2010 MS Entrepreneurs
This year we are excited to award 5 MS Entrepreneurs a total of $26,250; made possible by the generous support of Kanaly Trust!
- MS Entrepreneur: Claire Lindsay
- Project: MS Wholyfit
- Project Overview: To "allow people with limited energy and physical agility the option of working out at their home when they can pace their activity to coincide more appropriately with their energy peaks and valleys."Claire is offering MS Wholyfit; a yoga program available on DVD. Claire is a certified Wholyfit instructor who will be leading movements adapted for people living with MS, as well as leading the creative development of the MS Wholyfit workout DVD.
- MS Entrepreneur: Dorinda Harper
- Project: East Texas Empowerment with Education Conference
- Project Overview: East Texas, an area forty-six counties strong, is a rural community that lacks education opportunities related to diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Dorinda states in her application, “these communities tend to have limited access to high-speed internet and webcast and/or teleconferencing capabilities.” Dorinda is meeting this head on by establishing an educational conference in her community to share information on current research, caregiver resources, financial planning and more.
- MS Entrepreneur: Jennifer Northrop
- Project: Enabling Gardens of Texas
- Project Overview: In continuation from last year, The Enabling Gardens of Texas will create a gardening environment that is accessible to everyone and teach how accessible gardens can be created at home. Jennifer states, “Studies have shown that gardening can be effective for improving physical strength, mood and also to improve cognitive function”. Jennifer’s vision is that everyone will be able to enjoy gardening; regardless of their ability level, so a website will also be created to extend access to all people living with MS.
- MS Entrepreneur: Jinjer LeVan
- Project: MS Symptom Suit
- Project Overview: Last year with just a $500 grant, Jinjer was able to reach over 2,000 people to help them experience the MS Symptom Suit. Through demonstrating what MS symptoms feel like, Jinjer is able to build awareness in a lasting and powerful way. This year Jinjer will reach out into 5 new communities to recruit leadership volunteers who will work year-round to build awareness with their MS Symptom Suit.
- MS Entrepreneur: Rana Russell
- Project: MS Aquatics Therapy
- Project Overview: As a certified Aquatics instructor, Rana has seen the impact wellness classes can have in the lives of people living with MS. Identifying this as an exciting volunteer role, Rana will recruit volunteers, who have a connection to MS, to teach a minimum of 40 classes per year in exchange for a certification in Aquatics. According to Rana, “most health clubs only offer Aquatics classes to healthy adults, seniors and those with arthritis”. She has targeted the communities of Brownsville, Beaumont, Buda, San Antonio and Texarkana; all of which do not current have an Aquatics offering in their wellness class schedule
Thank you to everyone who participated in the inaugural year of this program, and best of luck to all of our future entrepreneurs. Together, we will create a world free of MS.