Newsgroups: bit.listserv.words-l
Date:         Wed, 15 Apr 1992 20:49:32 MST
 <WORDS-L%UGA.bitnet@VTVM2.CC.VT.EDU>
From:         Dan Lester <ALILESTE%IDBSU.IDBSU.EDU@VTVM2.CC.VT.EDU>
Subject:      Multiple sclerosis, from Gayle McKay
Comments: To: All fellow wordslers <words-l@uga.cc.uga.edu>,
              Diet List <diet@ubvm.cc.buffalo.edu>

To all of those who supported Dan and/or Gail Lester in the "Super Cities
Walk for Multiple Sclerosis," I want to thank you personally.  My name is
Gayle McKay, and I am Dan Lester's youngest sister.  I was diagnosed with
MS in Sept. 1990.  It has turned my life upside down, as I am now totally
disabled and live a totally different lifestyle from the "work-a-holic"
I used to be.  However, I have learned to cope with the disease and get
along well now.  As a result, I have learned what's truly important in
life and to appreciate the "little" things in life.  Things that many
of you probably take for granted every day.

When Dan told me that he and Gail were going to go on this walk _for_me_,
I was so touched, I cried.  You see, I have not seen my brother since I
was diagnosed.  I have not met his new wife. I know _none_ of you who
have contributed your hard earned dollars to this wonderful cause.  And yet,
you each took the time to participate in whatever way you chose, and that
is one of the truly important things that those of us with MS have learned
to appreciate ... that others truly _do_ care and reach out to help others
in need.  We try to do the same when we are able.

There is no way I can make any of you fully understand the importance of
what each of you have done.  You not only helped your local MS chapter, but
also the National MS Society which supports research.  I doubt that a cure
will be found in _my_ lifetime, since they don't know the cause of MS yet,
but they are making progress.  Since my son is at higher risk of getting MS
(as are Dan and his children) perhaps we can beat this mystifying disease
for the next generation, if nothing else.  You may also be helping your own
family and friends, even though you don't know it now.

Please remember two things for me:

   1.  "Take time to smell the roses" -- sounds trivial, but is oh, so true.
       Enjoy your life and family and friends and nature.

   2.  "What goes around comes around" -- your generosity is appreciated
       by thousands -- not just me.  You too, will someday be in a position
       of need.  Learn to accept the gift graciously.


Again, thank you --

    With a very grateful heart and soul,

             Gayle McKay





Gayle asked me to send this to all of you on the two lists where I
originally posted my request for pledges for the MS walk.  She has some
understanding of how closely knit of a family most of us are on WORDS-L and
DIET.  She got a good feeling of that from my explanation about the $180
pledge from a wordsler, and the $75 pledge from a dieter, and all of the
others who made it total over $700 for MS.   All pledges and donations,
large or small, are truly appreciated by all of us, and by all of those
with MS.

Dan and Gail


p.s., if anyone has wondered what Dan or Gail look like, we have a picture
of us at the march.....let me know and I'll send one your way.  If someone
can scan one for the words-l collection of .gif pictures, let me know and
I'll send one for that purpose.
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.words-l