Friends,
I hope you had a nice Christmas
Our Christmas was very nice. I hope yours was too.
One of the highlights of my Christmas this year was watching our grandson, Caleb practice for the children’s choir in church and then watching him sing with other children during mass. There certainly is a special spirit in the air at Christmas time as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Hearing the kids sing certainly touched my heart. If you know me very well, you know that when my heart gets touched, my eyes leak. It was a beautiful mass and celebration.
I hope you had a Christmas filled with joy and God’s love. We are blessed in so many ways.
2025 – A great year for our MS-Just Keep Moving Mission
Many of us have had a challenging year with our MS in 2025. Personally, I’ve been fortunate and had another very good year with my MS. My heart goes out to so many who had a very challenging year. I really wish we had a cure or even a recipe for everyone to stay ahead of it. As we all know, MS is different for all of us. We will continue to learn as much as we can, do as much as we can and share anything we learn that works.
Despite all the challenges of MS, we are so fortunate to have each other to fight this battle with. It would be so much worse if we had to do it alone or in isolation. The power of our love and community is immeasurable. I’m thankful we are here for each other in so many ways.
I want to throw out a huge THANK YOU to everyone who engaged in our mission in some way again this year. Our big focus going forward is to make MS-Just Keep Moving as a mission sustainable going forward. From all I know about living with MS, I’m confident that if, and when there is a cure, exercise will be part of the cure which means our mission will still be critical even after there is a cure and we will be ahead of the curve. Our community is very unique and special. We’ve made much progress again in 2025 to being sustainable going forward into the next generation and will continue to work towards that again in 2026 and beyond.
A huge THANK YOU goes out to everyone who financially supported us in some way in 2025. We have been very blessed with so many generous supporters. We are in a good spot going into 2026. THANK YOU for your love and support!
Holiday Schedule – Happy New Year!
New Years Eve, December 31st – We will be open.
Friday after New Years, January 2nd – We will be open. Let’s get the new year started right…together being active.
Happy New Year!
In the past, I’ve always looked at New Years as a new beginning. I would spend some time reflecting on what I want to do this year, what goals I want to achieve, etc.
For some reason, this year is different for me. This year, I’m reflecting more so on the blessings of people I have in my life and I’m being thankful for them. If you’re receiving this e-mail, you are included in this special group of people I’m thankful for. Who knows, maybe I’m getting New Year’s confused with Thanksgiving this year??
Either way, I’m thankful for you. Let’s have an active and fun 2026 together filled with much love, joy, gratitude, and purpose. I have faith that God has a rewarding plan for each of us in 2026. Let’s open our minds, open our hearts, allow God in, listen well, and do what He wants us to do. Who knows what He has in store for us? It will be exciting to find out….Happy New Year!
Mental Health Presentation
Bryanna Bruger, MS, PsyD – Clinical Neuropsychologist – Advocate Aurora St. Luke’s gave a great presentation on Mental Health with MS a few weeks ago. Thanks Bryanna!
Bryanna shared her presentation slides with us. Here’s a link to Bryanna’s slides:
All of us with MS have mental health challenges of some sort. It’s not easy to deal with mentally, emotionally, physically, etc. Again, thank you Bryanna, for sharing your knowledge and gifts with us.
Spin Classes with Mike B on Friday
Mike will be leading spin classes on Friday mornings at 8:45am with his fun personality and music through the winter months. We had a fun class last week. I hope you will join us this Friday. These will be first come, first served with the spin bikes. Let’s fill them up.
Polar Plunge – January 1, 2026 – Benefitting our MS-Just Keep Moving Mission
The Panga Bar was kind enough to allow us to borrow some kayaks for kayaking this past summer. Ricky and some others built a relationship with the people there and as a result, they have chosen MS-Just Keep Moving, Inc. as the beneficiary of their Polar Plunge event this year. Let’s help them make this a great event.
Polar Plunge countdown is on!
When you jump this year, you will be jumping to support MS Just Keep Moving! Come on down to watch these crazy people jump and support an amazing cause!
*BAR OPEN @ 10AM
*REGISTRATION @ 12pm-1:30pm
*FAMILY FRIENDLY PLUNGE @ 12PM
*REGULAR PLUNGE @ 2PM
*Heated tent and changing room
*Prizes for oldest, youngest, and best dressed!
