Friends,
Merry Christmas!
We sure had a nice Volunteer Appreciation Party / Christmas Party last week. Thank you to all who attended and made this possible. I sure appreciate our volunteers!
I have to say, Santa sure shared a beautiful message about Christmas and the people we are blessed with at the gym. Thank you Santa!
As we celebrate Christmas, let’s give extra thanks for God’s love that is shared so abundantly with our MS-Just Keep Moving family.
I know the holidays are tough for many of us with MS. Like we do as we live with MS, let’s make the best of it even though we wish our lives were different. Like Santa said, we can be happy through the holidays if we do something nice for someone else and make them happy.
I wish all of you a Christmas filled with joy and God’s love. We are blessed in so many ways. Merry Christmas!
Holiday Schedule – Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Christmas Eve, December 24th – We will not be open. Let’s enjoy Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with our loved ones.
Friday after Christmas, December 26th – We will be open. Let’s get together and wear off our Holiday Cheer
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.
Spin Classes with Mike B started last week Friday
Mike will be leading spin classes on Friday mornings at 8:45am with his fun personality and music.
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’ll 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? 😊
Shoe Donations
It’s good to see the box is almost full. 😊 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 – No nutrition class on 12/29, nutrition classes will resume in the new year
This 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 – Shane Springer
Shane absolutely amazes us on the way he can do sit to stands after he does the shake and bake compared to before he does it. We are hoping with consistency and repetition, Shane will continue to get stronger and stronger. Shane’s MS is confusing as he experiences differences in strengths each day.
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 29ththis 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 668 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 had an interesting week out in nature. I went along the river in Delafield a little before the critters woke up and got moving.
Once they started waking up, it got pretty lively out there.
They sure were having fun even though it was only 11 degrees out. Look at his smile 😊
It seemed like they all wanted to flap their wings and stretch out.
It took a little while for the Sandhill cranes to wake up. The ducks sort of helped them out a bit.
Once they woke up, it was time for them to head out to the fields for the day.
Ready, set go!
The geese headed out too
These two deer caught my eye
After I watched them for a little while, the Mommy started loving the young one up.
I saw a few bald eagles this week too.
I love watching them fly
We had several beautiful sunsets again this week. Here’s one from our backyard.
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.
