http://www.endms.ca/english/rss.aspx?content=blogenter descirption hereen09/02/2010 23:44 EST endMS.ca 1.0http://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/learning-curve.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/learning-curve.aspxWed, 28 Jul 2010 11:09:00 -0500Life is a learning curve, and there are some pretty sharp turns along the way to where you want to go. I’ve not posted an update for some time. Primarily it’s because my MS is getting worse. As I have secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, that means that whatever I lose, I lose for good. Secondly, my personal life has suffered some serious setbacks and I now find myself at the beginning of a new phase in my life, and I’ve a long way to travel before I “learn&rdquhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/today-is-worldmsday.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/today-is-worldmsday.aspxWed, 26 May 2010 11:32:00 -0500The MS Society of Canada is a Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF) member and is pleased to support and promote World MS Day. The objectives of World MS Day are to raise awareness; and to unite, broaden and mobilize the global MS movement. Take action today by trying out the following: Take action on Twitter by tweeting with the hashtag #worldmsday and work to make this issue a trending topic on Twitter. Each time you see a tweet with #worldmsday, simply retweet it.Connechttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/april-showers-bring-may-flowers.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/april-showers-bring-may-flowers.aspxThu, 06 May 2010 10:42:00 -0500That’s how the saying goes, but May also brings with it two things equally beautiful: the promise of a cure for MS and Mom!Mothers Day weekend (May 6 to 8) will again mark the annual MS Carnation Campaign, where all across Canada people can purchase bouquets of beautiful long-stemmed carnations with the proceeds of which help the MS society of Canada fulfill its mission to be a leader in finding a cure for multiple sclerosis, and enabling people affected by MS to enhance their quality of lhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/the-official-50th-“aug’s-blog”.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/the-official-50th-“aug’s-blog”.aspxMon, 03 May 2010 03:43:00 -0500This 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; http://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/may-is-ms-awareness-month-in-canada.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/may-is-ms-awareness-month-in-canada.aspxSat, 01 May 2010 03:43:00 -0500May 1 marks the start of multiple sclerosis awareness month here in Canada. During the month of May, the goal of the MS Society of Canada is to increase awareness about MS; inform the public about the MS Society’s services and mission; and to engage new and existing supporters in our efforts to end MS.But before I continue, I should introduce myself. My name is Rob Petrollini, new media specialist with the MS Society of Canada. I’ve been working closely with the endMS campaign team shttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/2010-ms-summer-camp-for-kids-and-teems-with-multiple-sclerosis.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/2010-ms-summer-camp-for-kids-and-teems-with-multiple-sclerosis.aspxSat, 13 Mar 2010 09:08:00 -0500August 2009 marked the 3rd annual MS Summer Adventure Camp program for children and teens living with MS; a collaboration with Easter Seals, the Hospital for Sick Children’s Paediatric MS Clinic and the MS Society of Canada.We are happy to announce that applications are now available for the 2010 MS Summer Camp (August 14-20) to be held this summer.Parents, you will be thrilled to learn that all costs associated with the camp (including travel) are covered by generous funding from the RBC http://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/je-panneton-family-foundation.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/je-panneton-family-foundation.aspxMon, 22 Feb 2010 09:15:00 -0500The endMS campaign is raising $60 million over five years to support MS research in Canada. Its flagship investment is the $20 million entity called the endMS Research and Training Network, which will attract, train and retain MS researchers and increase opportunities to conduct MS research in Canada.Support for the endMS campaign comes from financial contributions of individuals, corporations and foundations such as the J.E. Panneton Family Foundation.Led by Ontario endMS Campaign Cabinet http://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/suzanne-jay-guest-post-western-pacific-endms-research-and-training-centre-discussion-workshop.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/suzanne-jay-guest-post-western-pacific-endms-research-and-training-centre-discussion-workshop.aspxMon, 18 Jan 2010 01:54:00 -0500Suzanne Jay is the communications manager for the BC and Yukon division of the MS Society of Canada.  On November 25, 2009, the Western-Pacific endMS Regional Research and Training Centre (RRTC) launched with a workshop event involving over 20 researchers and many aspiring trainees from British Columbia and Saskatchewan. Hosted by Dr. Dessa Sadovnick and Dr. Anthony Traboulsee, the event allowed researchers and trainees to learn about each other’s work, be introduced to new research ehttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/a-new-year-filled-with-new-hope.