* Amazing food and drink specials!
*Raffles from various businesses around the area!
*Parking is limited so we suggest carpooling accordingly!
*If jumping, we recommend wearing a pair of tennis shoes or water shoes!
*REGISTRATION LINK: https://book.peek.com/s/63e5905c-be76-47f0-9da9-1e8671e5ce0e/p_gydng–9206a735-607d-43df-84f0-5c897774057d?mode=standalone
Panga Bar & Grill Annual Polar Plunge (30th year)
Details:
January 1st, 2026
34422 Delafield Rd, Oconomowoc, WI, United States, Wisconsin 53066
Bar open 10am
Family & kids plunge @ 12:00pm ($10 minimum donation)
Adults jump @ 2:00pm in waves of 20 people at a time ($15 minimum donation)
Pre-registration is encouraged online before the event: link to register will become live soon
Same day in-person registration kids & family 10:30am – 11:30am, general registration 12 – 1:30pm
All proceeds from registration costs, t shirt sales, cash donations, and raffles will benefit MS-Just Keep Moving, Inc.
T Shirts available for sale $25 each
Heated tent with outdoor bar, plunge into 2 feet of water in the channel between upper and lower Nemahbin Lake (water shoes encouraged)
Last year they had 130 attendees and raised $8,000 for ABCD, a non-profit organization for breast cancer survivors. Let’s get an even bigger turn out this year!
They will need 4-5 volunteers for the event to help direct the waves of people plunging at noon (10am – 3pm)
Promotional flyer will be available soon
Fun Video from 2019: https://www.thenorthwestern.com/embed/video/38842971/
Are you ready to do this? 😊
MS-Just Keep Moving Bowling Tournament Fundraiser
MS JKM Members, Volunteers and Supporters….The third annual winter fundraiser for our gym is fast approaching, February 21st and 22nd. The planning committee is hard at work to hold another very fun and successful event. We want to let you know how you can participate.
Bowling spots are filling quickly, in fact, Sunday is already full! If you would like to bowl, get your team together quickly and let Bob know.
We are looking for donation items for our raffle baskets. We will once again have the hundred dollar scratch off basket as well the booze wagon. If you have items you would like to donate. Please bring them into the break room at the gym. Please do not forget to fill out the donation form so we know who to thank.
Please contact Bob at the gym or at bandebeagles@wi.rr.com if interested in bowling.
Shoe Donations
We already filled one box and are working on our second. 😊 Thanks to everyone who is donating their shoes!
Do you have any shoes you can donate? Becky Thomas is collecting old or new shoes supporting Soles for Jesus. These shoes will be distributed to people in need of shoes in Africa. She dropped off a box for us to drop them in. Please bring in shoes if you have any extras.
Nutrition Program – nutrition classes will resume on 1-5-2026
We did not have a nutrition program this week
Last week, Janine and our nutrition program covered the topic of Food for the Party.
WHY think ahead about Food at the Party?
- Having a plan can help support your physical health (preferred food choices, allergies, intolerances)
and assure overall gut comfort.
- Planning can lift the stress and provide you with peace of mind.
Here’s a link to the handout:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XneAQ3ENC2yYuBZZgOXZab2DK8ZaBG2Y/view?usp=drive_link
Janine puts a lot into these presentations. It’s wonderful for her to share these presentations with those who can’t be here. It’s even more impactful for people who can be here in person to get the information first hand and be able to get questions answered and learn from others living with MS.
I would highly encourage you to engage in our nutrition program Monday mornings @ 9:00am so you can benefit at a high level. All are encouraged to come; people with MS, loved ones, care takers, volunteers, etc.
Thank you, Janine!
Member Spotlight – Mark Stueckroth
We are not only celebrating Mark as our Member Spotlight, we are celebrating his retirement. We have been fortunate to have Mark volunteering with us for quite a few years and hope we see him even more often now that he is retiring. Mark is already loved by so many of us. If you get to know Mark better as we go forward, I’m confident you will love him as well. We are so fortunate to have Mark and ALL our volunteers as part of our MS-Just Keep Moving family.
