MS Alliance of Virginia
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (24/7)
1-800-273-8255
The Mission of the Multiple Sclerosis Alliance of Virginia
- Provide programs, events, activities and services for people living with MS in Southwest Virginia and the surrounding areas, including Veterans.
- Educate and empower people with MS, their care partners, friends and family. We will guide people to organizations that can assist people with their needs.
- Contribute to awareness in the community, including educational programs to young people, first responders and community organizations.
- Encourage and expand support groups to include assisted living facilities, homebound people and help others start upbeat groups in their area.
Announcements
Roanoke Valley MS Support Group (a “Group for Support”)
Thursday September 23
Time: 6:30pm
YOU are invited – people whose lives are affected by Multiple Sclerosis …
including caregivers & family…. people who “get it”!
Keynote speaker: Ronna Narotsky, AHIP certified Agent, Active Medicare Solutions, will be on hand to answer our questions. She represents several carriers (Anthem, United, Humana, Aetna).
AEP=Annual Open Enrollment, starts Oct 15 to Dec 7
MAOEP=Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, starts Jan 1 to March 31 (another time someone who already has a Medicare Advantage Plan can switch to another if not satisfied with what they have).
Hear ideas of services she offers:
*Help people figure out what’s best for you, if it’s not broke, we don’t try to fix it.
*No one is charged anything for reviews, if something works, the carrier pays us.
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7127679497
Meeting ID: 712 767 9497
Or call in:1-312-626-6799 or 1-712-767-9497
MS ALLIANCE OF VIRGINIA EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE
PARTNERSHIP WITH
VIRGINIA TECH LINEBACKER KESHON ARTIS
Keshon Artis is a two-time first team all-state linebacker and 2016 6A South Region Player of the Year. He finished his senior season with 103 tackles, 15.0 sacks, 39 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles and two pass break ups. He was Coached by Scott Johnson at Oscar Smith High School, where he was the 2017 Southeastern District Defensive Player of the Year. Keshon represented the United States on the U19 National Team in the 2018 International Bowl IX.
With the Hokies, in 2020, Keshon played in seven games, posting two tackles on special teams. He wore Coach Beamers No.25 jersey at the Louisville game.
Keshon Leander Artis, from Chesapeake, VA, is the son of Leander Artis III and Keisha Artis. His mother, Keisha, and two of Keshon’s aunts live with Multiple Sclerosis. As Ambassador of the Multiple Sclerosis Alliance of Virginia (MSAV) he plans to increase MS awareness and help raise necessary funds for programs and services in underserved Southwest Virginia and surrounding areas. The MSAV is a 100% volunteer, 501c3 non-profit located in the Roanoke Area MS Center (RAMS) Salem.
Keshon’s marketing representative, Terence Tarrer, reached out to the MSAV to facilitate this new partnership. Visit our website at www.msallianceofva.org to follow Keshon’s journey and learn how you can participate, support and/or donate to local programs and services for people living with multiple sclerosis.
Radford University is conducting a study about activity levels and exercise performance through interviews with individuals diagnosed with MS in the Roanoke and surrounding areas.
If interested, please complete the short survey (linked below) regarding your current activity level. Completing the survey does
not require you to participate in the interview. Click this link: Radford PT Survey
News
How to Spot the Signs of an MS Flare
More than two-thirds of the approximately 1 million people with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the United States have relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), which means they have periods when their symptoms are severe — relapses — and periods when their symptoms are less severe,...
How Age Affects Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms and Progression
Most people with multiple sclerosis (MS) are diagnosed between age 20 and 50, though it can occur in children as well as in older adults, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS). About 85 percent of people diagnosed with MS are initially diagnosed...
Your FAQs, Answered: Does Stress Affect MS? 4 More Questions
Everyone can relate to feeling stressed from time to time. It’s part of being a human. Stress is a normal response when there’s a perceived threat to survival or your way of life. Though your body’s natural response to stress — wanting to run away from it or fight it...
MS Prognosis: Multiple Sclerosis Life Expectancy
So what is the life expectancy for people with MS? There isn’t one clear answer. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society estimates that, on average, someone with MS lives about seven years less than the general population. A study of 30,000 people in the U.S. with MS...
B-Cell Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis
What Is B-Cell Therapy? B-cell therapy (also called B-cell depletion therapy) is a treatment for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). It targets cells called B cells that damage nerves in your brain and spinal cord. B-cell therapy isn’t a cure, but it can: Ease...
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