Friends,
Our first ever “Day of Endurance” was amazing!
Who would have thought the Day of Endurance would have been about so much more than the physical accomplishments? The love shared, the encouragement, the fun and the spirit at the event was heart warming. I loved seeing people care for and help each other in so many different ways all day long…and part of the night.
We started out the day having friends swim, kayak and paddle board with us, encourage us and cheer for us as it was turning daylight…6:00am.
When we finished, we celebrated 😊
Then it was off to the start of the rest of the day when Mike Kee sang the National Anthem, touched our hearts and brought tears to our eyes.”
I said a few words and dedicated this day to all those we’ve lost due to complications with MS and to all those who wanted to be here but couldn’t due to their challenges with MS. If that’s you, please know we had you with us in our hearts the whole day. Hopefully, you can engage in the year long journey of getting to the start line and join us next year.
Once we got started, we all did our own thing at our own pace. Many walked together.
I love it when people walk together.
Some rode trikes and bikes together
Some shared love together
Some encouraged and cheered for others
Some shared some great laughs together with Adam. Who would have thought?
We sure are blessed with this loving, supportive, high spirited encouraging community
Mike ran an entire 26.2 mile marathon
We had a lot of fun riding together out on the bike route
We even had a really nice porta potty out at the rest stop. Donna loved it 😊
So did Chuck and friends!
It was exciting every time we crossed the finish line. Many people crossed it many times throughout the day. 😊
Ricky was there doing his magic with massage and stretching after a hard workout
Shaun’s son loved his Dad’s finisher medal after he completed his 18 mile trike ride with Gregg and Larry. The finisher medals were a big hit…Thanks Steve!”
The fellowship after BIG accomplishments was fun!
How long did this Day of Endurance last? Well, Todd wasn’t going to be done until he finished his entire Ironman distance triathlon. He swam 2.4 miles with us @ 6:00am. He rode his handcycle with Diane and Tom for 112 miles until about 9:00pm
Then about 10:15 at night, Todd started his 26.2 mile marathon in his racing wheelchair. Todd finished his marathon at about 2:30am. Now that was a Day of Endurance! Especially for a 59 year old person with primary progressive MS who struggles to walk. Way to go Todd!
So what did I do for the Day of Endurance? I enjoyed the entire journey of the year of workouts with friends leading up to it. I enjoyed swimming 2 miles with friends, riding bike with friends and Jacob, my son for 112 miles.
And walking with friends and family for 5 miles.
I realized if I wanted to do a whole Ironman distance triathlon I would have been late for the National Anthem and I would not have been able to enjoy our friends at the rest area and picnic area. I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to be with all of you. I couldn’t be more happy about my Day of Endurance experience. It’s about SO much more than the physical accomplishments.
I’m really excited to hear about your experience. Some of my favorite parts were when people made comments that were of the nature “I was just going to come and cheer people on”. And then they went for walks and trike rides with friends. Some walking more than they’ve walked in MANY YEARS.
How powerful is this? Just think. What did this day do for us socially, mentally, emotionally and spiritually along with physically? We have so much to be thankful for.
The love, the spirit, the fun and the sense of community was truly amazing. The food was really good too! Thanks so much to all who helped make this day possible. It truly was a community effort.
Other people were also engaging in our Day of Endurance in Minnesota and Colorado. Tom Holtackers reached his goal of doing 15 miles on the upper body extention machine at 80 years old and after recently being practically bed ridden for about a year and a half. Who says we can’t make progress? Way to go Tom!
Jon Franko who lives in St. Louis and has MS was out in Colorado hiking and mountain climbing for his Day of Endurance adventure. Looks nice out there Jon!
It’s fun having an event with no rules (other than to be safe) and being able to do what we can do with friends and without judgement…whatever that might be.
Now you can see why I’ve been so excited to do this event with all of you. It truly was a dream come true for me. I hope we can do this for years to come. Let’s start training for next year.
