Gentle Yoga Stretching available at Challenge Walk Overnight!

After a long day of walking, your body might need some extra TLC.  Catch your breath and enjoy simple stretches to release stiffness from your first day of walking and renew your energy for day two!  Certified yoga instructor Laura Starling will be guiding all interested participants through gentle yoga stretches at two different times during Saturday evening: 5-5:30 p.m. and 5:30-6 p.m.  Special thanks to Laura for her generous support of Capital Challenge Walk MS by donating her time and talent! Namaste. 

Laura Starling is a Certified Yoga Therapist through Duke Integrative Medicine and a Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher.  

By Invititation Only: A Research Update Conference Call

We would like to invite all registered Capital Challenge Walk MS participants to join a national conference call about Vitamin D and Other Risk Factors in MS and MS Progression on Tuesday, September 14 from 3-4 p.m.

Would you like to know what the latest research says about MS risk and Vitamin D levels? Are you curious about whether smoking or exposure to Epstein-Barr virus contribute to MS susceptibility or disease progression? How does the hormone estrogen relate to MS risk?

We will address the questions above, as well as many others in a 60-minute interview with Dr. Alberto Ascherio, Dr. Colleen Hayes and Dr. Nicholas LaRocca. Dr. LaRocca will serve as interviewer during this call and will moderate the lively discussion, which is sure to raise questions that you will have the opportunity to have answered by any of the experts during two Q&A segments.

featuring

Alberto Ascherio, MD, DrPH is a Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Ascherio is an internationally recognized expert in the epidemiology of neurodegenerative diseases and his findings have provided new insight into the role of Epstein-Barr virus, vitamin D levels and smoking in MS risk. Building upon his past work, Dr. Ascherio currently has a Society-recommended research grant that will explore MS risk and progression in a group of 1600 individuals.

Dr. Colleen Hayes, PhD is Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She and her collaborators have laid the foundation for much research into the role of Vitamin D and risk for developing MS. Dr. Hayes is the lead author of a forthcoming book chapter entitled "Vitamin D and Multiple Sclerosis." In a research grant recently recommended for funding by the Society, she and her team will further explore the role of Vitamin D levels and their interaction with the sex hormone estrogen in risk for developing MS.

Dr. Nicholas LaRocca is the National MS Society's Vice President of Health Care Delivery and Policy Research. He served on the Scientific Planning Committee for an International Workshop on MS Risk Factors and Frequency held in February 2010.

You can join the call by dialing 877.860.4996 and entering conference ID 98069074. No advance registration is necessary.

Pledge Parties: Get your funds in for the awards deadline

We at the National MS Society love two things: our wonderful Challenge Walkers, and a good after-work snack in one of our favorite local restaurants. In an effort to bring two of our favorite things together, we will be hosting a pledge drop-off for our Challenge Walk participants in Maryland and Northern Virginia. Since it’s also the awards deadline, we encourage you to turn in those final awards pledges in person. Any pledges turned in that night will be counted to help you reach these fantastic awards levels! Drop by after work with any final pledges and come hang out with us as we enjoy delicious food in great restaurants! Here’s what you need to know:

•What: Pledge Parties

•When: Wednesday, September 15th, 2010, from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

•Where:
◦In Maryland: Urban BBQ, 2007 Chapman Ave., Rockville, MD 20852
◦In Virginia: Hard Times Cafe, 4069 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, VA, 22030

•Why: To drop off those last few pledges before the Awards Deadline!

It will be a great time and we certainly hope to see you there!

Training Walk sponsored by Metro Run & Walk

Mark Russell, owner of Springfield's Metro Run & Walk, will be leading a 9.0 mile, fully-supported training walk through gorgeous suburban roads and into Lake Accotink state park. After a scenic lap around the lake, you'll return to the store and be invited to use your Challenge Walker-exclusive $10 coupon on anything in the store! Email Erouse@MSandYOU.org for your coupon. Here's what you need to know:


Where: Metro Run & Walk is located at 7261 Commerce Street in Springfield, VA. It's one minute off of 95 at the intersection of 495 and 395, or you can catch a Fairfax Connector bus 321/322  to their store from the Franconia-Springfield metro stop.


