Traditions of Hanover Helps Raise Money for MS

With the help of Traditions of Hanover resident, Edith Schwartz, the independent senior living community is working together to raise awareness and funds for multiple sclerosis, more commonly known as MS.

During Family Day held on Sunday, Sept. 8, residents, their families, and staff came together for the cause, which helped to raise over $400 from the sale of 50/50 and basket raffle tickets.

Continuing through mid-September, Traditions of Hanover residents are competing among their floors, four in total, to see who can raise the most funds. But for Edith, it’s more than a friendly competition—it’s personal.

“I brought the idea to management to help raise awareness and funds to find a cure for MS,” said Edith. “The people at Traditions of Hanover are wonderful for helping this cause that means so much to my family and me.”

Edith’s niece, Evonne, and daughter, Lisa Cyr, are living with the disease. In late August, Lisa helped residents kick off their fundraising efforts. She shared information about the immune-mediated disease in which the body’s immune system attacks the central nervous system, and affects more than 2.3 million people worldwide.

She also talked about Bike MS: City to Shore Ride, an event that is near and dear to her heart. She has participated in the cycling event for 28 years, which she began in honor of her cousin Evonne, who has progressive MS.

“It’s an amazing experience, many people appreciate what you’re doing, and it’s a great feeling of accomplishment, and for me, I’m lucky to be still able to participate, so I ride because I can—and for Evonne, and all those who can’t,” said Lisa.

Lisa was diagnosed in 1994 with relapsing-remitting MS or RRMS, which is characterized by clearly defined attacks of new or increasing neurologic symptoms followed by periods of partial or complete recovery.

Symptoms can range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis, and no two people have precisely the same symptoms, which can change and fluctuate over time.

With symptoms presently at bay, Lisa, alongside her unofficial teammate and twin sister, Linda Koontz, will ride in Bike MS: City to Shore, the most extensive cycling series of the National MS Society, on September 21-22.

The rain or shine, two-day event, which amasses over 7,000 cyclists of all experiences, begins at PATCO’s Woodcrest Station in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and finishes in Ocean City, New Jersey.

If you would like to donate to Bike MS on behalf of Lisa, visit https://bit.ly/2PgLxTp or call 1-800-344-4867. For more information about MS, visit www.nationalmssociety.org.

Traditions of Hanover Independent Living is a unique, award-winning retirement community offering Independent Living residences on an affordable month-to-month lease with no buy-in fees. Resident services and apartment features include meals, housekeeping, social events, transportation, and full kitchens. For more information, please call Megan Sedlock, marketing director, at 484-893-6034 or visit www.traditionsofhanover.com.