Heart to Heart  Pet-A-Rama
The 2010 Heart to Heart Pet-a-Rama will be Sunday, February 14 from 9 am - 2 pm. Steele Indian School Park  Begin Valentine's Day with your Best Friend!! 
Most of us have been together from the beginning and I hope we can all see the Pet-a-Rama through its final year.  Truth be told, it's a ton of hard work and we're all getting older and aren't quite as fit as we were six years ago when we started.  Having said that, I want to make it official-the 2010 Heart to Heart Pet-a-Rama will be the FINAL Pet-a-Rama

At the end of the event, we'll give away or give back all the "hardscape" equipment and only drive away with the rented stuff. 
It's been an amazing ride and I'll never be able to adequately communicate my appreciation or what a blessing your support of me and Carmel has been.  Our cause is noble and I truly believe the H2H and therefore you will be a part of finding a way to prevent valve disease in our pets and fellow humans. The H2H lab at CSU has made such great strides that the American Heart Association has given the Animal Heart Center a huge grant that will see the lab into its future...but we will always know where it began!
 
In preparation of this finality, we're making a few changes for the 2010 H2H:

• The Park will be much tighter (I've enclosed a map) and therefore much easier to manage.
• We will not be charging a registration fee.  Karen assures me that when folks are charged a registration fee, they tend to only give that amount.  On the other hand, if they are encouraged to simply ask 10 friends for $10, etc. we end up raising more $'s.  I've always been afraid to try this but....if not now, when?  So all of our communication with our database will be focused on encouraging them [and you] to ask their friends and family to support them with donations and to form teams so they can have more fun.
• We will have a fully equipped Cardiac Van (provided by Vetmedin) on site for the Cardiologists to work from---soundproofed too!  This will allow the docs to give better exams and render a more accurate diagnosis.
• The scope of what we'll need from you will be help with delivering brochures and event weekend stuff.  I know this will cut down on your pizza consumption, but times are tough! Lois Arnold, Founder & Event Director, Heart to Heart Pet-a-rama, 8034 N. 6th Place, Phoenix , AZ. 85020, 602-570-2755, 602-997-8898 Fax info@hearttoheartpetarama.com   www.hearttoheartpetarama.com  A Walk in the Park to Save a Pet's Heart

HELP SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!

100% of all Donations go to supplying Care Packages for the
Brave Men & Women who defend our FREEDOM!

Sponsored By: Arbonne Independent Consultants  Cindy Wojtowicz and Abby Green

Every Arbonne Care Package will include Pure, Safe, and Beneficial Products

     An Intelligence Travel Set                NRGGO3 Fizzing Beverage Tablet            Lip Saver Sunscreen SPF 30

Each care package has over an $80 value and can be purchased for $45 

All Donations will benefit:   The Travis Manion Foundation ~ a registered non-profit 501c3

The Care Packages will be sent to: A Marine Regimental Combat Team serving in Iraq and a unit of Army Rangers serving in Afghanistan.

ABBY GREEN

602-741-9113/abbygreen@gmail.com

______________________________________________________________________________________

Application

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Arizona

Local Businesswoman to Receive 2009 Bronze Sierra Award Feb 21

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to Award Jennifer Kaplan for her Dedication to the Foundation

  The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has selected Jennifer Kaplan, co-founder and owner of PRIME 3, LLC, as the 2009 recipient of the prestigious Bronze Sierra Award for her commitment and dedication to the Foundation.

 Kaplan has been involved with the local chapter of Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for the past 5 years on a variety of levels. She was selected as an AZ’s Finest Honoree in 2005 and since has chaired the AZ’s Finest event 2 years in a row and is currently serving as the Vice President of the Arizona Executive Board for the Foundation.

 “Jennifer’s accomplishments within the community and her endless commitment to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation makes her the ideal candidate for this year’s award,” said Sandra Kush, Owner of Devon Designs. “She is a very accomplished woman with many exceptional qualities and we are thankful to have her support.”

 The Bronze Sierra is awarded to individuals, organizations or businesses who have shown an outstanding commitment to finding a cure for cf. Past recipients include former Phoenix Suns players Dan Majerle and Alvan Adams; former Arizona Diamondbacks Pitcher, Randy Johnson; former Phoenix Suns Coach Cotton Fitzsimmons; Del E Webb Foundation and Sports Illustrated’s Frank Deford. “I am honored to be selected as this year’s Bronze Sierra Award recipient,” said Jennifer Kaplan. “I thoroughly enjoy working with Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and believe that with the continued support and dedication of the community we will find a cure for cystic fibrosis.”

