Click the link to view the app: My MS Manager

The largest genetic study of Multiple Sclerosis has revealed 29 new genetic variants associated with MS, and confirmed 23 others previously associated with the disease, verifying a major role for the immune system in the development of MS.

It is the largest-ever study into the disease, involving 250 researchers in the International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium and the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium. Scientists studied DNA from 9,772 people with MS and compared it with those of 17,376 unrelated healthy people.

It is important for researchers to identify genes that have the potential to trigger MS, so that risk factors can be avoided.

Click here to read more about the results of this exciting study.

Gar’s Mikey Mo’ Stance

With Gar Ryness-The Batting Stance Guy

Main article from Nats320 blog: Main article from Nats320 blog: http://nats320.blogspot.com/2011/07/zims-foundation-2nd-annual-night-at.html

WASHINGTON — The second annual “A Night at the Park” was held Thursday night at Nationals Park. The event was hosted by Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman.

The event helped raise money to find a treatment and cure for multiple sclerosis. There were $63,200 raised at the live auction, which included a trip to the 2011 All-Star Game in Phoenix and the tennis US Open in New York.

During the live auction, Nationals reliever Todd Coffey donated $2,200 and won a trip to the Masters Tournament. He received two single-day passes to next year’s Wednesday’s practice round and Par 3 tournament.
Ryan Zimmerman hosted his second annual “A Night at the Park.” (Getty Images)

There was also a silent auction. People at the event had a chance to acquire Zimmerman’s jersey, Buster Posey’s Rookie of the Year bat, a Shaquille O’Neal-signed basketball and a signed football signed by Eli and Payton Manning.

“We have some interesting things,” Zimmerman said. “There were some great live auction items this year. It’s just going to get better and better each year. Last year was kind of a stepping stone. We learned from it and it was great last year. It shaping up to be a lot better.”

Coffey had his eyes on a framed photo of Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle. He also wanted to buy a framed picture of singer Justin Bieber for his daughter. It’s not known if Coffey was able to obtain the pictures.

“There are several things I’m looking at right now,” Coffey said. “I’m out there keeping my eye on it — making sure I’m the only bid so I could win.”

The event also featured a special performance from country music star Rodney Atkins, who has a brother-in-law with MS, according to Zimmerman. Atkins sang fan favorites such as “Cleaning the Gun,” “Farmer’s Daughter” and “Watching You.”

“It means a lot to my family that Rodney comes out here and does this,” Zimmerman said.

Nationals Park was transformed into an intimate concert hall for 1,000 guests. A custom stage was built on the outside concourse of the Presidents’ Club with attendees sitting in the Diamond Club seats.

MS is a disease close to Ryan’s heart. In 1995, his mother Cheryl was diagnosed with MS, a chronic and unpredictable disease that affects the central nervous system.

As President of the ziMS Foundation, which he founded in 2006, Zimmerman is excited to give back to his community and find a cure for this debilitating disease. The 2010 “A Night At The Park” raised roughly $200,000 for the ziMS Foundation

“It’s personal with my mom having it,” Zimmerman said. “It’s good to be able to give back. So many people have helped me get where I am now. This is not only for my mom, we have met a number of families and people who have been affected by this disease. For me to be able to have the platform and the resources to give back just a little bit is the least I could do.”

Main article taken from mlb.com: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110701&content_id=21237570&c_id=was&partnerId=rss_was

VIDEO STORY BY LINDSAY MURPHY/myfoxdc

Nationals Ryan Zimmerman Hosts Event at Nationals Park For Multiple Sclerosis Research: MyFoxDC.com

WASHINGTON – The Nationals were off on Thursday, but they return home Friday for the start of an 11-game homestand.

But there was some action at Nationals Park and it was a home run for Nats’ 3rd baseman Ryan Zimmerman.

Zimmerman is there every day, solid with the bat, solid with glove. But he’s pretty good with his heart, especially when something hits close to home.

The baseball player’s foundation, the Zims Foundation, hosted “A Night At The Park” benefit which supports research to find a cure for multiple sclerosis. His mother is one of the 400,000 Americans who suffers from the disease.

FOX 5’s Lindsay Murphy has more on this story.

Main Article from myfoxdc: http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/sports/nationals-ryan-zimmerman-hosts-event-at-nationals-park-for-multiple-sclerosis-research-063011#ixzz1RRsVAQYj

Cheryl’s perspective:

The year is 1985 before the symptoms of MS began. I was leading what most would consider a normal life for a newly married, young, working mother. A typical day for me included:  getting up, taking a shower, dressing, brushing my teeth, getting a one-year old ready, fixing and eating breakfast, driving to day care and then on to a full day with my first grade class.

A year later in 1986 my body started to change. It started with a tingling in the little finger on my left hand. This tingling eventually progressed to the entire left side of my body. During this year I went to many doctors and had numerous tests preformed. The tingling would at times get worse or go away completely. The doctors and my family were baffled!

Over the next four years, even though I didn’t know it, I began my battle with MS.

Now it is 1990. We owned and operated a Fitness Center in Edenton, North Carolina where I taught aerobics classes. We now had two energetic boys, and I performed the daily responsibilities of taking care of a family. My symptoms returned and continually got worse.

In 1991, we left North Carolina and moved to Virginia Beach where I became a special education teacher. Over the next four years the doctors and tests continued. MS, along with other diseases such as lyme disease, are now being suggested as to what may be wrong with me, but none of the doctors or tests could say for sure what I had. Finally, in 1995 the neurologist uttered the words “You have Multiple Sclerosis”.

1995 to 2000 were very challenging years for me and my family. I walked with a slight limp, I fatigued very quickly, and the heat and cold had a tremendous effect on my body. I was losing my ability to function, I was going back and forth between using a walker and a wheelchair, I had lost my fine motor skills, I was to the point that I was afraid to drive, I was fighting for my life and losing! In 2000, I was not able to function as a teacher and my symptoms forced me to retire.