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/a-new-year-filled-with-new-hope.aspxThu, 14 Jan 2010 10:28:00 -0500Happy New Year to everyone! I hope the holidays went well and you were able to relax and enjoy the festive season with family, friends and loved ones.As we say goodbye to the first decade of the millennium, I think we can all look back and say it was a time of change. But here we are, with renewed purpose and a greater sense of hope and optimism than we’ve had in a long time - for ourselves, for the world and for finding a cure for multiple sclerosis.Let’s talk about what you cahttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/‘tis-the-season-to-be-giving.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/‘tis-the-season-to-be-giving.aspxTue, 15 Dec 2009 09:15:00 -0500At this time of year, people are rushing about trying to accomplish dozens of things on their holiday list.Gift buying can be stressful and finding the perfect gift is challenging to say the least. But there is one particular gift you need to remember, while there is still time to give it.It’s been a difficult year for everyone, but I hope you can find your spirit of giving by remembering to make a donation to the endMS campaign. This season, help fund innovative research and support Canadhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/i-want-you-to-tell-me-how-you-will-endms.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/i-want-you-to-tell-me-how-you-will-endms.aspxThu, 12 Nov 2009 11:31:00 -0500You know what? It’s about time you hear a different voice.This of course is my endMS blog, so it focuses on my contributions toward the fight to end MS. But I want to hear what you are doing to end MS. I want you to share some of your inspiring stories with our fellow Canadians. So here’s my challenge to you:Publish your story on the endMS scrapbook, and let us know your one-of-a-kind endMS story that will serve to inspire and motivate others.Tell me exactly why you want to end MS, ahttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/endms-gala-a-huge-success!.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/endms-gala-a-huge-success!.aspxTue, 03 Nov 2009 05:08:00 -0500The endMS Gala in support of multiple sclerosis research happened again this past week. Over 250 people were in attendance, including many of Bay Street’s most illustrious financial personalities.This marks the first year for the event as it was formerly known as the LOM Gala. The black tie affair encouraged everyone to wear their finest formal duds, but to spice it up with the colour red, the official colour of the MS Society, to honour our commitment to do whatever we can to end MS.Yourshttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/graduates-in-paris.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/graduates-in-paris.aspxMon, 02 Nov 2009 11:21:00 -0500Ryan and I recently attended the European Meeting on Glial Cells in Health and Disease held in Paris, France. Over a five day span we listened to lectures from 9 in the morning until 8 at night covering every minutiae of glial biology. We were also given the opportunity to present posters on our past years work with oligodendrocytes.There is nothing quite as exciting as meeting and greeting a legend in the field only to have them turn around and question anything and everything you present! All http://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/h1n1-and-your-ms.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/h1n1-and-your-ms.aspxMon, 19 Oct 2009 10:13:00 -0500With all the talk around the various forms of influenza (the flu) that we need to be wary of, the MS Society of Canada has put together a fact sheet that may help you to avoid infection or if you are already sick, help to avoid spreading your illness to other people.If you are affected by multiple sclerosis or are living with someone who does, remember to take care of yourself first and foremost.If we keep our wits about us, we will most certainly be able to come out of the coming cold and flu shttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/faith-to-move-mountains.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/faith-to-move-mountains.aspxThu, 08 Oct 2009 02:03:00 -0500My voyage to reach Mount Everest Base Camp for Fall 2010 is now underway.  I have begun in earnest to consider exactly what I will need to make it up the mountain, and how I will reach my fundraising goal of $100,000. I have already received commitments from several people close to me to donate as much as they can. In addition, I have received more than one corporate commitment, as was spoken about in a previous blog entry.  What makes this voyage particularly inspiring is that people http://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/happy-anniversary.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/happy-anniversary.aspxWed, 16 Sep 2009 10:50:00 -0500Well, it’s officially been a year since endMS launched, and in a year we’ve accomplished so much already. Among the highlights: the establishment of five regional research and training centres involving over 100 researchers and over 250 trainees$41.3 million raised from a variety of donors from coast-to-coasteducational events like the endMS Summer School that brought together established MS researchers and a new generation of trainees interested in the field of MSThese are onlyhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/corporate-canada-is-a-super-hero!.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/corporate-canada-is-a-super-hero!.aspxMon, 31 Aug 2009 10:51:00 -0500I am a huge fan of comic books, and am not ashamed to admit that I “geek-out” with the best of them when discussing my passion. I have frequented the same comic book shop for the last two decades in order to feed my cravings for 4-coloured adventures, and I’ve made a number of good friends among the store staff who help me get my regular weekly fix.One friend, who now works for a major corporation, recently reminded me that he and I had discussed my impending voyage to Mount Evhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/aw-and-globaltv-a-combo-made-to-order.