When: On Sunday, September 12th, Metro Run & Walk has generously offered to provide breakfast for our participants from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., at which point he'll lead the way onto the route. The walk should take about 2.5 to three hours.


What: After the walk, Metro Run & Walk's expert employees will be on hand to answer any questions you have, from what kind of socks to bring with you to how your ankles are affecting your stride. Even better: the store doesn't open until noon, so you'll have their full attention after the walk!


Throughout the walk, there will be access to facilities, as well as water and sports drink supplied by Metro Run & Walk. Please RSVP to Mark and let him know whether you'd like to walk the full 9.0 miles, or modify the walk to be shorter (no lap around the lake) or longer (2 laps around the lake).


This is an amazing opportunity, and an incredible way to get in your daily training with fellow Challenge Walkers and walk enthusiasts!

Announcing the Capital Challenge Walk MS 2010 Welcome Night and Packet Pickup!!!

We are very excited to announce that the Capital Challenge Walk MS 2010 Welcome Night and Packet Pickup will be held at Hard Times Cafe in Fairfax, Virginia!  Located just around the corner from the George Mason University campus (and the start of the Challenge Walk), Hard Times Cafe has been a D.C. metropolitan area staple for 30 years.  Bring your teammates, family, and friends out for an awesome night of hanging out and grabbing a bite with all your fellow Challenge Walkers—all the while having 20% of your food bill donated back to the National Capital Chapter!  Here are the details:

• What: Capital Challenge Walk MS 2010 Welcome Night and Packet Pickup
• When: Friday, September 24th from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• Where: Hard Times Cafe, 4069 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, VA, 22030.  Parking is abundant and easy!  Check out Hard Times’ website for more info.
• Why: To get your weekend participant packet, meet or reunite with fellow Challenge Walkers, and support the National Capital Chapter by having 20% of your food bill donated.

While this event is by no means mandatory, it is SUPER FUN and we hope to see you there!

And the winners are...

Congratulations to MS is BS, Snappy Feet and Team Jenny for taking 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, respectively, in Team Challenge: MS-opoly 2010! Your friendly neighborhood Teams Staff will be in touch soon to arrange your prize distribution. 

To all of the teams that participated in MS-opoly: THANK YOU! We are so impressed with your energy, enthusiasm, and (friendly) competitive streak :) During the entire two weeks, you raised in total nearly $40,000!!! Way to go!

Kudos to all of the teams who earned points during Team Challenge!  Here's your final leaderboard:

MS is BS - 51 points

Snappy Feet - 44 points
Team Jenny - 38 points
Team Heinen - 20 points
Jacki's Determined Soles - 15 points
Bink's Bodyguards - 14 points
Team Sky Big - 13 points
Team Noni - 9 points
MS OHANA - 8 points
WAMS - 8 points
Team Women Into Sole Power - 6 points
MonSter Slayers - 5 points
The Robert D. Jensen "Great Dane" Team - 5 points
Willies's Walkers - 5 points
Team MS Fits - 4 points
Tracey's Trailblazers - 4 points
Fox Trotters - 3 points
Hearts & Soles - 3 points
A Walk to Remember - 2 points
Mike's Mushers - 2 points
St. Tim's STRIDES for MS - 2 points
Swift Steppin' Sissons  - 2 points
Daava - 1 point
Mow Cow MS Crew - 1 point
Our Dogs Rule - 1 point
Pro Vita - 1 point
Team FORZA - 1 point
Team Greykell - 1 point
Third Wednesdays - 1 point
Tiki Treckers - Marching for Mom - 1 point
Willing Wanderers - 1 point

With 7.5 hours left, there's a tie!

