National Multiple Sclerosis Society

The annual Play it Forward tennis tournament and fundraiser, directed by Great Neck North High School junior Keshin Huang, sophomore Brooke Bullaro, & Senior Nicole Volman, unites the Great Neck community in raising money for the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society, in honor of our beloved coach Mindy Alpert who suffers from MS. Our founders, Sophie Frenkel and Alana Shapiro, launched this initiative in 2021, and it continues to flourish. Coach Mindy is a true scholar, athlete, and philanthropist. Our community could not be more grateful to have her as a volunteer coach of North High’s tennis, basketball, and badminton teams for the past 17 years and counting.

After making her mark at North High, Mindy attended Cornell University as a player on the varsity basketball and tennis teams. After graduating, she ultimately became a Senior Vice President at Morgan Stanley, where she worked for many years until she became ill.

Following her diagnosis, and despite her many challenges, Mindy has been determined to dedicate her time and resources to helping others. She has volunteered for the National MS Society for the past 25 years and served as a National Director for the past 15 years. She does all of this while volunteer coaching our teams at North High.

The National MS Society works to help each person address the challenges of living with MS by funding cutting-edge research, driving change through advocacy, and providing programs and services that help people with MS and their families. The Society's mission is: We will cure MS while empowering people affected by MS to live their best lives.

Join us in following Coach Mindy’s extraordinary example to "Play" it Forward and one day cure MS.

National Multiple Sclerosis Society

We will cure MS while empowering people affected by MS to live their best lives.

Every contribution, big or small, makes a real impact. Even just a few dollars can help move this mission forward and reach those who need it most.

If you can’t donate right now, sharing this fundraiser is also incredibly helpful. Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity. It means the world to me.

Hi, I’m Ryan. For the past two years, I’ve competed in the Chicago Triathlon (sprint) to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in honor of my mom, the toughest person I know.

This year, I’m taking on a new challenge: the Chicago Half Marathon on September 28, 2025. Until recently, I had never run more than a 5K, but I’ve committed to a tailored training program and set a goal of finishing in under two hours. If training goes smoothly, I’m hopeful I’ll be able to raise the bar even higher by race day. I intend to share my training progress as the miles stack up.

I’m running for my mom because MS is personal. She’s lived with it for decades. Though her body has to put up a fight every single day, her mind remains as sharp and determined as ever. I’ve taken that mindset and applied it to running, knowing that if my mom refuses to give up, then how could I?

This run isn’t just about a personal milestone. It’s about raising critical funds for research, treatment, and support for people like my mom. If you’re able, I’d be incredibly grateful for your support. Every donation helps push this fight forward.

Thank you for helping us carry hope and momentum toward a future without MS.

Your generous donations will help fund essential resources and services, including:

Every contribution, no matter how small, brings us one step closer to making a positive impact in the lives of those affected by multiple sclerosis. Please consider donating today and joining us in this vital mission!

She drove her wheelchair in a bathing suit. Her van door opened and a crane pulled the wheelchair inside. She had it fitted so her right hand could operate both the gas and the brake, while her left hand held the knob on the steering wheel like the Flint metro bus driver.

She drove to Saddleback college pool where they lifted her into the pool. In the shallow end she could walk around whereas she was unable to on land. In the deep end she could swim and escape multiple sclerosis.

She is my inspiration.

We buried her ashes at sea and I swim with her frequently, or visit her on a surfboard.

When I’m in the ocean she protects me from “the men in the grey suits” recently spotted in Santa Monica.

In her honor I am swimming 10K to raise money for MS. I hope you can contribute to the cause.

Racing for the Cure: Four Drivers, One Cause

On August 14th, Bill Walker, Kevin Santarina, Matthew Sterlin, and Joseph Langford will come together for iRacing’s Race for the Cure, a virtual motorsport event supporting those affected by multiple sclerosis.

They’ll take on the tight turns and rapid elevation changes of virtual Lime Rock Park, one of the most iconic tracks in the sim racing world. Powered by iRacing, a hyper-realistic online racing simulator, these drivers will push precision and strategy to the limit.

But this event is more than just competition. Fueled by purpose and camaraderie, they’ll race to raise awareness and funds for MS research and support. Every lap will echo with determination, each move on track a tribute to resilience.

Together, they’ll drive for more than victory—they’ll drive for hope.

Your generous donations will help us:

Every contribution, big or small, plays a crucial role in advancing this mission. Let’s come together to support the incredible work of the National MS Society and change lives for the better. Thank you for your support!

Hi, I'm Cameron Shirey, and I'm on a mission to support the incredible work of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Their commitment to curing MS while empowering those affected by it is vital for so many individuals and families. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those living with this challenging condition.

Your donations will help fund essential programs and research, ensuring that everyone impacted by MS has the resources they need to thrive. Here are two ways your support will make a difference:

Every contribution, no matter how small, brings us closer to a world free of MS. Join me in this important cause and help empower those affected. Thank you for your generosity!