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/aw-and-globaltv-a-combo-made-to-order.aspxFri, 21 Aug 2009 01:45:00 -0500I had only just published my first A&W blog regarding the August 27th Teen Burger promotion, when minutes later I received a call from the MS Society media department. It seemed Global Television, one of the nation’s largest broadcasters and a strong ally in our fight to end MS, was looking to shoot a PSA (Public Service Announcement) regarding this promotion, and were very keen to have someone living with MS be on air with a news personality.Guess who they asked? And no, it’s nohttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/aw-teams-with-the-ms-society-of-canada.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/aw-teams-with-the-ms-society-of-canada.aspxFri, 14 Aug 2009 10:03:00 -0500I am constantly amazed at the diverse areas of society connected by multiple sclerosis, and by the partnerships that we continue to create through those connections.A&W – Canada's original hamburger quick service restaurant chain is teaming up with the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada to offer you a tasty new way to help in the fight to end MS.On August 27th, 2009, $1 from all Teen Burger sales in Canada will be donated to the MS Society of Canada to help in our mission to be ahttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/back-to-work!.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/back-to-work!.aspxTue, 11 Aug 2009 08:50:00 -0500I wish to thank everybody for all of your kind wishes and encouragement regarding my recent struggle with my own multiple sclerosis symptoms. Your words helped me to get over this hump, and get back to the business at hand of keeping you all up to date on the happenings regarding my (and others’) fight to end MS.First off, a quick recap of my favourite event of the year: the Grand Bend to London RONA MS Bike Tour. 2009 was the best year ever for this tour. With close to 1,600 cyclists parthttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/healing-the-scars-on-the-soul.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/healing-the-scars-on-the-soul.aspxMon, 20 Jul 2009 09:33:00 -0500I apologize for not submitting any blogs recently. Life, as can sometimes happen, got the better of me (as I’m sure it sometimes has for all of you). I’ve been pretty busy lately, not just with volunteering, but also with my own projects. I’ll try to update you in several brief notes, starting with this one... Every year around this time, my friends Bill and Andrea Bates are hard at work raising funds AND awareness to help in the fight to end MS. As you may recall my mentihttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/summertime-in-the-lab.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/summertime-in-the-lab.aspxTue, 14 Jul 2009 11:01:00 -0500Hello all, hope your summer is going well so far.Normally the summer time is “down-time” in many institutions (school’s out, people go on vacation etc,.) but its still bustling and busy in the lab!  JP and I are hard at work achieving some solid findings in our work to understand the biology of oligodendrocytes – the myelin-producing cells of the brain. We are keen for good results since we have recently been accepted to attend an international conference in Paris inhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---june-24-2009.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---june-24-2009.aspxWed, 24 Jun 2009 10:05:00 -0500Although there are still a few dollars trickling in, the numbers speak volumes: 59 MS Walks in Ontario hosted over 29,500 walkers, and raised a combined total of over $6 million!  I believe the MS Society of Canada has the most amazing volunteers and fundraisers in this country. Congratulations to all of you for proving to the nay-sayers and doubters out there that this recession can’t hold us back! I am proud to be counted among such outstanding individuals.  See you all on Aprihttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/federal-government-research-investment-in-neurological-diseases.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/federal-government-research-investment-in-neurological-diseases.aspxThu, 18 Jun 2009 09:14:00 -0500 Yves Savoie and MS Society volunteersJanet MacNeil, Jeanette Elliott, and Michael Augustine joined the Hon.Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, farright, for the announcement.On June 5, I, along with a small delegation from the MS Society, was present for a momentous announcement by The Hon. Leona Aglukkaq, Federal Minister of Health, regarding the Government’s commitment to invest $15 Million CDN to study the impact of neurological disease on Canadians.The four-year national populatihttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---june-5-2009.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---june-5-2009.aspxFri, 05 Jun 2009 10:33:00 -0500About a week ago I had the opportunity to assist in giving a presentation to the employees at Bell Canada’s headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario.Along with key staff from the MS Society of Canada’s office in Toronto, we made our way to an awe-inspiring office complex, where we met with some equally awe-inspiring individuals, all of whom were eager to come and talk with us, and to hear how they can help us in our mission to be a leader in finding a cure for multiple sclerosis and to ehttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---june-4-2009.