Make a Splash with the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America This Memorial Day

CHERRY HILL, N.J., May 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- For the more than 400,000 Americans living with multiple sclerosis (MS), the support and resources available from organizations such as the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) are crucial to improving quality of life. Swim for MS – an ongoing national fundraiser – helps MSAA provide much-needed vital services and support for the MS community.

This Memorial Day holiday, MSAA has created a way for everyone to participate in Swim for MS to kick off the summer season. Some ways to participate include: joining MSAA's Make a Splash for MS Team; donating to the team; or spreading the word on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Whether diving into the local pool, cooling off in the ocean, or jumping through the sprinklers – it doesn't matter how you choose to participate. Any pool, any time, any way you Swim for MS, you'll be raising money to help people with MS and their loved ones and raising awareness about this challenging and unpredictable disease.

Swim for MS encourages participants to set a swimming-related challenge, such as swimming laps over a set time or distance while recruiting friends and family to donate to MSAA in support of their goals. Swim for MS is any pool, any time – how volunteers choose to participate is completely up to them.

To sign up to participate in MSAA's Memorial Day Splash event, please visit http://support.mymsaa.org/MemorialDaySplash. Or visit SwimForMS.org to learn more about this fundraiser. For questions about this initiative or any of MSAA's programs and services, please contact Sarah Masino, community relations coordinator at (800) 532-7667, extension 122 or via email at [email protected].

About MSAA 
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) is a national nonprofit organization and leading resource for the entire MS community, improving lives today through vital services and support. Swim for MS is MSAA's national fundraiser in which volunteers create their own swim challenge while recruiting online donations.

MSAA provides free programs and services, such as: a Helpline with trained specialists; award-winning publications, including MSAA's magazine, The Motivator; MSAA's nationally recognized website (at mymsaa.org), featuring award-winning educational videos and research updates; S.E.A.R.C.H.™ program  to assist the MS community with learning about different treatment choices; a mobile phone app, My MS Manager™ (named one of the best multiple sclerosis iPhone & Android apps by Healthline.com); a resource database, My MS Resource Locator; safety and mobility equipment distribution; cooling accessories for heat-sensitive individuals; educational events held across the country; MRI funding; and more. For additional information, please visit www.mymsaa.org or call (800) 532-7667.

About MS 
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system (CNS), which consists of the brain, optic nerves, and spinal cord. MS damages or destroys the protective covering (known as myelin) surrounding the nerves of the CNS, and can potentially injure the nerves as well. This damage causes reduced communication between the brain and nerve pathways. Common MS symptoms include visual problems, overwhelming fatigue, difficulty with balance and coordination, and various levels of impaired mobility. Many experts estimate that 2.5 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with this disease, and most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 50. MS is not contagious and researchers continue to look for both a cause and a cure.

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SOURCE Multiple Sclerosis Association of America

Related Links

http://www.mymsaa.org