b'SSuuppppoorrttGGrroouupp H Heerrooeess You may recall in our Summer/Fall 2020 issue I wrote an article called Support GroupHeroes. I would like to share a few more of them with you in this issue. We cannot thank ourgroup leaders and coleaders enough for all they have done, especially during this trying time.What does it take to be a support group hero? Just ask some of the people mentioned below.Leader Deborah Hynes actually started her support group last June duringthe height of the pandemic. The MS Thursday Online Support Group meetsweekly via Facebook messenger. Although originally started for people in theConverse, Texas, it also includes a member from Oregon and is open toeveryone. Lisa Murray is the leader of the Lansdale MS OptimistsSupport Group in Lansdale, Pa. She continues to hold meetings via Zoom eachmonth to keep her group connected. Our support group team spoke at one ofher meetings last December to let her members know about all the grants andprograms that are available at MS Focus.Monica Proctor-Wilson started SPEAK MS, (which standsfor Sharing Personal Experience and Knowledge of MultipleSclerosis) as a support group last October when the pandemicwas at its peak. Along with her coleader Tiany Manous, theyhold Zoom meetings at least four times per month, along withbeing very active on Facebook. Everyone is welcome to jointhis group. Our support group team was honored to speak ata virtual meeting last November. Lina Dipaolo and Ron Esher are the leaders of the StandingPositive with MS Support Group in Tewksbury, Mass. Theirchallenge has been greater than most. The majority of theirmembers do not have or cannot use a computer, so they relyon a phone conference service from the senior center wherethey used to have their meetings in person. While they cannotsee faces, at least they can talk to each other. For those thatdo not join in on the monthly meetings, the leaders reach outto them by phone to check in on them.4'