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---june-4-2009.aspxThu, 04 Jun 2009 10:24:00 -0500Okay, it’s time to have some fun. Let’s play a game called ‘what if.’What if you were a kid and you couldn’t run, or play tag or baseball, or go swimming? What if you suddenly went blind, or deaf, or became unable to even feed yourself? How much fun would that game be? Not much!But this isn’t just a ‘what if’ - it’s a cold reality. Canada has one of the highest rates of multiple sclerosis in the world, with between 55,000 and 75,000 Canadianshttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---may-27-2009.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---may-27-2009.aspxWed, 27 May 2009 04:25:00 -0500Life for me has been challenging of late.While I am one of the lucky people in terms of the severity of my disease and my ability to still engage life to its fullest, I have recently been having difficulties which have given rise to the fear that my MS may possibly be getting worse. My having to deal with this new status quo is largely responsible for my being unable to update my blog these last few weeks.However, though I am very concerned for my personal future, I have equally never been so ophttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/birthday-wishes-to-endms.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/birthday-wishes-to-endms.aspxFri, 22 May 2009 03:04:00 -0500Birthdays are an exiting time for a nine year old. The excitement of having friends and family gather to celebrate is high, and let’s not forget the anticipation of gifts.But last September, nine year old Matthew was not thinking about what presents he wanted to receive, but rather who he would like to give a gift to. Matthew’s birthday gift request: a donation to a charity of his choice. Matthew’s choice was the endMS campaign.Matthew’s gift request generated $100 towardhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---may-6-2009.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---may-6-2009.aspxWed, 06 May 2009 02:05:00 -0500Once again the fundraising season is in full swing, and with that change of weather known as Spring time comes the annual “Bill and Andrea Bates BBQs” for the RONA MS Bike Tours. Every year these two incredible individuals raise tens of thousands of dollars to help the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada achieve its mission to be a leader in finding a cure for multiple sclerosis and enabling people affected by MS to enhance their quality of life.It was a cold and early Saturdayhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---may-5-2009.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---may-5-2009.aspxMon, 04 May 2009 09:00:00 -0500I’ve long since stopped being surprised by the diversity of the people whose lives have been touched by multiple sclerosis. It is a statistical fact that 1 in every 2 Canadians knows somebody with MS. That means that everywhere you look you will find people who know what it is like to live with this disease. But it also means that no matter where you look you will find allies in our goal to end MS. One such ally is Mr. Lube.After more than 32 years and 32 million customers served, Mr. Lubehttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---may-1-2009.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---may-1-2009.aspxFri, 01 May 2009 09:00:00 -0500Winter is finally a thing of the past, and Spring is now in full bloom. With Spring comes May, and with May comes MS Awareness Month. Every year at this time, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada turns its focus for a full month towards educating the public on what multiple sclerosis is, the impact it has on our society, and what is being done in the fight to end MS! With between 55,000 to 75,000 Canadians living with this disease, we are one of the most affected countries in the world, withhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/ryan---april-23-2009.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/ryan---april-23-2009.aspxThu, 23 Apr 2009 09:39:00 -0500The other day, I returned home from the lab to find an unexpected letter in my mail box. Unfortunately, the letter was meant to inform me that one of my graduate scholarships was being discontinued the end of the month. Graduate scholarships are meant to help students pay for tuition fees and some living expenses. Such scholarships are provided to hardworking students whose work shows merit.Although the letter was very discouraging, I took comfort in knowing that the endMS campaign works to attrhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---april-16-2008.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---april-16-2008.aspxThu, 16 Apr 2009 10:43:00 -0500The 2009 MS WALK is almost here!This last month, I’ve been busy fundraising, doing whatever I can to help the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada in it’s mission to be a leader in finding a cure for multiple sclerosis and enabling people affected by MS to enhance their quality of life. My baking “stimulus packages” have been a huge success, and trading baked goods for fundraising donations has proven to be a sweet deal for everyone involved. I’ve already raisehttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---april-7-2009.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---april-7-2009.aspxTue, 07 Apr 2009 12:25:00 -0500I recently had an opportunity to visit Dr. Jen Gommerman, Assistant Professor with the Department of Immunology at the University of Toronto. She and her students have made the study of multiple sclerosis a chief priority. Every so often these gifted individuals meet to discuss theories, results from studies, and possible new avenues for research. For the second time, I was privileged to be there watching research in action.While much of what was discussed was beyond the understanding of a laymahttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/climb-every-mountain.