Thanks to Linda and Cal for taking and sharing the pictures in this e-mail. Thanks Linda and Cal! We have more pictures to share. If you have pictures you’re willing to share, please get them to Mike Beiermeister. You can either give them to him on a thumb drive or e-mail them to him @ mbeiermeister@gmail.com . He is putting them all in one common spot and then we can share them in slide shows, make them available to you, etc.
Cardio and Balance Programs
We will be doing the cardio and balance programs again this week.
These classes are aimed to get everyone exercising together. We’ll need help from volunteers before and after the aerobics class on Wednesday to get members on and off equipment. All are welcome and encouraged to join.
Wednesdays 10-10:30am: aerobic exercise
Location: in the big room using aerobic equipment in front of big TV
Pick your favorite piece of equipment to use, bring a water bottle, and arrive a few minutes early to get the equipment set up to your height.
Fridays: balance training and core strengthening
10-10:30 am: seated balance class
10:30 – 11am: standing balance class
Pick the class / classes you feel most able and comfortable participating in. We will have chairs set up to sit on and/or use for balance support.
Email Kate at kborn1234@gmail.com with any questions.
Friday Morning Bike Ride
Hopefully, after all the Day of Endurance achievements, we’ll have more people join us on our Friday morning bike rides. Let’s start building for next year.
Let’s leave the parking lot earlier again this week. 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!
Let’s meet Friday morning at 6:45 and be ready to ride by 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.
Again, for those 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.
Nutrition Program – Next Wednesday. Alison will be back next Wednesday from 11:00am – noon for another nutrition program. I hope you will join us!
Students are returning – The PTA students and their leaders from Bryant Stratton College will be starting back next Wednesday as well. Let’s welcome them back!
Educational Sessions
Friday, August 1st – 11:00 – noon. Day of Endurance sharing session. We will share our experiences and accomplishments with each other.
Friday, September 8th – Dr Ian Duncan – 11:00 – noon. Dr Ian Duncan, a lifelong researcher of MS will speak on current and exciting research happening for us living with MS. Dr. Duncan spent much of his career researching re-myelination. Dr Duncan also made a documentary about people with MS and exercise using Nordic Skiing called “Multiple Sclerosis, The Vikings and Nordic Skiing”. https://www.pbs.org/video/wpt-documentaries-multiple-sclerosis-vikings-and-nordic-skiing/
Friday, September 22nd – To Be Determined
Future topics could include: emotional health, nutrition, yoga, tai chi, wellness topics, safe use of gym equipment for your body, best exercise for you and more. What topics would you like to see? Please let Joan, Traci, Ricky or Dan know
Let’s get together!
We’ll be getting together from 9:00am – noon on Wednesday and Friday mornings at the gym. I hope you’ll join us!
Wisconsin Metal Parts – Westmound Building
MS-Just Keep Moving, Inc.
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 this Friday, September 1st. 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!
Our Facebook page is private. That means you’ll need to join if you want access to all our fun and progress. We’re now up to 418 members. That’s awesome! https://www.facebook.com/groups/2639832389489709
Our Facebook page is very active and fun. Lots of people are doing more and sharing their journey on Facebook. Feel free to join, post and share your experiences and comments.
There were some awesome pictures, videos and comments shared again this past week. Thank you to all who are sharing!
Thai Massage with Ricky Heldt
Ricky will be here Wednesday and Friday doing Thai Massage.
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 benefits and relief.
Ricky has a sign up board 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 sharing 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. Thanks to all who joined us today!
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 have not talked with for a while just to say hi and see how they are doing. We all could use a little extra love and encouragement.
MS is tough. Let us 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 are in good hands.
Dan
P.S. I was pretty busy with the day of endurance this week so I didn’t get out to take any new nature pictures to share with you this week. I’m sorry about that!
For those 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. I enjoy being out there and I also enjoy sharing with you. I know how hard it is not to be able to get out and enjoy nature. Let’s enjoy nature and God’s beauty together this way.