Apr 28, 2009
Woman of Courage Winner Announced
Beth Norviel
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 28, 2009
Local Woman Shows Courage While Living With MS
Denise Pisciotta, from St. Louis, was awarded the "Woman of Courage" award at the Gateway Area Chapter's "Women on the Move" Luncheon on April 23rd at the Four Seasons in St. Louis. The Woman of Courage award recognizes a woman who handles the daily challenges that multiple sclerosis can present to an individual and their family. Whether she is living with MS, or is the caregiver to a family member with MS, the Woman of Courage Recipient demonstrates dignity, grace, strength, compassion and creativity in her every day life. The Woman of Courage is a role model for other women in our community on how to live your life to the fullest while balancing work, family and the challenges that come along the way.
Denise has been living with MS for about 15 years, and has not walked for almost eight years. Denise is a CPA and works full-time. Denise was nominated by her husband and he shared the determination that she shows each and every day as she balances her life while living with MS, including driving herself to and from work with the use of hand controls. "I know no one with more determination, strength, perseverance, hope, fortitude...I can't think of enough words to describe her."
With Over 6,000 people in the Gateway Area Chapter living each day with multiple sclerosis, the Women On The Move Luncheon, one of the National MS Society's premier fundraising campaigns, is an empowering way for women to support women in the movement towards a world free of MS. MS affects close to four times as many women as men, and the disease affects men and women differently. The Women On The Move Luncheon provides an opportunity for women to come together to help other women in the community.
The Chapter’s inaugural Women on the Move Luncheon was held April 23 at the Four Seasons Hotel in downtown St. Louis with guest speaker Sue Thomas. Sue is an inspirational speaker who lives with MS. At just 18 months old, she suddenly lost her hearing but went on to achieve. She became the youngest Ohio State freestyle figure-skating champion at the age of 7. She also became the first deaf person to work as an undercover investigator as a lip reader for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was the inspiration for the TV series Sue Thomas: FBEYE.
For more information go to www.gatewaymssociety.org, click on the “Women on the Move Luncheon” tab.