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/climb-every-mountain.aspxFri, 03 Apr 2009 11:06:00 -0500Allow me to take a moment to introduce you to Ralph Cochrane. This amazing individual is the heart and soul behind a new multiple sclerosis fundraiser called MS Climb. The mission of MS Climb is to elevate the support of the MS Society of Canada’s efforts through a new level of fundraising and a once in a lifetime adventure opportunity. What started as one man's dream to raise $1 million dollars to support the MS Society has turned into a 5 years adventure trekking program around the whttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/ryan---march-16-2009.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/ryan---march-16-2009.aspxMon, 16 Mar 2009 12:26:00 -0500Much research is devoted to finding a cure for MS, but what causes it? If we can determine the cause, then we can theoretically prevent the disease from occurring. This is a very attractive concept. Many researchers are searching for links between lifestyle and prevalence of MS to identify novel risk factors. Recent reports state that the Epstein-Barr virus, (which is associated with the disease “Mono”) may play a role in the severity of MS. Those who had Mono in adolescence were morhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---march-4-2009.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---march-4-2009.aspxTue, 10 Mar 2009 02:27:00 -0500I love to bake! While I’m already known throughout the MS Society of Canada for my omnipresent participation at events, you may not realize that I am as equally infamous for my frequent offerings of baked goods to the office pool at the Society’s headquarters in Toronto, Ontario. Just yesterday, I made yet another of my “foodie” visits, this time with over one dozen loaves of dessert bread in tow. I do truly enjoy feeding the bodies and souls of the exceptional http://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---february-23-2009.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---february-23-2009.aspxFri, 06 Mar 2009 09:57:00 -0500I enjoy the company of most people. As an affable guy, I'm not too judgmental of the quirks and peccadilloes of others; however, my own personality is lot more of an acquired taste. I will gladly admit that I cook and bake better than most anyone I know. Yes, I actually do enjoy doing housework. And, yes, I'm not even slightly embarrassed in admitting that I've watched not only "Breakfast at Tiffany's" at least a dozen times, but that I've cried at the endhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/jp---march-3-2009.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/jp---march-3-2009.aspxTue, 03 Mar 2009 03:54:00 -0500Two years ago, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada organized a conference in Banff to kick-start the endMS campaign. In doing so, they brought together some of the best minds in Canada to form a multi-tiered collaborative network. It was my first, and to date, most memorable conference. During the event, I was somehow snafued (I am sure it is in the dictionary somewhere…) into saying a few words about myself and my work. Please be kind  : ) Technorati tags: endMS, multiple sclerhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---february-16-2009.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---february-16-2009.aspxWed, 25 Feb 2009 04:21:00 -0500It’s that time of year again... Time to dust off those running shoes, slip on the ol’ track pants, layer yourself up, and GO! That’s right! It’s time for the 2009 MS Walk! Despite its new name and newer look, the MS Walk remains one of the biggest and brightest fundraising initiatives benefiting the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada... and we want YOU to be a part of it!Each Spring, tens of thousands of Canadians - people just like you and me - come out to walk orhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/ryan---february-6-2009.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/ryan---february-6-2009.aspxTue, 17 Feb 2009 01:24:00 -0500Hello all, The lab has been busy these past few weeks as usual. This week we had the pleasure of hosting a visiting student from Turkey. She is interested in how our lab uses cells to study models of disease, and she wanted to learn some of the techniques we use to apply them to her research back home. I believe international collaboration with scientists is important to further our knowledge of disease. Meeting others with different backgrounds and ideas give us new perspectives on how to http://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---february-9-2008.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---february-9-2008.aspxMon, 09 Feb 2009 03:21:00 -0500I LOVE going out for dinner with friends!Few things in life are more pleasurable than meeting with the people who are important to you, and then spending an hour or two, breaking bread with them over pleasant conversation, in an atmosphere of deep and mutual respect. It is, I feel, an experience enjoyed the world over by friends and family, who take the time to enjoy each other’s companionship, and to trade stories and share memories.The Multiple Sclerosis Global Dinner Party (GDP) first bhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---february-2009.