Friends,
Exciting day for Rick Beulter last Wednesday
Just imagine being in a wheelchair and not standing for over 25 years. Can you imagine that? Unfortunately, many people with MS have no choice but to live that way and make the best of it. Rick certainly makes the best of it as do so many others who join us!
Now that Rick’s shoulder is feeling much better, he wanted to try standing last Wednesday. He has not stood for over 25 years. It took a team effort getting him in the standing machine (mostly because the standing machine was too small for him). Once we squeezed him in there, he was ready to stand.
Rick really enjoyed having conversations with us and cracking some jokes at eye level while standing. He was able to stand for a few minutes.
Apparently, when we don’t stand for all those years and then try standing, our bodies get a little confused. Rick’s body wasn’t used to this and he almost fainted after a few minutes of standing. We let him down; he recovered quickly and was really excited about the experience. The next time we’ll bring him up slower and hopefully he can stand longer. Nice job Rick and team!
John Haupt is featured in another video
We always love it when John either puts together a video or is featured in one. Here’s a link to John’s latest video that he was featured in. He shares many of his recent accomplishments. Nice job John! You sure make the best of living with MS. Very inspiring!
Music Therapy
Rick Talbert has been doing research on Music Therapy for people with MS and will be doing a presentation on it Friday @ 11:00 in the lunch room. This is probably something many people living with MS could benefit from. Please join Rick Friday @ 11:00 in the lunchroom and see how you can personally benefit from it.
Organization / Cleaning and Safety
Laura Kuklinski has graciously accepted the responsibility of leading the organization, cleaning and safety at the gym. She will need help. Laura will be offering some dates, times and opportunities to help. If you’re willing to help or know someone who is, please let me or Laura know so she start some separate communication with the people who are willing. You can e-mail Laura @ twokuks@gmail.com
Exciting News from the National MS Society
Rob, Katrina and Andrew from the National MS Society stopped by last Wednesday to let all of us know that we, as our Peppy Pedaler’s bike team reached the $1,000,000.00 (one million dollar) mark of fund raising for the National MS Society over the past 16 years as a team.
A huge THANK YOU goes to my wife Bonnie who does the communicating and organizing of our team, to all who donated to us as we rode, to all who did fundraising and to all who rode with us as a Peppy Pedaler through the years. You’re contributions to this are much appreciated. I feel we’re certainly doing our part to get this MS thing figured out. Like John always says…”Together, we’re going to beat this thing!”
A huge THANK YOU also goes out to all our volunteers who volunteers at our Peppy Pedalers rest areas and all who volunteer at any capacity for the bike ride. We wouldn’t be able to have these fun fundraising events if we didn’t have the selfless and devoted volunteers we have making these events possible.
Another huge THANK YOU goes out to everyone at the National MS Society that work so hard for all of us with MS all year long. We would not be able to do the fund raising we do if we didn’t have the National MS Society putting on these events. The bike ride is huge undertaking of planning, preparing, logistics, etc. They do this with very few people on staff and many volunteers. They fund the much needed research to continue making progress with MS as well as programs to help people with MS. Many of us met at National MS Society events. I’m thankful for that!
THANK YOU to “ALL” who helped make this possible!
Luther brings big smiles to many
It’s always a joy to see Luther working hard and enjoying his workouts 😊 I love the spirit Luther brings with him!
Let’s get together!
We’ll be getting together again from 9:00am – noon on Wednesday and Friday mornings at the gym. I hope you’ll join us!
Wisconsin Metal Parts – Westmound Building
W228N791 Westmound Drive
Waukesha, WI 53186
Prayer Group We’ll be having our prayer group Wednesday @ 11:00am.
I just love the way we share, pray and laugh together while we witness prayers being answered weekly. It’s truly amazing!
Thanks goes to God and to everyone that joins us. Let’s get together to share, listen, talk, give thanks and pray however God leads us.
