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EachyeartheresidentsofThorntongatherforHarvestFestacommunityfestivalattheparkfeaturingvariousboothsandvendors.SupportGroupLeaderSusieSilverthoughtthatthefestwouldprovidetheperfectopportunitytoraiseawarenessaboutMSwhilesimultaneouslyadvertisingtheexistenceofherMSsupportgroup.WiththeassistanceoftheMSFSusiewasmorethanabletoachievehergoals.Sheandhergroupmembersdeckedouttheirboothinfallfoliagetodrawattentionandimpartasenseofmerrimentuponthedaysevents.TheyhandedoutnumerousMSFmaterialssuchasinformationalbookletsfactsheetswristbandsandpens.SusiesharedthatMSFsSymptomGuideforLawEnforcementandFirstRespondersprovedpopular.WhenvariousemergencymedicalrespondersstoppedbythegroupsboothSusiewasabletoeducatethemaboutMSandinturnshereceivedvariousmaterialsforhergroupmembersaspartoftheFileofLifeprogramwhichallowsyoutodocumentyourmedicalhistorymedicationsandemergencycontactin-formationonarefrigeratormagnetforusebyfirstrespondersintheeventofamedicalemergency.AsvisitorsstreamedbythebooththroughoutthedaySusiewassurprisedbytheamountofpeoplewhowereconnectedtoMSinsomeway.AlotofpeoplementionedthattheyknewsomeonewithMS.Otherswerejustcurioustolearnmoreaboutthediseaseshesaid.SusiealsometsomenewpeoplewithMSinhercommunitywhichreinforcedhowimportantsupportgroupsareforsharingMSinformation.ItwasshockingtofindpeoplewithMSthatdidntknowaboutavailableresourcesthroughthenationalMSorganizationsandlocalproviderslikewedoshesaid.Susiemadesurethateveryonewalkedawaywithabunchofhelpfulinformationandaflyeradvertisingthenextsupportgroupmeeting.ThemostinterestingthingthegroupdidatHarvestFestwascreateExperienceMSSymptomsstationsthroughwhichpeoplecouldlearnaboutwhatitisliketohaveMSinanengagingandtactileway.HerearethestationsthatSusiecreatedRawelbowmacaroniwasavailabletobeplacedinsidevisitorsshoestosimulateacommonMSsymptomtinglingsensationsinthefeet.Visitorsweretaskedwithwalkingaroundandthinkingaboutwhatitwouldbeliketoexperiencethesesensationsthroughoutthedaywhentryingtogoabouttheirdailyroutines.Tosimulatefootdropandgaitissuesvisitorsweregivenswimmingflippersandaskedtowalkaround.WristandankleweightsreplicatedthefeelingofheavylimbsandfatigueexperiencedbymanypeoplewithMS.No-gripgardenglovesandsomemagazinesprovidedaneffectivewayforvisitorstogetafeelfornumbnessinthefingertips.SusiesharedReachingOuttotheThorntonCommunityNorthAreaMSSocialGroupNorthglennColo.2