Downtown Scavenger Hunt Fundraiser for Multiple Sclerosis Society

This guest blog post is by Sarah Kiefer.

Don’t be surprised if you spot several colorful teams running through downtown Austin, completing wacky tasks and having a lot of laughs. On March 23, 2013, Hunt For The Cure is holding a fundraiser for Multiple Sclerosis.

This high-energy scavenger hunt will benefit the Multiple Sclerosis Society, and you and your friends are invited to join the fun!

If you participate in Hunt For The Cure, you’ll be helping the 2.1 million people who are facing the unpredictable disease of Multiple Sclerosis. As an added bonus, you could win some awesome prizes.

What to Expect

This is a unique and important event that you’ll remember for a long time, but we do need your help to make it happen. Get your team together and get your game face on! The scavenger hunt starts at 10:15 AM. Your team of 4-10 people will complete tasks within walking distance of Speakeasy at 412 Congress Ave. We’re happy to pair you up with a team if you don’t want to organize your own, or you want to join in at the last minute.

Directly after the scavenger hunt at 1 PM, there will be a “Suds n’ Spuds” After Party in the Speakeasy Music Lounge. As the name implies, you’ll get free “suds” and “spuds,” plus live music, cold refreshments and celebrity appearances. For participants who go all out, we’ll be giving away fun prizes to the Most Spirited Team and Best Costume.

We will have a silent auction and raffle for some great items donated by compassionate businesses who support our cause. The Grand Prize is airfare and a three-night stay at Treasure Island in Las Vegas for two people, including tickets to Cirque Du Soleil’s Mystere. For a list of our generous sponsors and their donations – or to buy tickets – visit our website.

Why Should You Participate?

There is a good chance that you know someone who has been affected by Multiple Sclerosis. The first question I always get is…what is it exactly? This is my light hearted take on MS. I’m not a doctor or medical  specialist. I’m just a girl living with MS.

In simple terms, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) attacks the central nervous system. The immune system actually attacks itself. I’m talking Bruce Lee meets Chuck Norris type stuff!

Try this visual: picture electric wires. All the important wires are surrounded by a rubber coating. MS attacks that coating and exposes the important wires, causing “lesions” on the brain or spine. Not surprisingly, this can really mess up a person’s world.

The disease is not fatal, but it leads to a decrease in quality of life on a scale that ranges from mild to severe. While some people with MS end up blind or in a wheelchair, others live pretty normal lives. There is no specific cause. You can’t catch it, and it’s about as unpredictable as the weather in Austin.

A very common symptom of MS is fatigue. But I’m not talking about the way you feel when you forget your Sunday nap. I’m talking about walking around all day feeling like you’re wearing a suit of armor, with your legs feeling twice as heavy as they actually are. Take fatigue and mix it with the second most common symptom of Multiple Sclerosis: numbness. Then you  have a disaster waiting to happen.

MS can take away your emotional control, as well as affect your short term memory. Was I crying because I was laughing or laughing because I was crying? I already forgot!

Some days, walking straight is a challenge. “No officer, I haven’t been drinking” has a whole new meaning for people like me. Then there’s a whole other menu of symptoms. Some people have severe pain, bladder dysfunction, visual problems, sexual dysfunction, depression, slurred speech, memory issues, stiffness and tremors…major suck-fest!

The worst part is there is no cure, only a bunch of mediocre medications that supposedly slow down the progression of the disease. Last time I tried one, it was like catching the flu…while going through menopause…in Hell!

Get Involved in Hunt For The Cure

So what can you do to help the 2.1 million people and their families who are living with this disease? It’s easy. Grab everyone you know and get your tickets to Hunt For The Cure 2013. All proceeds benefit the Multiple Sclerosis Society. You’re guaranteed to have a lot of fun – fun with a purpose that lasts.

A big thank you to Western States Fire Protection for sponsoring this event, and to Speakeasy for hosting the After Party! Hope to see you there.

Sarah Kiefer has a “superhero mom” cape that she keeps tucked under her business attire at the office each day. This St. Edward’s graduate has been living with MS for over ten years, counts her blessings, and is passionate about living life with a positive attitude. She is wild about Texfit Crossfit in Round Rock and has a love for event planning and trying new restaurants around Austin.

 

Photos via Flickr CC, courtesy of Scott Shingler, David Warlick, Oregon Chapter, National MS Society, and Peter Dutton.