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---february-2009.aspxMon, 02 Feb 2009 10:04:00 -0500If ever you want to see what it’s like to live a life with nothing but the clear, unwavering belief that anything is possible, then watch a child. We tend to ignore children as being incapable of understanding how the world REALLY works. We tell ourselves that they are not ready to shoulder the burdens of society - to make any real impact. We could never be more wrong! I absolutely love all aspects of volunteering, but I have a special place in my heart for the MS Read-A-Thon, one of http://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/jp---january-28-2009.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/jp---january-28-2009.aspxWed, 28 Jan 2009 09:38:00 -0500Every lab supervisor’s favorite time of the year has come and gone: writing grant applications. It is these grants, given by such organizations as the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, as well the Canadian government, which makes our research, as well as thousands of other labs across our country, possible. Some have predicted that total funding for new research initiatives, both at home and globally, will see a downturn, due of course to troubles in the global economy. Those most affehttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---january-13-2009.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---january-13-2009.aspxMon, 19 Jan 2009 04:27:00 -0500The world has changed! This time last year, we were enjoying an economic boom thought by many to be nigh-invulnerable in its strength and momentum. Most of us lived comfortable lives and were financially secure. We flocked to invest every cent we had in the latest “stock-du-jour,” all while ignoring the socio-political chaos that was happening around us. We blithely sped along, seemingly without a care. But you know what they say: those who ignore history are doomed to repehttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---january-5-2009.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---january-5-2009.aspxMon, 05 Jan 2009 11:51:00 -0500Happy New Year! Well, it’s the start of another calendar year and with it comes the promise of happier times - better times. We use the occasion to look back on our lives to see everything that went wrong and, in classic holiday tradition, we make promises to ourselves to do things better, or at least differently. We make resolutions to do everything right! And every year the same thing happens - we succeed only at disappointing ourselves when (and not if) we fail to keep those rhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/seasons-greetings-from-the-lab.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/seasons-greetings-from-the-lab.aspxMon, 05 Jan 2009 10:23:00 -0500Hey,My name is John-Paul Michalski. I am a master’s student at the Ottawa Health Research Institute, an affiliate of the University of Ottawa. Quite a few of us in the lab focus on MS related research. My project specific aim is understanding the role of a protein (and not the stuff you buy at the local nutrition store) in helping cells in your brain and spinal cord to produce myelin, a fatty insulating substance. Myelin plays the same role as an insulator on an electrical wire, allowing &http://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---january-2-2009.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---january-2-2009.aspxFri, 02 Jan 2009 03:17:00 -0500Happy Holidays my friends,The Christmas season has always been my favourite time of year. Yes, I admit that I DO loooove getting gifts (frankly, who doesn't...?), However, my real pleasure comes from going out and about to spread hope and holiday cheer wherever I can. Often, with the hustle and the bustle of this busy time of year, people can lose sight of the true reason behind this holiday: "Peace on Earth, Good Will Towards Men." We've probably all done it at one time or anohttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/rob---december-22-2008.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/rob---december-22-2008.aspxMon, 22 Dec 2008 10:04:00 -0500Join the movement to end MS with friends and families and help bring the cure to MS within our reach. Tell us your story and share your pictures with people across Canada.Janet Palm, BC & Yukon Division President, on top of Machu Picchu, Peru5 easy steps to endMS over the holidays:Download an endMS signHave your photo taken with the signUpload the photo to the endMS ScrapbookTell us why you want to end MSMake a donationThis holiday season you can be part of something monumental.http://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/ryan---december-15-2008.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/ryan---december-15-2008.aspxFri, 19 Dec 2008 01:45:00 -0500Hello my name is Ryan O’Meara. I am 24 years old and I have been living in Ottawa all my life. I am currently working towards my Masters degree in the discipline of neuroscience at the University of Ottawa. I have been interested in science and biology throughout my life, so this seemed like a natural path to follow. In high school, my classes consisted mainly of physics, chemistry, math and biology. In my first 2 years of undergraduate courses at Carleton University (Ottawa) my course chohttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---december-7-2008-part-2.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---december-7-2008-part-2.aspxSun, 07 Dec 2008 11:48:00 -0500Welcome to part II, Anyone who knows me knows that food in an integral part of my life. There are very few limitations on the types and varieties of foods I will eat and, as a rule, I will thoroughly enjoy darned near everything put in front of me, and at any time it is offered. Except for black licorice (sometimes), pickles (most times) and things that are still moving (EVERY time), it’s all good (and even then, I might still be game). Further to this love affair with sustenance, I hhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---december-7-2008.