My MS Doesn't Scare Me Anymore

After months and months of planning and preparation MuckFest 2015 is in the books. Team Healthcarejourney.com did an amazing job both fundraising (the money goes to the National MS Society) and running through the crazy muck filled obstacle course. We had top 10 finishers in team fundraising, individual fundraising and running the obstacle course.

This year’s fundraising total was $6,200 up from $4,000 from the last event in 2013. Between our two main fundraising events we raised nearly $4,000. Our raffle put on by the Beer Connoisseurs of Southeast Michigan was a hit bringing in over $3,000. My appreciation and gratitude goes out to the Connies, a great group of people with big hearts and a passion for craft brews. Our second and culminating event was a concert at a local venue featuring Plymouth rockers the Velvet Fairground, the concert was well attended and brought in $500.

Two members of our group of Muckers brought in enough donations to crack the top 10 list for individual fundraising! Eric Rayner brought in $2,000, a big thank you to Eric and his fellow Quicken Detroit teammates! Along with Eric I was lucky enough to bring in nearly $1,500, thank you everyone that donated and participated in our events. On the obstacle course teammate Jason Vallimont came in 4th place overall during the competitive wave!

I am so proud of our team; we raised enough money to win every single incentive offered by the NMSS for fundraising. Tons of t-shirts, a team tent even free beers! Not to be lost in all of the fun that was had and mud that was slung is the most important fact of all, we helped fund vital MS research and helped provide services to many MSers in need. To date MuckFest has helped raise over $20,000,000.

Fundraising for MS is something near and dear to my heart, 5 years ago I was destroyed by the diagnosis. When people would ask why I was limping, I always said “car accident”, which was slightly true, but not the whole truth. To think that over the years I have been able to embrace my diagnosis and even fight back. No longer do I hide the fact that I have MS I will tell anyone. MS doesn’t scare me anymore, why should it? My friends, family and community are here to catch me when I fall and lift me up even higher when I get back up!

Be a warrior today,
Donn

 

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