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msfocusmagazine.org
     MS Focus Activities
Runway
Runway 
Spotlights
Spotlights 
Adaptive
Adaptive 
Fashion
Fashion 
Fundraiser nets $100,000 for MS Focus programs.
Fundraiser nets $100,000 for MS Focus programs. 
By Michele Austin
MS Focus: the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation 
held its second annual MS Focus on Fashion 
fundraising event on Nov. 14, 2025, at the 
Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort. Presented 
by Novartis, the event brought together nearly 
250 guests to celebrate adaptive fashion and 
raise more than $100,000 to support people 
living with MS. 
Thirteen individuals with MS took to the 
runway, modeling adaptive designs by Nancy 
Volpe Beringer and Magna-Ready. With help 
from their escorts, Ron Magill from Zoo 
Miami and Kimba Schnickelfritz of 105.9 FM, 
some models traveled from as far as Michigan 
to participate. 
Guests kicked off the evening with a cocktail 
hour featuring wine from Gemma di Luna 
Wines, vodka from Tito’s Handmade Vodka, 
and hors d’oeuvres. People eagerly lined up 
for the 360-degree photo booth and posed in 
front of the step-and-repeat. 
Julie Guy of 101.5 Lite FM returned as host 
for the second year in a row. She welcomed 
everyone with a toast led by MS Focus Board 
Vice President Mark Shalloway, of Shalloway 
& Shalloway, P.A., and Dr. Anil Vedula of Your 
Eye Specialists. Board member Kara Skorupa 
also shared a few moments, recognizing two 
engagements within the MS Focus family 
and honoring three long-time employees who 
have dedicated 25 years to the foundation. 
A highlight of the evening was the  
introduction of the Sean Giblin Memorial 
Award. Sean was diagnosed with MS at 16 years 
old and poured his heart into MS Focus’ “We 
Care, We Call” program. His warmth and  
dedication led him to volunteer as a peer  
counselor and he was later hired as the program  
coordinator of the “We Care, We Call” program, 
all while working toward a degree in social work. 
Though Sean passed away in December 2023 
because of complications from MS, his spirit 
continues to inspire everyone who knew him. 
MS Focus was proud to present the ﬁrst-ever 
award to Nicole Pedra — an actress, model, 
and MS advocate. Nicole, who also grew up living 
with MS, uses her platform to bring visibility 
to the disease through honest, heartfelt, and 
often humorous content. 
Nicole’s work reﬂects one of the biggest 
challenges of MS: no two people experience 
it the same way. Symptoms vary dramatically
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