endMS.ca It's time. End MS.

The official 50th “Aug’s Blog”

May 03, 2010 Michael AugustineLisez en Francais

This entry marks my 50th blog post since I was first asked by the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada to share my ideas and opinions about a future free from MS. In that time, I've waxed optimistic and hopeful, marveling at the work accomplished by so many Canadians from all walks of life as we try to win the fight against MS.

So much has already been accomplished since then: from the development of the endMS website, which has helped raise over 40 million dollars to fund valuable research; to the establishment of five research and training centres, to the formation of successful and rewarding corporate partnerships - all with the intent of ending MS.

Yours truly has also been a part of some of those changes, with my having been granted the privilege of speaking on behalf of Canadians living with MS to those current and future potential partners. It is a humbling experience to realize that you’ve been granted the ability - the gift - of taking control of your life and of potentially making it everything you wanted it to be. It’s even more rewarding to realize that, in a very real way, I get to help all of you realize that very same thing, to no longer be living life in the shadow of multiple sclerosis and to become everything you hope and dream to be.

Part of the mission of the MS Society of Canada is “enabling people affected by MS to enhance their quality of life.” I can truly say I would not be the man I am today if it weren’t for the MS Society. They, and by proxy all of you who have supported them throughout the years, are directly responsible for my discovering within myself the true secret to happiness - that adversity is nothing less than the untapped potential for one to achieve greatness.

I wish to express my gratitude to all of you for continuing to read my words, and for your ongoing and valuable support, submissions, comments, criticisms, ideas and ideals. I promise to continue to “fight the good fight,” and to do whatever I can to ensure that our future is the one we all envision - where MS is nothing more than a bad memory.

Sometimes a single word can make all the difference. For some of us that that word is “fight;” for others it might be “hope.” Some may even prefer the word “believe.” For me, though, that word is “thank you,” and I am truly grateful for having been given this gift of a “new” life - a life where truly anything might happen.

Irreverently Yours,
Aug, who realizes “thank you” is actually TWO words, but figures he’s might get away with it...