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---december-7-2008.aspxSun, 07 Dec 2008 09:44:00 -0500Hi Folks, I confess that it has been over a decade since I’ve been a member of the modern work force. As such, meeting deadlines is a skill I’m am attempting to re-learn with some difficulty. Complicating the issue is my current state of health, which, while not ideal, is more challenging because of its unpredictable volatility, i.e. I never know what’s gonna happen next. I realize it has been over a nearly two months since I last posted a major entry, so I will try to brehttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/vote-to-endms.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/vote-to-endms.aspxThu, 04 Dec 2008 11:33:00 -0500Many of you have had the chance to watch the endMS television PSA. If you liked what you saw, you now have the opportunity to vote for the endMS cause.The endMS PSA has been entered into an online competition where users can vote for the cause they care about most. This is your chance to help the MS Society of Canada win this contest and the cash prize of $5,000.Take a moment to vote, and be sure to tell your friends and family to vote. You can also download the I VOTED TO endMS badge and uhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/take-action---don’t-take-hostages.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/take-action---don’t-take-hostages.aspxThu, 06 Nov 2008 11:45:00 -0500Good morning ladies and gentlemen, Anyone who hasn’t been hiding in a cave will know that we have a new status quo in the House of Commons, as Stephen Harper and his Federal Conservatives have again been elected as the ruling party in Canada, leading a minority government, albeit this time with greater political leverage. Needless to say, it was a rather confrontational process, liberally peppered with moments of anger, indignation, accusations, and even belittlement. Still, despite thttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/a-step-in-the-right-direction.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/a-step-in-the-right-direction.aspxMon, 20 Oct 2008 09:02:00 -0500Hi folks, I want to apologize for whining so much during my last posting. Your words, and those of others who are closer to me made me realize that my current relapse is just another example of life handing you lemons, and you turning around to make lemonade.Case in point:I decided that in order to get better, I needed a bit of time to decompress from the pressures that life had been applying. Therefore, I bore down and decided to go home for the Thanksgiving Weekend. I grew up in a small chttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/keeping-the-faith.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/keeping-the-faith.aspxFri, 03 Oct 2008 10:11:00 -0500Hello again, You’ll have noticed (at least, I hope you would have noticed) that I’ve not submitted an entry for Aug’s Blog for several weeks. As I said before, I am unwell these days, and, truth be told, my relapse is getting the better of me. Though not as serious as previous relapses in terms of significant, visible impact, I am frustrated because all those “hidden” happenings - the ones that allow for other people to assume I have no real issues - are gettinhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---september-10-2008.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---september-10-2008.aspxWed, 10 Sep 2008 01:28:00 -0500Well folks, another season has come and gone and so have the RONA MS Bike Tours. I am pleased to report that, of the 4 tours I attended this summer, all exceeded their goal!  1.65 million dollars was raised across raised across Ontario by those brave men, women, and - yes - children, all of whom came together to be a part of our mission to end MS. The final tour took place at Centennial Park in Toronto this past Sunday, September 8th. The tour consisted of a 55 km route, and 30 km traihttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---september-1-2008.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---september-1-2008.aspxMon, 01 Sep 2008 03:41:00 -0500I’m going to go on a little rant here so I apologize in advance if I end up getting a bit... militant. Being disabled is challenging. No one can deny that. There is always a constant tug of war happening between wanting to maintain one’s independence and accepting the fact that you sometimes need assistance with tasks that other people often take for granted as being easy to accomplish. While it is definitely a show of strength to admit when you need help, it is occasionally viehttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---august-28-2008.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---august-28-2008.aspxThu, 28 Aug 2008 03:27:00 -0500Well, having had a full week to recover from the Niagara RONA MS Bike Tour, I can now objectively say that it was a huge success. It was a fantastic event attended by over 600 people, all of whom sharing one common goal: to finally end MS. Over $420,000 was raised in a single Sunday, all going towards our goals of finding a cure for multiple sclerosis, and enabling people affected by MS to enhance their quality of life. Although the route did not take us past the actual world wonder itself,http://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---august-18-2008(2).aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---august-18-2008(2).aspxMon, 18 Aug 2008 03:25:00 -0500Well, after a late evening of comedy cavalcade I awoke, bright and early at 5 a.m. the next morning, and made my way to the Brampton Fairgrounds, in Brampton, ON, immediately north of my home town of Mississauga. I arrived by 6:30, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to take on the world. That lasted until about 10. Although everyone was in a great mood with ample energy and optimism being spread about, it didn’t take me long before I felt the effects of the previous night bear down hahttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---august-18-2008.