Let's get right to the point: You and your team have 7.5 hours left to get into the Top 3!  Here are the current standings:

Snappy Feet 44 points
MS is BS 44 points
Team Jenny 34 points
Team Heinen 19 points
Jacki's Determined Soles 15 points
Bink's Bodyguards 14 points
Team Sky Big 13 points
Team Noni 9 points
WAMS 8 points
MS OHANA 8 points
Team Women Into Sole Power 6 points
MonSter Slayers 5 points
Willies's Walkers 4 points
Tracey's Trailblazers 4 points
The Robert D. Jensen "Great Dane" Team 4 points
Team MS Fits 4 points
Hearts & Soles 3 points
Fox Trotters 3 points
Swift Steppin' Sissons 2 points
Mike's Mushers 2 points
A Walk to Remember 2 points
Willing Wanderers 1 point
Tiki Treckers - Marching for Mom 1 point
Third Wednesdays 1 point
Team Greykell 1 point
Team FORZA 1 point
St. Tim's STRIDES for MS 1 point
Pro Vita 1 point
Our Dogs Rule 1 point
Mow Cow MS Crew 1 point
Daava 1 point

Congratulations to all of the teams participating in Team Challenge: MS-opoly and good luck in the final hours! :)

Team Challenge: Only Two Days Left!!

Oh boy! Things are really heating up in the 2010 Capital Challenge Walk MS Team Challenge!

While MS is BS is still in the lead, Team Jenny is quickly closing in on them. Both teams have two properties and are dangerously close to reaching the first MS-opoly of this year's Team Challenge! Team Heinen is in third place, but with Jacki's Determined Soles, Team Sky Big, and Snappy Feet so close behind them, there's no saying who will pull ahead by the end of Team Challenge!

Remember, Team Challenge goes until 11:59p.m. on Friday! Need extra inspiration? Check out the Team Captain's Kit!

MS is BS - 37
Team Jenny -  31
Team Heinen - 14
Jacki's Determined Soles - 13
Team Sky Big - 13
Snappy Feet - 12
Team Noni - 9
WAMS - 8
Bink's Bodyguards - 5
MS OHANA - 5
Team MS Fits - 4
Team Women Into Sole Power - 4
Willies's Walkers - 4
MonSter Slayers - 3
Tracey's Trailblazers - 3
A Walk to Remember - 2
Hearts & Soles - 2
Mike's Mushers - 2
Swift Steppin' Sissons - 2
The Robert D. Jensen "Great Dane" Team - 2
Daava - 1
Fox Trotters - 1
Mow Cow MS Crew - 1
Our Dogs Rule - 1
Pro Vita - 1
St. Tim's STRIDES for MS - 1
Team FORZA - 1
Team Greykell - 1
Third Wednesdays - 1
Tiki Treckers - Marching for Mom - 1
Willing Wanderers - 1

Click here to review this year's Challenges, and to remind yourself of what awesome prizes are at stake!

Contact us if you need any help or have questions: Teams@MSandYOU.org or 202.296.5363, option 2.

GOOD LUCK!

With 5 days left in MS-opoly....

MS is BS is still in the lead, with Team Jenny hot on their heels!  With Jacki's Determined Soles, Snappy Feet, Team Heined and Team Sky Big all so close, it's still anyone's game.  Congratulations to all 31 participating teams so far! You have until Friday at 11:59 p.m. to earn more point! Click here to review the challenges and find out how you can move your team ahead in MS-opoly.  And the leaders are....

MS is BS - 35 points
Team Jenny - 28 points
Jacki's Determined Soles - 13 points
Snappy Feet - 11 points
Team Heinen - 11 points
Team Sky Big - 10 points
WAMS - 7 points
MS OHANA - 5 points
Bink's Bodyguards - 4 points
Team MS Fits - 4 points
Willies's Walkers - 4 points
MonSter Slayers - 3 points
Tracey's Trailblazers - 3 points
Team Noni - 2 points
Team Women Into Sole Power - 2 points
The Robert D. Jensen "Great Dane" Team - 2 points
A Walk to Remember - 1 point
Daava - 1 point
Fox Trotters - 1 point
Hearts & Soles - 1 point
Mike's Mushers - 1 point
Mow Cow MS Crew - 1 point
Our Dogs Rule - 1 point
Pro Vita - 1 point
St. Tim's STRIDES for MS - 1 point
Swift Steppin' Sissons - 1 point
Team FORZA - 1 point
Team Greykell - 1 point
Tiki Treckers - Marching for Mom - 1 point
Willing Wanderers - 1 point

Contact us if you need any help or have questions: Teams@MSandYOU.org or 202.296.5363, option 2.  GOOD LUCK!