MS Just Keep Caring – Our Caregivers support group will be the first and third Friday of each month from 10:00 – 10:30am. The next one will be Friday, October 7th. If you’re a caregiver of someone you love with MS, please join us and share your experience of caring for your loved one. This has been very helpful for many. Thanks to all who participate!
Friday Morning Bike Rides
Let’s continue to ride as long as it’s not raining and above 45 degrees. Now that we’re getting into September, each week we get to ride together is a bonus.
We’ll be meeting Friday mornings at 7:00am at Nettesheim Park in Pewaukee. It’s on the SE corner of Hwy SS and Oak Street. The GPS address is: N26W27495 Prospect Ave, Pewaukee, WI 53072. Come a little early so you can get your bike out of your car and be ready to ride as close to 7:00 as possible. We’ll ride until about 8:45. Let’s ride and have some fun!
Last week we had lots of trikes and lots of smiles 😊
Here’s another prime example of John living up to his “Johnnie’s Big Push” journey as he gives Laura a push up the hill. These rides are awesome!
Thank you to all the volunteers that come and help us on the Friday morning rides. There are a lot of moving pieces to make these rides possible and your help is much appreciated. We could always use more volunteers if you’re available and willing to join us.
For those of you who wish you could join us but can’t; please know we have you in our hearts on these rides. We’re riding with you and for you. I hope you too can join us someday. We really need to get this MS thing figured out. Let’s keep working on it together.
COVID We’ve all been dealing with this long enough and are very well educated on it by now. Let’s make good choices and be safe.
Please stay home if you have any symptoms or know you’ve been exposed to someone with the virus. Please don’t come until your symptoms go away. Let’s also give each other some space when talking to one another and continue wiping the machines down before and after you use them with disinfectant. Again…let’s be socially responsible and stay safe!
Our Facebook page is private. That means you’ll need to join if you want access to all our fun and progress. Lots of people are doing more and more and sharing of their journey on Facebook. Feel free to join and share your experience and comments. We’re now up to 259 members…awesome! https://www.facebook.com/groups/2639832389489709
Thai Massage with Ricky Heldt Ricky will be here Wednesday and Friday again this week doing Thai Massage. Ricky says he is comfortable to work with you even if you’re not wearing a mask. Ricky will continue to wear one to protect you.
Many continue making great progress with chronic pain relief, range of motion, walking better and a new sense of hope when Ricky works with them. Please keep in mind that consistency is key. Not only with Ricky…with exercise too. We need consistency to realize the benefits long term. We want you to have long term relief.
Ricky has a sign up sheet based on first come first serve. You can pick the time slot that works for you. I highly encourage you to take advantage of Ricky’s Thai Massages each day and sign up for your time slot as soon as you get there.
Reiki with Linda Linda will be here on Fridays doing Reiki. Many people say Linda’s Reiki work is “magical”. We’re thankful for Linda offering her gifts and talents to us. Feel free to let Linda know you’d like to do Reiki with her. She also has a sign up sheet.
Inspirational Humor with Adam Wollert
We’ll be having our inspirational humor zoom call with Adam again next Tuesday. Adam is a gift to all of us.
Please join us if you can.
Tuesdays @ 1:30PM
Here’s the link to join us…I hope you do!
Join Zoom Meeting with this link
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9431389152?pwd=bWlYbFNaazVnM1M1cWxWMitlODdXUT09
Meeting ID: 943 138 9152
Passcode: 3qP2hu
Phone: 1-312-626-6799
Let’s reach out
I encourage you to share a smile and encouragement with someone. Perhaps you could call someone that you haven’t talked with for a while just to say hi and see how they’re doing. We all could use a little extra love and encouragement.
MS is tough. Let’s have faith, remain calm, be flexible, help each other and learn as much as we can about the challenges of each day as we make good choices.
Let’s keep moving and smiling 😊
In God We Trust…we’re in good hands
Dan
P.S. I had a nice sunrise this morning on my bike ride
I just had to stop and take a picture to share with you
For those of you who can’t get out and enjoy nature due your challenges with MS…my heart is with you. You are with me every time I’m out there.