 This year’s Bronze Sierra Award will be awarded during the Sixth Annual Wine and 65 Roses Gala at the Montelucia Resort and Spa in Phoenix, AZ on February 21^st starting at 6pm. The event features wine tasting and gourmet dinner with small boutique wineries and rare collectibles for auction. Tickets are $500 per person with ninety cents of every dollar raised used to fund the science to find a cure for cystic fibrosis, the CF Care Centers at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and the University Medical Center in Tucson.

 For additional details about the Bronze Sierra Award and the Sixth Annual Wine and 65 Roses Gala, please contact Lori Nelson at 602-224-0068.

 About Cystic Fibrosis FoundationThe Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Arizona, headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz., a non-profit donor-supported organization, is dedicated to assuring the development of the means to cure and control cystic fibrosis and to improving the quality of life for those with the disease. The Foundation is the leading organization in the United States devoted to cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is the #1 life shortening disease of children and young adults in the U.S. It is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). A defective gene and its protein product cause the body to produce unusually thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs and leads to life-threatening lung infections; and obstructs the pancreas and stops natural enzymes from helping the body break down and absorb food. While today there exists no cure, an arsenal of remedies have been produced to help treat the disease, dramatically extending the life expectancy of people living with cf. For more information about Cystic Fibrosis Foundation visit www.cff.org.

Hundreds of Arizona Women Rally Together to Raise Funds for MS

Luncheon Provides Hope and Support to Women Affected by Multiple Sclerosis 

(PHOENIX) February 4, 2009: The Arizona Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is hosting its fourth annual Women Against MS Luncheon on Wednesday, April 29, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the brand new Montelucia Resort and Spa. Guests will share the joys of a fine lunch while watching an inspirational program emceed by Tara Hitchcock of “Good Morning Arizona”, and featuring keynote speaker Martha Madison. Martha is an actress, formerly on “Days of Our Lives” and is also an MS Caregiver. She will share her inspirational story with hundreds of attendees.

 The Women Against MS Luncheon creates a motivational and empowering environment for people to gather, learn about MS, and raise funds for the National MS Society. A live drawing will allow attendees to purchase tickets for their chance to win one of five prize packages, each valued at over $500.

 While men are certainly welcome to attend, it is women who founded this important event and who inspire each other to move it forward. Two thirds of the people living with MS are women, and women often are the care providers for everyone else. Last year the Women Against MS Luncheon raised nearly $90,000 to provide programs for people living with MS and fund research towards the cure and treatment of this chronic disease of the central nervous system.

 Sponsorships, tables of 10 for families or corporations and individual tickets for the event are available for purchase, a portion of which is tax-deductible. To buy tickets or for more information, visit  http://aza.nationalMSsociety.org  or call the Arizona Chapter at 480-968-2488.

 About Multiple SclerosisMultiple sclerosis interrupts the flow of information from the brain to the body and stops people from moving.  Every hour in the United States, someone is newly diagnosed with MS, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with more than twice as many women as men being diagnosed with the disease.  MS affects more than 400,000 people in the U.S., and 2.5 million worldwide.

 About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society MS stops people from moving.  The National MS Society exists to make sure it doesn’t.  We help each person address the challenges of living with MS through our 50 state network of chapters.  We fund more MS research, provide more services to people with MS, offer more professional education and further more advocacy efforts than any other MS organization in the world.  The Society is dedicated to achieving a world free of MS.  We are people who want to do something about MS now.  Join the movement at http://aza.nationalmssociety.org.

 Studies show that early and ongoing treatment with an FDA-approved therapy can reduce future disease activity and improve quality of life for many people with multiple sclerosis. Talk to your health care professional and contact the National MS Society at http://nationalmssociety.org or 1-800-FIGHT-MS to learn about ways to help manage multiple sclerosis and about current research that may one day reveal a cure. 

Women Against MS Luncheon Women Against MS Luncheon April 29, 2009
Put it on your calendar!
 We have secured our date and location for our 2009 WAMS luncheon. It will be held Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at the brand new Monte Lucia Resort and Spa (Tatum and Lincoln) Our speaker is Martha Madison, an actress from Days of Our Lives (Belle Black Brady). Her mother has MS. We are expecting 600 attendees.

