Friends,
We’re going to miss our students
Last week was the last week for our Physical Therapy Assistant Students from Bryant Stratton College and their leaders for this semester. Hopefully, they will return in the spring. It’s amazing how much confidence the students gained from when they first started coming to their last day last week. There’s no doubt in my mind they will treasure their experience here for a long time, if not the rest of their lives.
A huge thanks goes out to our friends with MS for sharing your journey of living with MS and allowing the students to work with you. Another huge thanks goes out to their leaders Dr Becky, Dr Sarah and Dr McKenzie for supporting them in their mission and creating this opportunity for them to come here. You all are special people.
Our volunteers are amazing
We are so blessed to have somny volunteers with MS and without MS. They all make it so easy for us to what we do. If we need something done around the gym, it seems like there is always multiple people willing help. Thank you so much!
Now that some of the painting is done, cleaning is done, we have volunteers organizing our pictures for the wall together. I like that word “together”.
Our 3rd Annual Open House – Saturday, November 4th from 2:00pm – 5:00pm. We will have an exciting program from 3:00 – 4:00pm.
If you can’t make it to our open house, watch our Facebook Page @ 3:00pm on Saturday, November 4th. We are going to attempt to livestream it. It’s a private page so if you haven’t joined our Facebook group yet, you’ll want to join it ahead of time.
We could use your help inviting people to our open house. We have an invitation printed out and will have them at the gym tomorrow. If each of us could invite people that would appreciate what we’re doing, perhaps we could inspire more people to engage in our mission at some level and support us. We would certainly appreciate more volunteers as well as financial support so we can continue doing all we’re doing for “free” for our friends with MS.
Please help us pass the word…thanks so much!
Please plan on coming to the open house and bringing your family and friends. Let’s share how much fun we have each week.
Picture Wall is being updated
Our MS-Just Keep Moving family continues to grow. Since we painted the front room, we will be updating our picture board. If your picture is not up there or you want to update your picture, please see Linda Catterson. Linda will have her camera this Friday, October 20th and next Wednesday, October 25th. This goes for our friends with MS as well as our volunteers.
Dance Programs – Another one this Thursday
Dr Alex Ng from Marquette University has the fall dance program going again. I know many of you really enjoyed this program this past spring. I hope everyone returns and helps recruit more for this program.
When Dr Ng came to the gym and presented the results of his dance study for MS; he shared many ways dance proved to be helpful for us living with MS. I was inspired by how his study proved to help people cognitively with memory challenges, balance, movement, socializing, etc.
Here’s a messgae from Dr Ng:
Hello Dancers and Would Be Dancers,
There are only two more 1 hr free MS Dance Workshops left this fall! One will be this Thurs (10/26) at a new location, Casa Collective Studio, at 7:00 PM located at 21415 W. Greenfield Ave, New Berlin. We’ve missed you and hope to see you soon. What better way to improve your cognition, balance, fitness, and have fun at the same time! As always, let us know if plan on coming to any of our remaining events, but come even if you do not.
Take care,
Alex
I hope you’ll engage in this opportunity and have some fun doing it.
Cardio and Balance Programs
These classes are aimed to get everyone exercising together. Again, I like that word “together” 😊. We’ll need help from volunteers before and after the cardio class on Wednesday to get members on and off equipment. All are welcome and encouraged to join.
Wednesdays 10-10:30am: Cardio 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
We lucked out with the weather and had another great ride last Friday morning. It absolutely amazes me that so many hard working, determined people with MS and dedicated volunteers will get up so early in the morning morning to go for a bike ride with us @ 7:00am all spring, summer and fall.
It was a little chilly last week but that didn’t stop us. We found some Halloween decorations.
And enjoyed our favorite lake route
Along with some beautiful fall colors.
And friends to ride with.
I think I can say with confidence that this is a little unusual in todays world. It’s a good unusual. We had a great season of riding together. There’s that word again “Together”. I like that word. Even more so, I like that we get together in all the ways we do.
It looks like it will be too cold and potentially raining this Friday morning. We will not be riding. There’s a good chance last week’s ride was the last one for the season. Let’s think spring!
Again, 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.
Educational Sessions
Saturday, November 4th 2:00 – 5:00pm. MS-Just Keep Moving Open House
Friday, November 10th 11:00am – Noon. Mitra Rouhani from Marquette University here to present on Red Light Therapy
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 BuildingMS-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 Friday, November 3rd. 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 433 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 with 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. If you ever want to enjoy a hike with a camera, go with Cal Newby. Cal and I got out for a nice hike at Lapham Peak Sunday afternoon. We were in some colorful spots.
It’s always fun to watch Cal in action as he sees a lot of beauty others walk by.
I’ve learned a lot from Cal and am thankful for his friendship and gift of sharing his gifts. You never know what he’s going to ask next.
When you get in a spot like this, it’s easy to see God’s beauty
How beautiful can a simple green leaf be?
Cal showed me how to look for colored backgrounds this time of the year. Colorful leaves make nice backgrounds.
I always like looking for critters too.
Colorful leaves this year are fun to watch for too.
Switching subjects a bit, did you see the sunrise yesterday morning? I happened to be at the gym as the sun was coming up. I thought…oh that’s beautiful I better go get my camera.
Did you see the sunset last night? A beautiful sunrise and a beautiful sunset in the same day. This was taken from our backyard.
As it got close to dark, I thought I would take a picture of a piece of grass with red leaves in the background. I surprised myself. It turned out kind of nice. A good way to end the day 😊
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.