45 msfocusmagazine.org MS Focus Activities May 12, 2017 – Flushing, N.Y. MS: Change The Focus Cherie Binns used her experience as both a MS-certified nurse and a person living with MS to help her listeners focus on the positive steps they can take to manage their MS. She discussed both medical and non-medical options, including exercise and nutrition. “None of us should be taking multivitamins or supplements without discussing it with our doctors. Many multivitamins contain immune boosters. As people with MS, it’s thought that our immune systems are overactive, so that is not something we need.” Sponsored by Biogen, EMD Serono, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Genentech, and Sanofi Genzyme. June 13, 2017 – Atlanta Are You Tired of Being Tired? Dr. Ben Thrower spoke about fatigue and what you can do to fight it during the June edition of MS Focus’ monthly presentation series at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta. “The top treatment of lassitude (fatigue) almost seems like a cruel joke. We want you to do more. Get out and exercise. The less you do, the less you'll be able to do because deconditioning takes place.” Sponsored by Teva Pharmaceuticals, Acorda Therapeutics, and Novartis. May 23-27, 2017 – New Orleans GatherMS Launches Website During the most recent Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers annual meeting, Alan Segaloff, MS Focus co-executive director, was invited to represent MS Focus on the presentation stage for the introduction of a new website called GatherMS (www.gatherms.com). “Both national and local organizations will be providing information, programs, and services to support people and families with MS on the GatherMS website. It will be like a one-stop shop for finding local and national resources.” GatherMS is a service provided by Genentech. [TAKEAWAYS