Moving Day for MS is an ongoing initiative connecting the world of golf with advancements in the fight against Multiple Sclerosis. Through our alliances with dedicated partners, the goal is to raise awareness and funding for individuals with MS.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, unpredictable and disabling auto-immune disease that affects the central nervous system; and while the exact cause of MS is unknown, scientists now believe the disease is triggered by as-yet-unidentified environmental factors in genetically predisposed individuals. Approximately 2,500,000 individuals suffer from MS with 200 new cases identified each week. Most are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with at least two to three times more women affected than men.
The disease causes motor and sensory problems that vary in severity and from one person to another. A fatty tissue called myelin, surrounds and protects the nerve fibers helping conduct electrical impulses. MS occurs when myelin is missing in several areas, leaving scar tissue called sclerosis. Sometimes the nerve fiber itself is damaged or broken, and this is what causes MS symptoms. Common symptoms include blurred vision, tremors, difficulty with walking, balance and coordination; turning simple everyday activities into physically exhausting and painful challenges. Because this disease affects the central nervous system and can impair movement, turning simple physical activities into exhausting ordeals, the rally cry throughout the MS community has been “Keep Moving!”
This powerful motto generated an idea. During professional golf tournaments, the final day of qualifying is usually known as “Moving Day”; this is the time when players strive to move into the top positions on the leaderboard and give themselves the best odds for winning. Moving Day for MS has joined these two worlds to develop programs that can benefit individuals with MS by providing items such as financial assistance, mobility solutions, adaptive equipment and more.
Over half of the individuals diagnosed with MS suffer from a steady worsening of symptoms. These symptoms are unpredictable and vary with individuals. Fatigue, severe vision problems, loss of balance and muscle coordination, slurred speech, tremors, stiffness and bladder problems are just some of the symptoms. Most people are diagnosed with MS between the ages of 20 and 50, and while the exact cause remains unknown, researchers have identified possible factors, including genetics, gender and environmental toxins. Several different variations of the disease have been identified, each of which might be mild, moderate or severe. The most common form, affecting approximately 85% of sufferers, is Relapsing-Remitting MS, where there are clearly defined flare-ups and episodes of acute worsening of neurological functions. Partial or complete recovery periods, (remissions) free of disease, follow the episodes.
There is no single test to diagnose MS, so doctors use several methods and procedures, including a complete medical history, testing reflexes, balance, coordination, vision and checking for areas of numbness and diagnostic tests including MRI scan and spinal tap
While new and powerful disease-fighting drugs have been developed to combat these problems, there is currently not enough information to tell how effective they are long-term. Moving Day for MS was formed to provide support and assistance for individuals suffering from this affliction while a cure is found.
Help us as we develop programs that benefit individuals with multiple sclerosis.
It’s Time to Move!