My MS has progressed to the point that I can no longer care for myself and I rely on caregivers for all my daily needs. A typical day for me now includes: someone getting me up, someone giving me a shower, someone dressing me, someone brushing my teeth, someone fixing and feeding me breakfast, and doing everything else for me for the rest of the day. My current challenges are finding competent caregivers and surviving in a world which has little time or patience for the handicapped.

Keith’s perspective:

After almost ten years (1986 to 1995) of countless tests and doctors – we had an answer. We had no idea what MS was! It was a double-edged sword – the doctors told us what Cheryl had, but could not tell us how she got it. We didn’t know if it was going to get better or worse, and there were very few medicines for people suffering with MS. As we became educated about MS, we learned that some people go through life with very few symptoms, some people like Cheryl get progressively worse, yet some people go blind and become bed-ridden in literally months. I think that is when Cheryl and I went through some of our hardest times, not so much physically but emotionally. Now we knew what to call her symptoms but had no control over what was going to happen next. Learning to control your emotions and conditioning yourself to handle whatever the future may bring can be a daunting task!

So here we are. In a short 24 years, our lives have progressed to what we have told you. Yet we are the lucky ones! We have each other, we are blessed with two wonderful sons that support us is many ways, we have an extended family that helps us, we have friends and neighbors that help when needed and keep us sane. Cheryl and I often talk about the people that are suffering with MS that don’t have this kind of support.

Now the doctors and tests are better able to diagnose MS. Now the people that have a tingling in their little finger have a chance of new procedures and medicines. These new medicines and diagnosing procedures take dedicated people and money! Having lived through this and knowing this prompted us into action. In 2006 Cheryl, Ryan, Shawn, and I, with a handful of dedicated volunteers, founded The ziMS Foundation. The Foundation has two main goals: raise money and raise awareness! The Foundation has two missions: use that money toward research to find a cure, and to help people with MS survive in their daily lives.

Ryan’s perspective:

MS is a disease quite close to my heart. In 1995, my mother Cheryl was diagnosed with MS, a chronic and unpredictable disease that affects the central nervous system. MS affects roughly 400,000 Americans and can impact the body in almost as many ways. I look at my Mom’s condition as an influence on my development as a person. It forced me and my brother, Shawn, to assume responsibilities in our home at an earlier age than most of our peers.

As President of the ziMS Foundation, I am excited by the prospect of giving back to my community and finding a cure for this unpredictable disease. My family has given me the support to fulfill my dreams. The Washington Nationals have given me the opportunity to play the game that I love at the highest level in our nation’s capitol. I am thrilled to have launched a foundation that I hope can make a real impact in the life of my family as well as many others afflicted by MS.

In 2009 and 2010, I donated $200,000 to the Foundation. I also obtain autographed memorabilia from professional athletes which are auctioned off at the Foundation’s Annual Gala. Through my public appearances, I am able to promote the Foundation and help to “bring home a cure” for MS.

Shawn’s perspective:

Without a doubt, living with MS has its ups and downs. My mom would never let us look at the negative aspects of how the disease affected our lives. Her attitude was always upbeat and positive. Doing the laundry, cooking and cleaning as a kid was tough to handle sometimes, but all those jobs made me grow up a little faster and learn to handle life’s responsibilities sooner.

To tell you the truth, it helped me a lot through high school and especially in college! I was the guy that everybody came to with questions because they knew I would have the answer.  How to clean this, how to wash that, and what to cook for dinner were questions I was asked on a daily basis. I was “Emeril Lagasse” for my roommates because of the culinary skills I gained while cooking when my mom couldn’t.  I also taught a lot of people how to do laundry as well. So, between the adversities that arose from my mom having MS and the positive attitude my mom instilled in me without a doubt made me into the person I am today.

The ziMS Foundation:

The Foundation is dedicated to the treatment and ultimate cure of MS by funding comprehensive support and educational programs. Over the last five years the Foundation has raised more than $500,000. www.zimsfoundation.org

Article taken from BAMS (Band Against MS)

Zimmerman recorded arguably his finest offensive campaign in 2010, hitting a career-best .307 (161-for-525) with 32 doubles, 25 home runs, 85 RBIs and 69 walks in 142 games. In addition to hitting .300-plus for the first time, Zimmerman also established career highs in on-base percentage (.388) and OPS (.899), a metric which combines on-base and slugging percentages.

The first qualified Washington National (2005-present) to hit .300 or better against both left- (.331) and right-handed (.300) pitching in the same season, Zimmerman is one of five 2009 Silver Slugger recipients to again garner the Silver Slugger citation in 2010. He is joined on this list by Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols, Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun, Braves catcher Brian McCann and Twins catcher Joe Mauer.

The 26 year-old Zimmerman ranked among NL leaders in batting average against left-handed hitters (seventh, .331), game-winning RBIs (tied seventh, 14), OBP (eighth), OPS (eighth, .899), batting average (eighth), runs created/27 (ninth, 6.75), batting average with runners on base (ninth, .335), slugging percentage (10th, .511), batting average at home (10th, .317) and go-ahead RBI (tied 10th, 26).

Zimmerman’s Silver Slugger citation is also the third in the six-year history of the Washington Nationals (2005-present). Alfonso Soriano was awarded a Silver Slugger after hitting .277 with 41 doubles, 46 home runs, 95 RBIs and 41 stolen bases in 2006, his lone campaign with the Nationals, before Zimmerman was first recognized by Louisville Slugger in 2009.

In June of 2005, Zimmerman was the first Draft selection in the history of the Washington Nationals.

Article taken from: MLB Website