Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 6844 msfocusmagazine.org Joseph Courtney, Richmond, Va. Joseph was diagnosed with MS at the age of 18. He has always had a big heart and desire to help others.In2012,hestarteda clothing brand, GudBraynz Clothing,toaidMSresearch in honor of his late father, who also had MS. Kathaleen Riggs, Louisville, Ky. Kathaleen believes that one positive change can transform a person’s life. Forher,thatpositivechange cameintheformofequine therapeutic riding. The therapyimproved hercore muscles and balance, and allowed her to take up a daily exercise routine. She also hones her creative skills through art therapy and works to continually improve her diet and nutrition. These lifestyle changes, as well as a new medication, have enabled her to improve her mobility. She has gone from using a wheel- chair to a walker, and now mostly just a cane. Tara Linzy, Flossmoor, Ill. Tara is a fraternal twin and was diagnosed with MS at the age of 19. She holds two associate’s degrees and is working towards a bachelor’s in Interdisciplinary Studies. After recovering from her first exacerbation, she competed in a fitness competition and won first prize. She has worked as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor, and attributes her healthy lifestyle as a big key to her success. Natasha Lewis, Valrico, Fla. Natasha was diagnosed with MS five years ago. In that short time, she’s been on fourdisease-modifying therapiesandexperienced different levels of mobility. Currently, she works as a blogger for the website Bittersweet Bloom, where she helps to raise MS awareness by sharing her experiences. MS Focus Ambassadors: Class of 2016 By Alissa Ayden MS Focus Ambassadors are special volunteers who have been selected to educate and raise MS awareness in their communities. They are also pivotal in helping to connect both people with MS, and healthcare professionals with MS Focus’ free programs and services. Because of their training and responsibilities, our Ambassadors are uniquely positioned to help MS Focus fulfill its mission of improving the quality of life of all those affected by MS. We are proud of, and grateful for, their incredible work on behalf of the entire MS community. We warmly welcome the 2016 Class of MS Focus Ambassadors to the family. MS Focus Activities