to do fund raising carnivals. Over the next seven years, 2 kids raised more than $50,000. Mom was our reluctant "Poster Girl". While my brother and I continued in our fund raising efforts over the years, my sister Susan remained even more committed. She, and now her husband and her three kids, have done the Bike MS event for many years; my mom, who passed away, still her Poster Girl.
Four years ago, the fund raising took a new twist. I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis; now that I have joined my mom as "Poster Boy", I understand her discomfort, but we both get the need to put a face on the condition.This past year, it has taken an even more ironic twist. Susan was diagnosed with what may prove to be MS! The tests are inconclusive so far,but over the next year or so, they have indicated she should be prepared for anything.
Here's the thing. Four years after my diagnosis, I'm doing pretty well.I'm working, driving, traveling, writing. Everything I did before.Sometimes a bit more slowly. I know for a certainty that this is all true because of medications that are available to me. Medications that did not exist 5 years ago. And even better meds are going to hit the market in the next 2-3 years. The equipment and techniques they are using to diagnose my sister did not exist a few years ago.And both advances are due to the money raised by Carnivals we did as kids. And the miles she's pedaled for more than 20 years, in honor of my mom,then me, and now herself! And thanks to the ongoing generosity of people like you. Here is her website: https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=251540&supid=1676401
Give a little. Give a lot. Or give it a toss. Thanks Much.
Mark Silverman
Producer, The Ronn Owens Program
KGO San Francisco
PS - my sister's letter is below. WARNING - BAD POEM AHEAD!!! BY Dr. SUE-ss Q!
===========BEFORE YOU READ THIS, PLEASE KNOW THAT I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND IF YOUR CHARITABLE INTENTIONS LIE ELSEWHERE. I PROMISE NOT TO BE OFFENDED!
For those that don't know, I had a funky MRI last year that showed one spot that "could" be MS, or may not be. My brother has it, my Mom had it,and at the moment, I am perfectly symptom free and my doctor says that,despite the one spot, I DO NOT have MS. I decided this year to do the 60mile hill-filled ride in order to encourage all my friends, family,Scouters and Clients to donate even more than usual, because maybe one day it might be me, but even if it's not, someone else may have just started the daily shots that help keep the symptoms at bay (and even those shots are courtesy of the money we've raised for research!
A DOT IS A DOT, EXCEPT WHEN IT'S NOT
ESPECIALLY IF THE DOT IS A SPOT
ON THE MRI THAT I GOT
IT MIGHT BE A SPECK,
OR IT MIGHT BE MS
THE DOC SAYS RIGHT NOW IT'S ANYONE'S GUESS!
NOW I CONFESS, THAT EVEN A GUESS
THAT, LIKE MY BRO AND MY MOM, I MIGHT HAVE MS
HAS MADE ME MORE SERIOUS ABOUT RAISING MORE MONEY
EVEN IF THE WAY I DO IT IS SILLY AND FUNNY
HERE'S A DEAL THAT MIGHT HOLD SOME APPEAL,
I'LL RIDE 60 MILES - LOTTS A HILLS ON TWO WHEELS!
ALL I ASK OF YOU, IS TO DONATE ONLINE
OR SEND ME A CHECK, WHICH IS STILL QUITE FINE
THE SAD TRUTH IS, WHETHER I HAVE IT OR NOT
THAT SOMEONE ELSE GOT BAD NEWS
THAT THEIR "SPOT" IS NOW "SPOTS"
NOW THEY HAVE MS AND TAKE DAILY SHOTS
BUT RESEARCH CAN MAKE IT A PILL THEY CAN POP!
HOPEFULLY THIS EMAIL HAS GIVEN YOU A SMILE
I HOPE YOU SEND ME SOMETHING PER MILE!
A Quarter, a half, or even a dollar...$2 would be amazing and make me holler!
IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD IT, DON'T YOU FRET IT.
WE ALL HAVE OUR CAUSES - I REALLY DO GET IT!
RESEARCH HAS MADE PROGRESS AGAINST THE MS
WE'RE FIGHTING SO I'M GOING TO GO NOW AND PRACTICE MY RIDING!!!
{Susan Quigley}
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