tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7728746735555748742011-07-08T06:11:34.930-07:00If we all did a little more the world would be a different place. I'm doing what I can, raising money for the Myelin Repair Foundation (MRF). Check out MRF, contribute via this site and get involved! MRF is working on treatments for myelin repair and accelerating the slow pace of drug discovery. In short, they are revolutionazing the process. Be part of the change!Dennisnoreply@blogger.comBlogger21100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-772874673555574874.post-32840706866103732052010-02-16T16:03:00.000-08:002010-02-16T16:12:45.112-08:00Dear friends, the running is over but the fight to find treatments goes on! Last fall family, friends and co-workers donated over $1900 to MRF. Along with a matching challenge grant this was doubled to almost $4000!!!!!!<div><br /></div><div>As I said, the fight goes on. Please use the Chipin info below to make a donation and help out this extraordinary organization:</div><br /><br><object width="250" height="250"><param name="movie" value="http://widget.chipin.com/widget/id/7bced4ef489cb5ef"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="event_title" value="Myelin%20Repair"></param><embed src="http://widget.chipin.com/widget/id/7bced4ef489cb5ef" flashVars="event_title=Myelin%20Repair" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="transparent" width="250" height="250"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/772874673555574874-3284070686610373205?l=helpmrf.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dennisnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-772874673555574874.post-46217442628853591642009-07-21T09:39:00.000-07:002009-11-18T09:18:49.628-08:00<span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;"><strong>Hello friends,</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;"><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;"><strong>Some of you may have heard that I am raising funds to support the </strong></span><a href="http://www.myelinrepair.org/"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;"><strong>Myelin Repair Foundation</strong></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;"><strong>. This organization is changing the way that drug research and collaboration between academics and pharmaceutical companies occurs. They have accomplished amazing things in just 5 years of existence. In short they have found a mechanism and method to increase speed-to-market for the treatment of myelin repair.</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;"><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;"><strong>What is myelin? Myelin is sheath-like coating around the axon of the neuron. This is essential for proper functioning of the nervous system (read more about </strong></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myelin"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;"><strong>Myelin at wikipedia.org</strong></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;"><strong>). Why am I interested in this? </strong></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_sclerosis"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;"><strong>Multiple Sclerosis</strong></span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;"><strong> is an autoimmune disease that attacks a persons nervous system leading to demyelination (destruction of the myelin sheath).</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;"><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;"><strong>Multiple Sclerosis has been highly impactful on my life. My father was diagnosed with MS in the late 60s while serving in the US Army. Subsequently I was born in 1972 and grew up watching the progression of this disease ravage both his mind and body. Unfortunately he passed away in 2005 due to various health complications. Since then I have searched for a meaningful way to contribute to the current and future state of developing treatments and cures for MS. I came across the Myelin Repair Foundation (MRF) and found an organization that was taking an incredibly innovative approach to making this happen. </strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;"><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;"><strong>To that end I am raising funds to support MRF. How? By raising awareness of the foundation, myelin research and MS. From now through Thanksgiving I am looking to friends, family and strangers to help raise money to support this incredible organization in achieving its goals. Personally I plan on completing three 3 major events this fall in hopes of raising awareness of MRF:</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;"><strong>- Akron Marathon (26.2 miles) in September</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;"><strong>- Baltimore Marathon (26.2 miles) in October</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;"><strong>- JFK Ultramarathon (50 miles) in November</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;"><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;"><strong>I am pushing myself farther than I've gone before, to make others aware of the daily challenge faced by those with MS. Along the way I will be updating this blog regarding MRF developments, my training, race day and any other events that come from this experience. I am asking you to consider contributing whatever you can to this cause. Additionally, please pass on this link to others (e-mail, post to Facebook, etc.). MRF is at the forefront of accelerating the drug discovery process to bring treatments to market in less time than ever thought possible. I challenge you to be part of this experience, to make then impossible possible and ultimately create a better future.</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;"><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;"><strong>Sincerely,</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;"><strong>Dennis O. Smith</strong></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/772874673555574874-4621744262885359164?l=helpmrf.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Dennisnoreply@blogger.com0