On April 13th, 2025, the Theta Chapter of Kappa Beta Gamma at St. Norbert College will be hosting the 20th annual MS Benefit to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. For Kappa Beta Gamma Theta Chapter, our chapter philanthropy is supporting the MS Society, this is because past sisters and family members have struggled with MS. MS is a lifelong disease of the central nervous system that can be debilitating to those diagnosed. The National MS Society supports research, educations, advocacy, and local programs that enhance the quality of life for people with MS. Any support you can give to the National MS Society is greatly appreciated! Thank you so much for your support, we appreciate you all so much!!!

This summer, I'm embarking on a solo bike-packing trip from Copenhagen to Barcelona, riding 3,000 km through Europe and crossing the Alps and Pyrenees.

I’m dedicating the ride to Multiple Sclerosis awareness.

MS is a hellish neurodegenerative disease that affects people of all ages, ethnicities and genders. One of the worst parts of MS is the loss in the ability to walk. 1 in 3 affected people stop walking within 15 years of the diagnosis.

The goal is to raise $3000 to support research through the National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps.

100% of the funds are sent to the foundation - and I’ll personally match every dollar/euro up to that amount.

Thank you for your generosity!

My name is Lenny DeBroeck. This year, on July 26th, it will be 6 years since my mom passed away. She was 61, just 5 weeks short of her 62nd birthday. On that day, this year, my daughter & I will be running in our first Bix 7 race, a 7-mile race in the Quad Cities (om the Iowa side) that has been going on since 1975. She had been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis about 15 years before she passed, and this disease was a strong factor that almost killed her in January 2011, along with a major factor in the complications that led to her passing. What was initially 7 days to live in 2011 turned into a strong 8 1/2 years. She got to see all 3 of her boys get married and got to spend precious time with all of her grandchildren.

Out of the blue, while chatting with my dad and friends, we decided to turn the day into a chance to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. To show our support, we will be wearing Orange in honor of MS Awareness.

I very much understand that my story is not long, but I could write a novel about my mom and her fight to get the full story out there. I just ask for your help to support awareness and research for the disease that took my mom.

Friends,

Over the coming years, my goal is to run half marathons around the world so I can stay fit while exploring places I want to visit. As part of my journey, I want to help those in need. I plan to raise money each time I run a race. Every penny will go directly to the charity.

I would like to raise funds for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for each race in this coming year. My sister has courageously battled this disease for many years with unwavering strength and positivity. She is a hero to me.

Please consider a donation for each run—literally, every dollar counts.

Thank you.

Larry

My name is Alisha and I just signed up for my first half marathon in over 15 years, specifically a Disney run. I have wanted to participate in a Disney run for over 7 years, but unfortunately, I didn't have a great support system. Last year, life changed for the better, and I'm focusing on making me a priority. Going into the year 2025, I knew I wanted to rearrange what is important to me. This included making more time for those important in my life, advancing my career, slowing down, and looking at my neglected bucket list. While I am still working on slowing down, I have started on my bucket list and reconnecting with others. This led me to successfully sign up for my first Disney half marathon in October with my childhood friend.

Let me begin by emphasizing that I am not a runner. In fact, I don't enjoy running, but the event has always appealed to me. Perhaps this activity will give me time to clear my head and give my dog a running buddy. When I signed up, I told my friend Adam what I just got myself into. Adam is my childhood friend's little brother who has MS. One day, in his young life, his whole world changed. There's no more running, jumping, or taking off in the car for adventures. His daily life is increasingly more difficult, and he will never be able to revert back to his old ways. This got me thinking, I have the privilege and ability to do this bucket list item. I can't imagine what my life would be like if I had to swap places with Adam. So what am I waiting for? Why am I scared of this race? Of failure? Adam did not allow his condition to sink him, and life really is too short.

So, while I train for the half marathon ending October 26, 2025, I will donate $1 for every mile I run leading up to the event. I will also document my training on my Instagram account @sundayinspire. The journey to the half marathon will not be glamorous, I will definitely do things incorrectly and I am terrified but very excited. Adam is my inspiration as he has not given up and has shown me with some time and a lot of hard work, you can accomplish the unthinkable. If you feel compelled to donate in honor of Adam, please do so here. All money raised will go to the National MS Society for research. Wish me luck. 

Hello! The start of March means the start of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease in which the immune system damages protective nerve coverings, thus leading a a disconnect in communication between the body and the brain.

The topic of MS is especially meaningful for me because my mother has had MS since I was 5 years old, which has caused a drastic difficulty increase in completing basic everyday tasks. Nobody should be forced into having their day to day lives be harder, but unfortunately, MS does that to one’s body. With your help, I’d like to raise both funds and awareness, and donate to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, which actively works towards helping the MS community.