[bostoncure.org] Status since 9/16/02

[Art Mellor]

Boston Cure Project informal status since last reported on 9/16/02:

>>> Joining Us This Month
No one has joined us this month, but we did get Allitia's bio up on
our site at: 
http://www.bostoncure.org/default.php?nav=bcp&topic=people&bio=AllitiaDiBernardo

We are in conversations with some more people to add to our Scientific
Advisory Board

>>> Cure Map

Hollie and Art attended the big MS conference, ACTRIMS, in Baltimore
this past month. You can read their write ups on how that went and who
they met at MSNews:
Art's write up
http://www.bostoncure.org:8080/article.pl?sid=02/09/23/1152206&mode=nested
Hollie's write up
http://www.bostoncure.org:8080/article.pl?sid=02/09/25/1158204&mode=nested

We attended lectures at the BI and Harvard by Brenda Banwell of the
UToronto pediatric MS clinic and by David Weinstein of the company
Gliamed. We talked to Anne-Louise Ponsonby, an epidemiologist studying
genetic and environmental factors in MS and David Reich, a geneticist
who is comparing the genome of populations at high and low risk for MS
to find potential susceptibility regions.

In the Phase 2 genetics analysis, Hollie completed the task of
classifying all research reports in PubMed having to do with MS
genetic susceptibility factors into the categories outlined in the
Phase 1 document.

We've begun contacting clinics to see who we can sign up for a pilot
program for our tissue and data bank effort. The Vartanian clinic has
agreed to participate and we talking to a few other local clinics. We
intend to test out our process for tissue collectino by first shooting
for an initial collection run of 100 samples. This will allow us to
"debug" our process and learn what we need to do to scale the process
up.

>>> Education

The MSNews site continues to have daily updates on news about MS and
MS research. Sign up at http://msnews.bostoncure.org to recieve these
updates. Brian Del Vecchio and Matt Wise have been helping get a new
high-power server for MSNews up and running.

Hollie continues to move the "Newly Diagnosed Brochure" project along
with the help of Cythia King, Maggie Harling, and David Shute.

>>> Community Building

The Fall Newsletter content is complete and about to be sent for
layout and printing shortly.

Art attended a Nonprofit Board class at Hemenway & Barnes which
provided a good overview of the responsibilites and duties of
nonprofit board memebers.

We've had a number of meetings with people at Biogen, including Paul
Clancy and Rick Berard, who have been very helpful in putting us in
touch with people, supporting our efforts, and helping get MSNews
going. 

We also got articles on us in both the Boston Weekly Dig and in the UK
New Pathways magazine.

>>> Events

The "Hunt for the Cure" Scavengure Hunt was a resounding success. We
raised $28K - almost triple our $10K goal - and had 30 teams
competing. Details will be on our site in a few weeks, including
credits for everyone who participated.

Our Second Annual Boston Cure Party will be on November 23rd at 7pm,
featuring Jonathan Katz. Please make sure you RSVP at:
http://www.bostoncure.org/rsvp 

We are looking for more corporate sponsors to add to our current list
of: Biogen, Serono, Berlex, Clockwork Design Group, Millenium, and
Teva Neuroscience, so let us know if you think you can put us in touch
with someone at another company to discuss sponsoring us.

>>> Fundraising

Remember, you can support our efforts by contributing:
http://www.bostoncure.org/default.php?nav=involved

We're starting to think about hiring someone to work on fundraising
full- or part-time at the Boston Cure Project. If you know someone in
this field that we should be talking to, let us know. If you know
someone in commercial sales who'd like to shift into the nonprofit
sector - put us in touch with them!

>>> Volunteer Efforts Not Mentioned Elsewhere 
o Clockwork Design Group, Inc. - Graphic design work
o Angela Tramontano - MSNews content submitting
o Judith Murawski - Operation Missing Link
o Jill Cameron & Steve Pluth - online registration maintenance
o Jill McGaffigan - finances

SCAVENGER HUNT:
Kevin Agatstein
Amanda Baker
Chris Barclay
P. Bharani, MD. PhD
Matt Dardis
Brian DelVecchio
Lisa Dimatteo
Robin Dolan
Nark Dombeck
Margaret Doris
David Flannery
Brian Giuffrida
Sharon Giuffrida
Glen Glater
Rachel Golub
Cori Grande
Kevin Gulley
Pam Hitchmoth
Erzsebet Ivanyi
Emily Jones
Leslie Kenney
Cher Koor
Kim Labow
Marcie Lascher
Heather Levy
Michael Mackenzie
Dan Mades
David Mades
Ruth Mades
Gail Martino
Robin Mazer
Jill McGaffigan
Asha Mellor
Brian Mellor
Debbie Mellor
Sue Mellor
Krista Milne
Pete Moller
Cindy Naples
Brenda Nichols
David Olson
Jennifer Parker
Fiona Reardon
Lisa Sargeant
Peter Schmidt
Suresh Tipirneni
Susan Walsh

COMPANIES & INDIVIDUALS CONTRIBUTING GOODS OR SERVICES TO SCAVENGER HUNT:
Adventures in Advertising / Corporate Specialties
Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream
Blockbuster Incorporated
Blue Ginger
Boston Bruins
Boston Properties
Boston Red Sox
Boston Shiatsu School & Clinic, Inc.
Braccia 466 Public
Capital Grille
Catherine Michael's Salon
Comedy Connection in Faneuil Hall
Dangerous Curves
Dunkin Donuts
eRoom Technology, Inc.
Fitness Etcetera for Women
Friendly Ice Cream Corporation
Grant, Juliann and Dave
Harling, Dr. Maggie
Harmony Home Inspection of Massachusetts
Hickey, James and Tracy
Holly-Go-Lightly Collection
Hollywood Video
Home Depot
Jillian's
Kameleon Healing
Liz Kehrli - Physical Therapist/Personal Trainer
Mades, Ruth & Harvey
Maggiano's Little Italy
Maynard, Caroline and James
Mellor, Asha
Mellor, Sue
Mix 98.5 FM, WBMX-FM
Murray's Liquors, Inc.
Museum of Fine Arts
Museum of Science
Naples, Cindy
New England Aquarium
New England Patriots
Papa Gino's, Inc.
Poland Springs
Prospect Hill Fitness Center
Redbones
Sargeant, Lisa
Schmidt, Peter & Hollie
Six Flags New England
Skidmore, Michael
Stein Chiropractic Office
Union Oyster House
Veryfine Products, Inc.
Yoga for You

-- 
...............................................................................
    Art Mellor     : HTTP> http://www.bostoncure.org : Boston Cure Project
art at bostoncure.org :       * Donate Online *         : for Multiple Sclerosis
Cell> 617/899-2360 : Main> 781/788-0880              : Fax> 781/788-8118

 What is wanted is not the will to believe, but the wish to find out,
		     which is the exact opposite.
			 -- Bertrand Russell