Congratulations to Leah Olson from Aiken, S.C.! She is this year’s National MS Education and Awareness Month (NMSEAM) initiative grand prize winner of a cruise for two aboard the Foundation’s 2011 Cruise for a Cause™.
In a creative, humorous, and candid video presentation, Olson conveyed what she had learned in her MS journey of self-discovery: "Many people try to tell us how to live our lives, what to eat, what “new” cures to use. The amount of information thrown at us can be overwhelming. The diagnosis of MS alone can be depressing.
“One thing stands out above all the others: No one should define my life as person with MS but me. I can’t lose myself in my disease. I AM LEAH FIRST.”
To view the winning video click here.
The theme of the 2011 initiative was “My Search: Do it. Live it. Share it.” We wanted to know what you had learned along your MS journey of self-discovery that improved your life. And share you did! Thank you to everyone who took the time to contribute. Your words -- whether delivered in writing, a video, or a song -- were inspirational and heartwarming. Your discoveries about improving life with MS ranged from finding the right kind of shoes to wear to practicing yoga to supporting others with the disease; they were as unique as each of you.
Other initiative entries that made it to the finals will be featured in the summer issue of the MSFocus, which is hot off the press! Look for it in your mailbox soon! You can also find our online edition just as soon as it is posted under the publications section of this website.