Congratulations to all walkers, volunteers, crew members and sponsors! Thanks to you, the first annual Wild West MS Walkabout raised over $80,000! Because of the generous participation of all our cash and in-kind sponsors, the entire event was underwritten and every single dollar raised by our walkers went directly to the battle against multiple sclerosis.

A short time ago, members of the Walkabout Steering Committee presented representatives of the Colorado Chapter of the National MS Society with a check for $29,000. Pictured (left to right) are Sarah Vincze; Dolores Kueffler; Walkabout Co-Chair, Lesley Murray; and Event Director, Sharon DeNiear. Half of this amount was directed to the Northern Colorado office for social and wellness programs and financial assistance. The remaining $14,500 will support research efforts through the Colorado Chapter.

The balance of the money raised in 2006 will fund the grants program of the Center for Neurorehabilitation Services Foundation (CNSF). This money will provide items including medical equipment, environmental modifications, ramps, and mobility devices as well as therapy services not covered by other sources. Grants of up to $1,000 per person will be made directly to the provider of equipment and services. The CNSF Grants Committee is made up entirely of Walkabout organizers and participants. The Foundation expects to award the first grant in early 2007. To find out more about the CNS Foundation and the Walkabout Grants Program, please visit the CNS website at www.brainrecov. com or contact Christy Dittmar at cdittmar@brai nrecov.com. Prospective grant applicants may download an application on the Walkabout website: www.wwmsw.org .

Be sure to visit our website at www.wwmsw.org . You’ll notice our new logo, our new look and updated content. You’ll find photos from 2006 as well as training, teambuilding and fundraising tips, bios of Steering Committee members and much more. Thanks to Angie and Jim Wilson of Jalapeno Design and Kendra Driemeyer of Wildcat Web Designs for all their hard work.

Over 90 walkers have already registered for this year’s Walkabout: August 24-26 in Fort Collins, Colorado. Visit the website and register NOW to take advantage of early registration fees: $40 for individual walkers and $25 for team members! Walkers are asked to raise a minimum of $750 to participate in the Walkabout. Team captains are asked to raise $500

We also need dozens of Volunteers and Crew members. Complete information is available on the website. To volunteer or join the crew, please contact Maureen Stockover at 970-482-7994 or email her at stockover@aol.com .

This year’s Sponsorship Chairmen are Kevin Dellenbach and Kim Dittmar. They have assembled several packages designed to fit your budget and showcase your company. They are outlined on our website: www.wwmsw.org . Sponsorship packages are available to companies and individuals providing cash donations or in-kind contributions of food, equipment, and media space or time. Retail price is used to calculate the value of in-kind contributions. We encourage our sponsors to send corporate walk teams or volunteers to the Walkabout but it is not a requirement.

To find out more about becoming a Walkabout sponsor, please visit our website and contact Kevin Dellenbach at Kevin@Dellenbach.com or 970.226.2438 or Kim Dittmar at 970.218.6897 or kdittmar@brainrecov.com.

The Steering Committee has been hard at work planning the 2007 Walkabout since last Fall. This year’s Co-Chairmen are Lesley Murray and Annette Zacharias. All committee members are listed on the website along with their contact information and job titles. Please contact any of them with your ideas and comments.