Robin has been profiled as a part of CNN Heroes, a special series established in 2007 to highlight the world's “unheralded heroes”.
To date there have been 36 people profiled worldwide in six categories; Defending the Planet, Medical Marvel, Fighting for Justice, Community Crusader, Championing Children and Young Wonder. The 38-year-old mother of two has been classified as a Medical Marvel.
Maxwell, who lives in Charlottesville, VA, was profiled because of her win in a national contest sponsored by Kevin Bacon and SixDegrees.org just weeks after her diagnosis with multiple sclerosis. She has raised approximately $50,000 in funds in the last eight months through the Six Degrees contest and fundraising events for the Blue Ridge chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, such as the Women Against MS luncheon and silent auction. She has established a foundation and is a featured speaker at various MS events.
At the beginning of 2007, Kevin Bacon announced that the top six charities to get the most donations through a partnership developed between the Network for Good and SixDegrees.org would receive an additional $10,000 each. Robin, who, coincidentally, was diagnosed with MS the day Kevin announced the contest, jumped at the opportunity to raise funds to support her local chapter and the critical research that could one day lead to a cure.
Diligently, she began to promote her endeavor, contacting friends, business colleagues, others like herself impacted by MS and local media. She found getting the word out a great personal motivator allowing her to wake up excited everyday and push through her initial sadness that came with her MS diagnosis. Robin's passion, dedication, and enthusiasm helped her to inspire an impressive 895 donations in three months (totaling $15,900), making her one of the six largest fundraisers on behalf of her chosen charity, thus earning an additional $10,000 to support the work of the National MS Society.
But Robin is not one to rest on her laurels; she continues to raise money for the Society. She has an Bike MS team and has started the Perfect Health Foundation and Perfect Health clothing line to raise money for MS research.
Go to www.jtandrobin.com/E.html to listen to Kevin and Robin discuss Robin's accomplishment.
For more on CNN Heroes, visit www.cnn.com/heroes