Ed and Adam’s Podcast
Adam and Ed didn’t get a chance to make a podcast last week. Perhaps they will this next week. In case you missed their podcast last week, I left the link in here.
Here’s the link:
Talking with Bill by Positive Vibes Living with MS
Thanks Adam, Ed and Ava for doing these podcasts together!
Let’s get together!
We’ll be getting together from 8:00am – noon on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings at the gym. Plus, Monday evenings from 4:00pm – 7:00pm and Tuesday afternoons for the aquatics program. I hope you’ll join us!
Where:
Wisconsin Metal Parts – Westmound Building
MS-Just Keep Moving, Inc.
W228N791 Westmound Drive
Waukesha, WI 53186
Exercise Programs
These classes are aimed to get everyone exercising together. I like that word “together” 😊. We’ll need help from volunteers before and after the cardio class on Wednesdays and Fridays to get members on and off equipment. All are welcome and encouraged to join…friends with MS, volunteers, and caregivers.
Monday Mornings
6:30am – 8:00am – Rebounding – Total Body Functional Fitness and Stretching
8:00am – 9:00am – Rebounding – Gentle Functional Fitness and Balance
9:00am – Nutrition Program – Friends with MS, caretakers and volunteers are encouraged to engage.
9:00am – Noon – Open gym and Neubie use for independent members, or those who come with a care partner.
10:00am – Seated and/or standing stretching, strength, and balance with Ricky
Monday evenings (open gym from 4:00pm – 7:00pm)
5:00 pm: High intensity interval training (HIIT)
5:30 pm: Standing balance
6:00 pm: Seated balance
Tuesday Mornings
6:30am – 8:00am – Rebounding – Total Body Functional Fitness and Stretching
TBD – 10:00 – 11:00? – Rebounding – Gentle Functional Fitness and Balance
Tuesday afternoons
1:00 pm – 1:45 pm: Aquatic exercise program held at Wildwood Lodge – Pewaukee
2:00 pm – 2:45 pm: Aquatic exercise program held at Wildwood Lodge – Pewaukee
Wildwood Lodge has a lift available to get people in wheelchairs in and out of the pool safely
Wednesdays
6:30am – 8:00am – Rebounding – Total Body Functional Fitness and Stretching
8:00am – 8:30am – Rebounding – Gentle Functional Fitness and Balance
8:30am – 9:00am: 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.
9:30am – 10:00am: Seated Balance
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.
10:30am – 11:00am: Seated and/or standing stretching, strength, and balance with Ricky
11:00am – noon: Prayer Group
Thursdays
6:30am – 8:00am: Rebounding – Total Body Functional Fitness and Stretching
TBD – 10:00 – 11:00? – Rebounding – Gentle Functional Fitness and Balance
8:30am – 11:00am Outdoor walking – contact Joan, Pam or Dan to find out where we’re walking.
Fridays:
6:30am – 8:00am – Rebounding – Total Body Functional Fitness and Stretching
8:00am – 8:45am – Rebounding – Gentle Functional Fitness and Balance
8:45am – 9:30am – Spin Class – Starting December 12th, Mike Beiermeister will host a winter spin class starting at 8:45am. The class is 45 minutes in duration and meets in the front room with the spin bikes.
9:30 – 10:00am: High intensity interval training (HIIT) body weight circuit class. Great for those who aren’t attending Friday morning bike rides and want to get their heart pumping! Geared to intermediate to advanced ability level. Class may be indoors or outdoors depending on weather. Find Dr Kate at the start of the class time.
10:00 – 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 Dr Kate Kern at kborn1234@gmail.com with any questions.
Friday Morning Bike Rides
We had a great season of bike riding from spring until fall. We are done for the season.
Let’s think spring so we can get back out there again! Until Spring…Let’s Bounce 😊 Check out our rebounding opportunities.
Research Needs us!
Marquette University, UW Milwaukee, University of Illinois, and Carroll University have research opportunities they would like us to engage in. We have flyers and more information about these opportunities at the gym and inserted below. Please engage in these opportunities if you qualify. You could make improvements yourself and you could be helping so many other people with MS as they face their challenges. We really need to get this MS thing figured out and you can help by engaging in these research opportunities.