While we're feverishly tallying points...

...enjoy these fabulously festive and enthusiastic photos from your fellow teams!

Members of .MS is BS' sporting the official Capital Challenge Walk MS presented by Security Storage Company training t-shirt!

Here's Team Jenny with Rich Uncle Pennybags, the Grand-Daddy of MS-opoly!

Stay tuned for a points update later today! :)

Team Challenge: MS is BS remains in the lead!

Even though it's just a few days into Team Challenge, the results so far have been nothing short of excellent! While MS is BS still holds a rather commanding lead, Team Jenny has shot up in the ranks over the past two days, becoming the only team to hold a property: NEW YORK AVENUE!

There's still just over a week in Team Challenge, so make sure to step up your fundraising, recruitment, and team spirit by midnight on July 30th for your best chances at winning this year's incredible prizes!

And now, your current leaders:

MS is BS - 28 points
Team Jenny - 14 points
Team Heinen - 5 points
Snappy Feet - 4 points
MS Ohana - 4 points
Willie's Walkers - 4 points
Jacki's Determined Soles - 4 points
Bink's Bodyguards - 3 points
Daava - 2 points
Team Sky Big - 2 points
The Robert D. Jensen "Great Dane" Team - 2 points
MS Fits - 2 points
Fox Trotters - 1 point
MonSter Slayers - 1 point
Our Dogs Rule - 1 point
Pro Vita - 1 point
St. Tim's STRIDES for MS - 1 point
Team Noni - 1 point
Tracey's Trailblazers - 1 point
Tiki Treckers - Marching for Mom - 1 point

For a complete list of challenges and prizes, visit the Official Capital Challenge Walk MS 2010 website here.

Keep up the great work!!
    

After Day 1 of MS-opoly, MS is BS is in the lead!

Congratulations to all of the teams already earning points towards Team Challenge! You can earn points by raising funds, registering team members (walkers, Super Crew, Crew and volunteers!), adding your events to our calendar, following the blog, and spreading the word about Capital Challenge Walk MS presented by Security Storage.  Without further ado, here's the leaderboard:

MS is BS - 12 points

MS OHANA - 4 points
Snappy Feet - 4 points
Bink's Bodyguards - 3 points
Jacki's Determined Soles - 3 points
Willies's Walkers - 3 points
Team Heinen - 2 points
Team Jenny - 2 points
The Robert D. Jensen "Great Dane" Team - 2 points
Daava - 1 point
Fox Trotters - 1 point
MonSter Slayers - 1 point
Our Dogs Rule - 1 point
Pro Vita - 1 point
St. Tim's STRIDES for MS - 1 point
Team Noni - 1 point
Team Sky Big - 1 point
Tiki Treckers - Marching for Mom - 1 point
Tracey's Trailblazers - 1 point

For a complete list of the challenges and prizes, visit the official Capital Challenge Walk MS web page here. 

Team Challenge is next week!

Looking for motivation to kick your fundraising and recruitment efforts into high gear? Well, look no further than Team Challenge 2010! This year's theme is MS-opoly, a chance for you to turn your team's Challenge Walk efforts into a friendly Monopoly-style competition.  Your team can points by recruiting, fundraising and showing off your team spirit from July 19th through 30th.  The top three teams with the most points will win spectacular prizes from Cake Love, Vera Bradley, Famous Dave's BBQ, and more!

Click here for the fine print and GOOD LUCK! We'll be posting updated standings during the competition, so check here to see how your team ranks throughout Team Challenge.

We're taking it viral!

(Drumroll please!) The Capital Challenge Walk MS 2010 Video has arrived! Click here to view it, and then start sharing it today with everyone you know, and even some people that you don't. Didn't do well in the 'sharing' lesson in preschool? Here are 10 ways you can share this gem of a video to make this year's Capital Challenge Walk MS the biggest and best ever:

1. Post this video on your Participant Center
2. Post this video on your Facebook Page
3. Send this video out to everyone in your email contacts
4. Show this video during lunch at your office
5. Show this video to that person you see at the bus stop every morning on your phone
6. Post this video on your Twitter Page
7. Place the video link on your email signature
8. Sending out a birthday gift to a friend? Copy this video to a disk and put it in the birthday box.
9. Show it at a dinner or fundraiser event
10. Link it to your Linkedin profile

What are you waiting for?  Get out there and share it! :)

Everything is more fun with friends!

