What is MS?
Learn about Multiple Sclerosis & join the movement
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body.
There is currently no cure for MS. The cause of MS is still unknown. Scientists believe that a combination of environmental and genetic factors contribute to the risk of developing MS.
The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted. Symptoms vary from person to person and range from numbness and tingling to mobility challenges, blindness and paralysis.
An estimated 1 million people live with MS in the United States. Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, and it affects women three times more than men.
The National MS Society
About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
MS stops people from moving. They exist to make sure it doesn’t. The National MS Society addresses the challenges of each person affected by MS by funding cutting edge research, driving change through advocacy, facilitating professional education, collaborating with MS organizations around the world, and providing programs and services designed to help people with MS and their families move their lives forward. They are people who want to do something about MS NOW and are dedicated to achieving a world free of MS. Join the movement at nationalMSsociety.org.
Early and ongoing treatment with an FDA-approved therapy can make a difference for people with multiple sclerosis. Learn about your options by talking to your health care professional and contacting the National MS Society at nationalMSsociety.org, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube or 1-800-FIGHT-MS (344-4867).
Move It or Lose It
About Move It or Lose It
Move It or Lose It is a DIY Fundraiser that spreads awareness about Multiple Sclerosis & raises funds for the National MS Society which supports MS research, advocacy & resources for those living with MS. We joined the movement to help end MS forever.
I, Raleigh Busser, owner of RB Pilates, live with MS and started Move It or Lose It in 2021 to bring a community of fitness, wellness & health professionals together to offer their services & expertise to a worldwide population in support of the MS Society. The original event was held over 1 week with live virtual exercise classes in Pilates, Yoga, Cardio, Restorative, and more including classes for people with disabilities, plus webinars and Q&As with Neurologists, Massage Therapists, Physical Therapists, and other experts, spanning from Australia to America. It was a huge success, raising over $10,000 & my heart could not have been fuller.
Since then, I have been wanting to bring back Move It or Lose It. Because life, especially life with MS, gets in the way, it has taken several years to get the ball rolling again. This year I have gathered a collection of local businesses to join the movement with me, offering rewards to those that donate. My future goal is to bring both local and global businesses, healthcare practitioners & fitness/wellness professionals together to expand the audience & raise not just money and awareness but exercise, health & support to a worldwide community.
Move It or Lose It is a phrase that rings so very true in the MS Community, and elsewhere as well. As a Pilates practitioner, I truly believe that we all must move it, or we will lose our abilities great & small. I was diagnosed with MS in 2017 and for a while I was doing pretty well. I had some spells that came and went that affected my ability to walk, grasp and sometimes breath easily, but I always bounced back and felt strong, partly because I never quit moving and grooving and partly because of the disease modifying treatment (DMT) that has become available through groundbreaking research over the past 10-20 years, mainly funded by the National MS Society. About a year ago I had to stop taking this treatment and transfer to another DMT, but it's not so easy. A lot of emotions go with this, and physically I have some new symptoms (including painful nerve shocks in my face). My leg has not recovered fully after the last flare, but I'm way stronger than I would have been if I didn't exercise, and I won't give up on continuing to strengthen it. We all must Move It or Lose It whether or not we have MS. I hope to continue this fundraiser for years to come so we can find a cure for MS and spread awareness and fitness/wellness to everyone across the globe.