Remember Last Year's Luncheon!
An afternoon of inspiration, motivation and empowerment as we move towards a world free of MS Wednesday, April 23, 2008 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa
Event Chair: Terry Ashoff Johnson
About the Luncheon
The National MS Society, Arizona Chapter and other outstanding women for an afternoon of inspiration, motivation and empowerment move towards a world free of MS. They share the joys of a fine lunch while watching an inspirational program emceed by Tara Hitchcock of "Good Morning Arizona" and with featured keynote speaker Kristie Salerno Kent. Guests also bought tickets for a live raffle held during the program for a wide variety of exciting prizes. 

Special Guest Kristie Salerno Kent A few years after Kristie received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Syracuse University, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She decided that she was not going to give up her dreams of performing just because of her MS diagnosis. Kristie took on the role of an MS Lifelines Ambassador and travels the country speaking and singing for others who are affected by the disease. Now her performances are for a purpose and not just entertainment.  As a songwriter, Kristie writes from her own experiences and many of her songs were created from pages of her personal journal. Kristie's debut solo CD, "Believe" is a heartfelt testimony of her determination to succeed despite adversity.  Her powerful and richly textured voice combined with her honest lyrics and memorable melodies make you BELIEVE that anything is possible. Watch "The Show Must Go On", a short video created by Kristie about her experience with MS. This video was one of six nationwide to be featured in the National MS Society Moving Forward Film Festival.     Clip of Kristie singing

Get Involved  Your involvement can make all the difference.  Please join us for an upcoming event.

• MS 2008: Maximizing Care Strategies A multidisciplinary continuing medical education conference Saturday, May 3, 2008 Hyatt Regency Phoenix http://nationalMSsociety.org/MS2008 

• Corks and Chords 2008 An evening of wine and music to end MS Saturday, September 13, 2008 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Mayo Clinic Scottsdale http://nationalMSsociety.org/corks2008  

• WalkMS: Prescott Walk on the Wild Side Saturday, October 18, 2008 7 :00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m Heritage Park Zoo in Prescott
  http://walkaza.nationalMSsociety.org  

• WalkMS: Phoenix Walk on the Wild Side Saturday, November 8, 2008 7:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.SRP's Headquarters in Phoenix http://walkaza.nationalMSsociety.org 

• Bike MS: Round Up Ride 2009 March 28 & 29, 2009 Heritage Park in Florence, Arizona http://bikeaza.nationalMSsociety.org

•  For more information about the National MS Society, Arizona Chapter, please vIsit www.aza.nationalMSsociety.org or call us at 1-800-344-4867.

all photos by LeeAnn Sharpe

Women Against MS

By LeeAnn Sharpe
An invitation to attend the Women Against MS luncheon at the Arizona Biltmore on Wednesday, April 23, 2008, filled an otherwise dull day with an opportunity to learn about Multiple Sclerosis and what progress has been made toward a cure or treatment. Even though I have a sister-in-law in California with this disease, I really knew very little about MS.

 The brochure said, “An afternoon of inspiration, motivation and empowerment as we move towards a world free of MS.”  Can the world be free of MS?

 The first thing I learned about MS is that two thirds of it’s victims are women. And most look like the picture of health. Very few used canes or walkers or wheelchairs. But the terrible affects of the disease are still there and often make life very difficult.

 Multiple sclerosis interrupts the flow of information from the brain to the body and stops people from moving.  Featured keynote speaker Kristie Salerno Kent spoke of her experiences and how it’s hard for people to understand she has MS because she looks outwardly unaffected. She often hears, “You have MS? But you look so good.” Yet, it’s difficult to walk, she suffers pain, vision problems, and physical exhaustion is a constant problem. 

 A few years after Kristie received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Syracuse University, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She woke up one day unable to move her legs. It was a terrifying experience and with medication and therapy she can now walk. She decided that she was not going to give up her dreams of performing just because of her MS diagnosis. Kristie took on the role of an MS Lifelines Ambassador and travels the country speaking and singing for others who are affected by the disease. Now her performances are for a purpose and not just entertainment. 

 As a songwriter, Kristie writes from her own experiences and many of her songs were created from pages of her personal journal.  Kristie's debut solo CD, "Believe" is a heartfelt testimony of her determination to succeed despite adversity.  Her powerful and richly textured voice combined with her honest lyrics and memorable melodies make you BELIEVE that anything is possible.