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---august-18-2008.aspxMon, 18 Aug 2008 03:06:00 -0500Hey folks, Well, this was an incredible weekend for volunteering even by my standards. I participated in not just one but TWO entirely different MS fundraisers over the course of the weekend. Both were incredibly fun, and both were incredibly successful! I’ve decided, therefore, to relate these events in two separate blog entries because I want to treat them both with the respect they deserve. First up was a comedy night fundraiser at the infamous Club 54 in Burlington, Ontario. http://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---august-7-2008.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---august-7-2008.aspxThu, 07 Aug 2008 06:32:00 -0500Please forgive the previous, and immediately following bad musical puns, but “...you’ll have to excuse me - I’m not at my best.” The Spirit of the West is always good for apt musical quotes. Plus, with them being a proudly Canadian band, it makes me feel slightly less guilty for raiding their cache of intellectual property for my own selfish purposes - slightly less guilty. Once again I find myself up in the wee hours of the morning. I am starting to have serious isshttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---july-28-2008.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---july-28-2008.aspxMon, 28 Jul 2008 06:23:00 -0500Once again, I am up in the wee hours of the morning (something of a habit for me these days). As I mentioned last time, I am in some discomfort. To put it bluntly, I am in considerable pain. While I am not one to vent to whomsoever is willing to listen, I will tell you that I am currently suffering from a relapse. Although it is a very slow progression, it has been a steady one. I am scheduled to go to one of the local MS Clinics (a network of inter-connected MS-dedicated clinics throughout Canahttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---july-25-2008.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---july-25-2008.aspxFri, 25 Jul 2008 06:13:00 -0500As I sit here, it is roughly 3:30 in the morning and I have been awake since at least before 2 a.m. Lately I have had trouble sleeping. I attribute it to equal parts stress, physical discomfort, a lousy mattress and, today, of course, it’s also due to my excitement. Yes, later today, I am off for the first RONA MS Bike Tour of 2008!JOY!!!The weather may or may not be in agreement with our humble event, but I am optimistic that a little (or a lot...) of rain will still not dampen the spirithttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---july-21-2008.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---july-21-2008.aspxMon, 21 Jul 2008 06:01:00 -0500Me again,Well, I am quite excited. This weekend marks the first of five RONA MS Bike Tours in Ontario, for 2008. This first one, happening between Grand Bend and London, Ontario, is by far my favourite... because this is where it started for me.I met Bill Bates (no relation to Bill Gates, as he reminds people), purely by chance several years ago, at the very first Bike Tour Pub Night - ever. I had asked when I heard about it happening, if I might volunteer, as I was always looking for new opporthttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---july-15-2008.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---july-15-2008.aspxTue, 15 Jul 2008 05:54:00 -0500Hi folks, I’ve given this some thought, and I think I’ve come up with a fairly satisfying name for this on-going collection of my little missives of internet banter.They say you can never choose your own nickname - that it never works out. I guess it’s a good thing I had never heard that in 8th grade, or things might be very different today. I had discovered when I was younger that my father had earned the nickname “Augie,” a name derived from both the carhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---july-8-2008.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---july-8-2008.aspxTue, 08 Jul 2008 05:31:00 -0500Hey folks,Tomorrow night is another in a series of “pub nights” for the RONA MS Bike Tours. The bike tours are among the biggest fundraisers for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada and the pub nights were conceived as a way to bring together staff, tour leaders (those who maintain the integrity and safety of the ride while on route) and our amazing riders. Sadly, I will miss it. Owing to those challenges I mentioned last time, I had made the decision to pull back from volunhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---july-1-2008.aspxhttp://www.endms.ca/english/blog-home/content/mike---july-1-2008.aspxTue, 01 Jul 2008 06:04:00 -0500My favourite quote is: “You never really know what you can really do until you stand up and decide to try!”Today, I have the day to myself to thoroughly reflect on my task at hand. I have been asked by the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada to become a correspondent of sorts; to maintain a “blog,” or internet diary, of my daily life, and to document my thoughts, feelings and experiences, while trying to live a full and rewarding life with MS.To be honest, I almost said