[Accelerated Cure Project Status] status for the month of May 2008

[Art Mellor]

Accelerated Cure Project informal status for the month of May 2008

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>>> Joining/Leaving Us Last Month

o Still the same old lovable bunch

>>> Research

Repository:

o As of the end of May, we had enrolled 1138 subjects into the repository.
  
  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/repository/status.php

o We distributed samples from 955 subjects to Dr. Philip DeJager at
  Brigham and Women's/Broad Institute for a study of genes that may
  influence MS severity.

o We approved distribution of our repository database to Alan
  Ruttenberg at Science Commons to help with his work developing an MS
  ontology (knowledge framework).

o Sara met with Helena Judge Ellis who is the new director of the RI
  biobank at Brown to discuss our experiences at starting a bank from
  scratch.

o Sara, Hollie and Art attended the ISBER conference (ISBER is an
  association for biorepositories).  Hollie gave a talk about our
  repository, and Sara and Hollie co-chaired a working group on
  biorepository promotion and fundraising.

o Art and Hollie traveled to Baltimore to meet with Drs. Carlos Pardo, 
  Tasha Greenberg and Ben Greenberg to talk about CNS tissue collection.

Other Science Efforts:

o MIT student Leo Luo completed a spring internship project updating
  our MS genetic studies spreadsheet.

>>> Education

o Poll - Are you type A or type B personality? 

  http://msnews.acceleratedcure.org/node/3244

o We continue our daily MS News updates

  http://msnews.acceleratedcure.org

>>> Fundraising

o Accelerated Cure Project, with the help of Craig Mann at US Bank, is
  now ready to set up and administer any of your planned giving or
  estate planning initiatives.  For more information please contact
  Seth Matheson at 781-487-0011 or seth at acceleratedcure.org

>>> Community Building

o The Kelly Packowski Foundation offers grants for workplace coaching
  services to individuals with MS who live in New England.  Each grant
  covers a maximum of $2,500 of coaching services per year by
  Rosalind Joffe

  http://www.cicoach.coach.com

  This is a unique opportunity.  Grants are awarded on a first
  come/first served basis - and there are only two slots left this
  calendar year.  Recipients must : 1) Document that you have MS 2)
  Live in New England 3) Have workplace challenges that coaching would
  help improve.  For more information, contact: Rosalind Joffe
  Rosalind at cicoach.com

o We had meetings with the following people:

  - Seth met with Nicole Fletcher from Biogen/Idec about educational grants
  - Sarah spoke at the Contra Costa MS Support group meeting in Concord, CA
  - Sarah attended the Consortium of MS Centers Conference in Denver, CO
  - Sarah spoke with Denise Carey, Program Director of the NMSS Northern 
    California Chapter, about how they can work together.
  - Sarah represented Accelerated Cure Project at the MS Coalition Board 
    Meeting in Denver, CO

o As always, a few more T-shirt pictures are available:

  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/tshirt.php

>>> Events

Detailed information about all of our upcoming events can be found on
our web site: http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/calendar.php
 
o June 6, Swampscott, MA: Join Hello Stiletto and Accelerated Cure
  Project for an evening of foot spoiling fun!  Get your feet ready
  for summer and enjoy a mini pedicure while your there! Skin & hair
  consultations & chair massage will also be available.  All proceeds
  benefit Accelerated Cure Project!

  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/eventpages/20080606_euphoria.php

o June 8, Cambridge, MA: Swing by a Yard Sale of various household
  items with 50% of the profits made going to help support Accelerated
  Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis.

  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/eventpages/20080608_yardsale.php

o July 13, Redmond, WA: The band Red, Red Meat has selected the
  Accelerated Cure Project as the beneficiary for the funds it raises
  at the Sub>Pop Records 20th Anniversary Festival.  Go cheer them on!

  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/eventpages/20080720_subpop.php

o September 18 to Sunday 21 - Tyler Hamilton Foundation MS Global 
  2008 - a 500 mile cycling tour through Colorado with American 
  professional bicycle rider and Olympic gold medalist Tyler Hamilton.

   http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/eventpages/20080917_thf.php

o October 11, Cincinnati, OH: We're excited to announce the 3rd Annual
  Canine Happy Hour to Benefit Accelerate Cure Project. Mark your
  calendar and stay tuned for more details!

o October 26, Arlington, MA: This year's grant from the MA Cultural
  Council makes the 6th Annual Sing To Cure MS Concert set-to-go!
  Members of Boston Lyric Opera, Opera Boston, and other classical
  singers donate their glorious talents; win gift certificates and
  snack on refreshments: enjoy a concert to cure MS!

   http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/eventpages/20081026_sing.php

o November 7, Windham, NH: Save the date for the 2nd Annual Dance to
  Cure MS, a fun night out for adults coming together to socialize,
  dance and eat, but most importantly to give hope and support to
  those who have Multiple Sclerosis.

   http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/eventpages/20081107_dance.php

o November 22, Waltham, MA: Save the date for the 2008 Accelerated
  Cure Project Annual Event which will be held in a NEW LOCATION: The
  Doubletree Guest Suites in Waltham, MA.  See the website for more
  details:

   http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/eventpages/20081122_acpevent.php

o November 23, Easthampton, MA: Mark your calendars and grab your
  bikes for the 2nd Annual Nonotuck Cyclocross Race!  More details to
  come...


>>> Recent Events

o Pictures from our Boston Marathon team are available here:

  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/eventpages/20080421_marathon.php#Start

o May 10, Cincinnati, OH: "Let's Accelerate the Cure..." was a
  walk/run organized by teams "Kick MS For Karen" and "Marching for
  Mann" who were able to bring the Cincinnati community together to
  raise over $5,000 for the fight against Multiple Sclerosis!

   http://expansion.acceleratedcure.org/kick_ms_for_karen

o May 31, Waltham, MA: Our 7th Annual Hunt to Cure MS Scavenger Hunt
  got 12 teams out and about completing crazy challenges and taking
  ridiculous pictures throughout the greater Boston area...Better yet,
  the participants teamed up to raise just under $29,000!
  Congratulations to all participants and Jen Downing for making this
  a fantastic event!

   http://www.acceleratedcure.org/events/eventpages/20080531_hunt.php

>>> Operations

o The 2007 audit is complete and the audited financials are now
  available at:

  http://www.acceleratedcure.org/downloads/acp-annualreport-2007.pdf

>>> Volunteers Reporting Time Last Month

o St. Patrick's Day Party
  Sharon Victor

o Sing to Cure MS
  Marion Leeds Carroll

o Nonotuck Cyclocross Race
  Mark Stotz

o Letter Writing Campaign
  Ann Cabot

o Let's Accelerate the Cure...
  Jack Ankenbauer
  Linda Como
  Debbie Mann

o Hunt to Cure MS
  Jennifer Downing
  Shelley Hachman
  Rebecca Peterson
  Steve Brown
  Kevin Nolan
  Emily Collins
  Meaghan Shaw
  Nicole Buccitelli
  Claudia Abbes
  (see next month for full list)

o Canine Happy Hour
  Debbie Mann

o Dance to Cure MS
  Deb DuFault

o Community Building
  Pat Phelps

o Admin
  Jackie Bollens
  Kelly Novak
  Andrea Morris

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