Please note: Researchers at UW-Milwaukee changed the age limit on this study from 60 year old max to 70 years old so more of our friends with MS could participate. If you’re under 70 years old, please consider engaging in this research so we can help figure out how to keep our hands working longer…and get $30.00.
You get paid $180.00 to do this one and it’s all done online.
Educational Sessions
Friday 1/9/26 11:00 – 12:00pm: Dave DiTorrice, certified orthotist, will speak to us about orthotics devices, evaluations from orthotists, and any questions related to orthotic disease or conditions.
Friday, January 16th 11:00am – 12:00pm: Badr Al Mutairi, PhD student at UWM, will discuss an active study that he’s recruiting for. The study is investigating how Multiple Sclerosis affects motor learning. Let’s help inform his research by learning about the study and participating in it!
Friday 1/23/2026 – 11:00am – 12:00pm: Day of endurance kick off. Mark your calendars, our Day of Endurance is August 29th this year. We will listen, answer any questions and explain what the journey of the Day of Endurance is all about and get the journey kicked off. Please be present because we want you to benefit from this journey as much as possible.
Friday 1/30/26 11:00 – 1:00pm: Live Music
Chuck Scherwinski and his band, The Gray Boys, are playing a private show just for the MS-Just Keep Moving community. Significant others, friends, and family are welcome to rock out, dance, wiggle, bounce, roll and have some fun with us!
If you come by a ride service, please consider having them pick you up at 1:00pm this day so you can enjoy the band longer.
Wednesday, February 4th 10:30am – 11:00am: Wednesday bi-annual volunteer meeting
Friday, February 6th 11:00 – 12:00pm: Friday bi-annual volunteer meeting
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 Dr Kate, Joan, Traci, Ricky or Dan know.
Prayer Group We’ll be having our prayer group Wednesday from 11:00am – noon.
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, January 2nd, 2026. 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 at 669 members. That’s awesome! https://www.facebook.com/groups/2639832389489709
Our Facebook page is 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!
Metals for MS
Thank you to all who brought in aluminum cans, gutters, copper, brass, etc. Please keep bringing them in…you are helping us. We are up to $1,461.36 so far this year.
Parking
If there are able-bodied people willing to park across the street in the Acuity lot so people with mobility challenges can park in our lot, please do so. We want to make it easy for people with mobility challenges to park and get into our building safely. Thank you for doing that!
Gym Open and Close Procedure
If you’re the first to come or the last to leave the gym, please use this procedure for opening and shutting down.
Open and closedown procedures.docx
Thai Massage with Ricky and Nyani
Ricky will be here on Wednesdays doing Thai Massage.
Nyani will be here on Fridays doing Thai Massage
Our goal is to serve as many people who come to the gym consistently as we can with these Thai Massage services. Going forward we will be doing a rotational schedule to accommodate as many people as we can who need and want a massage.
There are some guidelines written up at the gym. Please respect the guidelines so we can serve as many people as we can. Please sign up according to the guidelines.
Here’s a link to the guidelines: Thai Massage at MS-Just Keep Moving
Reiki on Fridays
Reiki is available at the gym, for FREE on Fridays (Linda C and Mary R), 9:30am until noon. Sessions typically last 20-30 minutes. Sign up for a session on the white board.
Reiki (ray-kee) relaxes the body so that healing can occur! The “magic” of Reiki has helped some of our members with pain, insomnia, constipation, and so much more! Try it the next time you are at the gym!
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’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 and take action.
Let’s keep moving, smiling, and loving 😊 It helps in many ways!
In God We Trust…we are in good hands.
Dan
Our Website: http://msjustkeepmoving.org/
P.S. I need to apologize. With all the holiday festivities this past week, I did not get out in nature to take any pictures to share. Instead, I’m going to re-share one photo from each month in 2025. As I was going back through all the pictures I took in 2025, I’m thankful to be able to do this each week. I hope to get back out this this coming week to get some current pictures again.
January 2025
February 2025
March 2025
April 2025
May 2025
June 2025
July 2025
August 2025
September 2025
October 2025
November 2025
December 2025
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.