We have 164 fundraising participants as of today at 12:00 P.M. To make our goal of 307 fundraisers, we need you to help us recruit! Fun ways to recruit:

• Pass out marketing materials to everyone you know. Daring? Pass some out to some strangers as well. Click here to order some today.
• It's time to decorate! Hang up 10 (or more) of your favorite pictures of the weekend in your office. When people stop to look at your new decorations, tell them all about your favorite weekend stories.
• Are you meeting new parents through your child's summer camp? Invite new summer camp parents to have coffee with you and tell them about the fun of CWMS.

What are your recruiting ideas? Share with us how you have and are getting everyone you know to Join the Movement!

Team Bonding: Volunteer Together!

Ever notice bikers watching out for you on the Challenge Walk MS weekend? Ever notice the volunteers putting up route signs for you? Some of these outstanding volunteers are apart of another great event call Bike MS: Beyond the Beltway. Support those who support you! Come crew or volunteer at Bike MS on June 12  13!

Top 5 jobs we need you to fill:

1. Truck Drivers - Help get gear and supplies to our sites.
2. SAG Drivers - Provide transportation and support to bikers who might need assistance along the route. Must have own bike rack on vehicle.
3. Route marking sweep - Help the bikers get where they need to go by setting up and taking down the route signs.
4. Rest Stop/Pit Stop Volunteers - Monitor a checkpoint along the route. Make it fun and festive with decorations. For extra fun get your entire team involved.
5. Medical/First Aid - Trained medical professionals are needed at all points along the route to monitor injuries and the well being of bikers. Requirements: Paramedic, EMT, Nurse (LPN and RN), Doctor, or Podiatrists certification/license.

 Contact CapitalChallengeWalkMS@MSandYOU.org to sign up!

Training Walk at the Capital Crescent Trail

Train early and don't be sore in September. Mark your calendars NOW for Team MS is BS's first training walk.

Join the MS is BS gang for a seriously sweet 4-6 mile walk down the Capital Crescent Trail (parallel to the C&O Canal) in Georgetown. Included in the trip is a stop at our favorite trail landmark, The Spooky Tunnel (better known as the Dale Carlia Tunnel). We'll meet you on the bridge in front of Fletcher's Boathouse - we'll be the ones wearing MS is BS t-shirts. Feel free to wear orange, or your team duds of choice. Dogs (who love to walk) are welcome. RSVP at msisbs@ymail.com and let us know if you'd be interested in a shorter 2 mile option as well.

When: Sunday, May 23rd at 8:00 AM

Where: Fletcher's Boat House (Georgetown)

4940 Canal Road Northwest, Washington, DC‎‎

How to Get There: Fletcher's Boat House is located at the intersection of Reservoir Road and Canal Road. You will know you have reached the entrance to Fletcher's when you see the Abner Cloud House, an old stone building, which is adjacent to the canal. Park in the first parking lot on the left side and we'll meet you on the bridge right on the canal
 
We hope to see you there!

Welcome! We're new here :)

Thanks for taking the first step towards finding a cure by visiting here to learn more about Capital Challenge Walk MS presented by Security Storage and hopefully share your thoughts, experiences, memories and ideas with your fellow (and potential!) Challenge Walk MS participants.

This is a place where everyone - walkers, volunteers, crew members, team captains, donors, supporters and even a curious passers-by can learn more about Capital Challenge Walk MS not only from the National Capital Staff, but from each other. Want to author a guest post? Let us know! Have a 'picture's-worth-a-thousand-words' photo from a previous Challenge Walk MS or team event? Share it! You can always reply to threads on the blog, or send them directly to CapitalChallengeWalkMS@MSandYOU.org for us to post.

Let’s start with something simple: What is Challenge Walk MS to you?