A little inspiration can go a long way for people living with relapsing multiple sclerosis
(BPT) - Visit MSInspiration.com for a chance to win a day of inspiration!
At first glance, Marci Viland and Chris Wright don’t have very much in common. Their paths have never crossed, they live in different cities and they have different careers. But Marci and Chris do have one very important thing in common - they were both diagnosed with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) in the prime of their lives, a diagnosis that forever changed their hopes for the future.
Approximately 400,000 Americans are living with MS. Of those, approximately 85 percent are initially diagnosed with relapsing MS, which is characterized by clearly defined acute attacks with full recovery or with lasting effects upon recovery. Symptoms may be mild, moderate, or severe, ranging from numbness in the limbs to paralysis or loss of vision.
Marci, at the age of 22, was just beginning her career as a hairdresser in suburban Chicago when she received her diagnosis. She could not find any information that focused on relapsing MS in a positive way, so to combat the negative perception of the disease, she wrote and self-published her own book, “A Meaningful Life with MS,” to provide hope, information, and belief to others with MS that life is worth living. As Marci says in her book, “The most powerful story you can tell is your own.”
“Self-education is an important part of my MS journey, and sharing my experiences with others gives me so much joy,” said Marci. As she works on her second book at the age of 30, Marci is steadfast in her mission to raise awareness of MS through her writing, as well as involvement in her local MS society and through speaking engagements in local schools.
Chris also decided to take charge of his life following his diagnosis, which he received at the age of 24 while actively pursuing a career in professional basketball - his life goal. He founded the Chris Wright Foundation, which helps to provide medicine to people living with MS with limited access to treatment. The Foundation also hosts an annual MS Basketball Jamboree at his high school alma mater to help educate people about MS, a disease that Chris knew nothing about when he first began experiencing symptoms.
After each of their diagnoses, Marci and Chris found their inner strength to push forward. Now, they have both joined MS Inspiration, a new initiative from Biogen Idec, to share their stories and inspire people living with relapsing MS. MS Inspiration is designed to showcase inspirational members of the community and to help people living with relapsing MS focus on finding inspiration both from within themselves and from others.
“When I was diagnosed, it was very important for me to continue to pursue my goals, even if it meant taking a different path,” said Chris. “I hope that through MS Inspiration, others living with relapsing MS are encouraged to pursue their personal goals and never give up.”
By visiting MSInspiration.com, people can learn more about the inspirational stories of people living with relapsing MS - like Marci, Chris, and former college football player Tyler Campbell - who all have inspirational journeys. Visitors are invited to enter the MS Inspiration Contest to share their personal stories of inspiration.
If you or someone you love is living with relapsing MS, visit MSInspiration.com to submit your story by April 7, 2015, and to review the terms and conditions, for a chance to win tickets to attend a sporting event with Tyler or Chris, and for your story to be featured on the MS Inspiration website.
To learn more about Marci and Chris’s stories of diagnosis and treatment with relapsing MS, and the MS Inspiration program, visit MSInspiration.com.
Biogen Idec is not affiliated with MarciViland.com or “The Chris Wright Foundation” and does not endorse any services that they provide. Biogen Idec does not control the websites associated with these entities and is not responsible for their content.