You can watch "The Show Must Go On", a short video created by Kristie about her experience with MS. This video was one of six nationwide to be featured in the National MS Society Moving Forward Film Festival. It is available on You Tube.

 At my luncheon table, Sandra Behlkea, a nurse, has a son-in-law with MS. She wrote a cookbook to help non-profits raise funds though its sale. Her son-in-law is now symptom free, the result of medication, diet and exercise. This is a common thread I hear over and over again. Still there is no cure for MS. 

 Dr. Dean Wingerchuk, MD an Associate Professor of Neurology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine spoke to the group of several hundred women gathered this beautiful day. He made the point almost everyone knows someone with MS, even though they may not realize it. In the research of MS, two key areas of focus are the genetic aspect, which has identified two key genes linked to the disease. This is a big step forward toward learning why people get MS. Another is the environmental factors include lack of Vitamin D. Even here in Arizona, where we have so much sunshine, we block the sun and our access to the sun's vitamin D that contribute to MS. He felt the next ten years of research will lead to greater understanding.  Right now the medications for treatment of MS have progressed tremendously in the last fifteen years. Research in MS is progressing at a remarkable rate, with more potential therapies in the pipeline than at any other time in history.  This is all the result of research funded by the National MS Society.

Every hour in the United States, someone is newly diagnosed with MS, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with more than twice as many women as men being diagnosed with the disease.  MS affects more than 400,000 people in the U.S., and 2.5 million worldwide.

 Last year the Women Against MS luncheon raised nearly $70,000 to provide programs for people living with MS and fund research towards the cure and treatment of this chronic disease of the central nervous system.  This year they certainly surpassed that figure… reports yet to come. There is no cure. Maybe someday.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Hundreds of Arizona Women Rally Together to Raise Funds for MS

Luncheon Provides Hope and Support to Women Affected by Multiple Sclerosis

 (PHOENIX) March 1, 2008: The Arizona Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society is hosting its third annual Women Against MS luncheon on Wednesday, April 23, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa. Guests will share the joys of a fine lunch while watching an inspirational program emceed by Tara Hitchcock of “Good Morning Arizona”, and featuring keynote speaker Kristie Salerno Kent. Kent will speak to the hundreds of guests about her life with MS. She was diagnosed with MS in 1999, and after several years of denial, she decided that the word dreams may end with an M and an S but her dreams don't end because of her MS. She is now a singer/songwriter/producer and the CEO of her own production company. Her music is a heartfelt testimony of her determination to succeed despite adversity.

 The Women Against MS luncheon creates a motivational and empowering environment for people to gather, learn about MS, and raise funds for the National MS Society. A live drawing will allow attendees to purchase tickets for their chance to win one of five prize packages, each valued at over $500.

 While men are certainly welcome to attend, it is women who founded this important event and who inspire each other to move it forward. Two thirds of the people living with MS are women, and women often are the care providers for everyone else. Last year the Women Against MS luncheon raised nearly $70,000 to provide programs for people living with MS and fund research towards the cure and treatment of this chronic disease of the central nervous system.

 Sponsorships, tables of 10 for families or corporations and individual tickets for the event are available for purchase, a portion of which is tax-deductible. To buy tickets or for more information, visit http://nationalMSsociety.org/azwams2008 or call the Arizona Chapter at 480-968-2488, option 2.

 About Multiple Sclerosis  Multiple sclerosis interrupts the flow of information from the brain to the body and stops people from moving.  Every hour in the United States, someone is newly diagnosed with MS, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with more than twice as many women as men being diagnosed with the disease.  MS affects more than 400,000 people in the U.S., and 2.5 million worldwide.

 About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society  MS stops people from moving.  The National MS Society exists to make sure it doesn’t.  We help each person address the challenges of living with MS through our 50 state network of chapters.  We fund more MS research, provide more services to people with MS, offer more professional education and further more advocacy efforts than any other MS organization in the world.  The Society is dedicated to achieving a world free of MS.  We are people who want to do something about MS now.  Join the movement at http://nationalmssociety.org.

 Studies show that early and ongoing treatment with an FDA-approved therapy can reduce future disease activity and improve quality of life for many people with multiple sclerosis. Talk to your health care professional and contact the National MS Society at http://nationalmssociety.org or 1-800-FIGHT-MS to learn about ways to help manage multiple sclerosis and about current research that may one day reveal a cure.