WHO is affected by MS? Men, women, adults, children...though it is more prevalent in white women and individuals directly related to someone with MS have a somewhat higher chance of developing it themselves. Of course it's not just the individual diagnosed who can be affected. Spouses, children, siblings, parents, friends, and so on are affected when their loved one has MS.

WHAT is MS? It is believed to be an immune disorder in which the immune system attacks the nervous system, specifically the cells which maintain the myelin sheaths. Myelin sheaths protect part of our neurons. As the myelin sheaths thin and vanish the neurons lose the ability to send signals. Which means that nearly any motor or sensory function can be affected. Currently it is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and immunilogical factors.

WHEN do people discover they have MS? Most people receive a diagnosis as young adults.

WHERE is MS a problem? People all over the world have MS. But it is most prevalent in the UK (especially Scotland), Sweden, Ireland, Denmark, Iceland and Canada.

HOW can it be cured? Nobody knows...yet. This is one of the problems the MS Society is working to solve. You can help.

Thus concludes my series of MS Monday posts. I hope you now better understand multiple sclerosis and the effect it has on people's lives. It is my hope that a definitive cause and a cure will be found in our lifetime.

CANCELED due to lack of interest.

Ta-da! The raffle begins today! It will run through the end of March and is open to US and Canadian residents. First, the nitty gritty details on how to enter:

1. Visit the donation site here.
2. Click the "pledge me online" button.
3. Make a donation of at least $5. For every $5 you pledge you will get one entry into the raffle.
4. Wait for me to e-mail you to confirm your entry.
5. See if you win stuff!!!

For an extra entry blog about (and link to) the raffle (leave a comment on this post with your blog address).

Now for the exciting part! The prizes:

This colorful wristlet is perfect for sunglasses, cellphones, coupons, and quick errands that don't require a big bag. It's from the Etsy shop Baffin Bags.

But guess what. This is just the beginning! I plan to have several more prizes posted by the end of the week! So be sure to check in again. And good luck! Remember that this is for a really great cause! And hey...why not win some neat stuff while you're at it?

All right guys, here's the deal. My brain is fried. Whether it's just her 3 month growth spurt, early teething, or something else, Lucy has been pretty high-needs the last week or so. I'm too tired to be all thoughtful and articulate. So I'm giving you this Time article from 2007 for this week's MS Monday.

I'm hoping to reveal the raffle prizes and rules next Monday, so be sure to check in again.

And of course here is the MS Walk donation page.

Well, dear readers, it's MS Monday! Bet you thought I had forgotten seeing as this post is coming pretty late in the day. I didn't forget. I was in Calgary for some immigration stuff. I'll write more about that later. But I will say this...I'm beat!

Today for MS Monday I want to give you a preview of things to come:

There will be a very cool raffle to raise funds for the MS Walk.*

Anyone who donates can have their name (or a screen name) added to the "Dust Bunny Honor Roll" with a link to their blog or another website of their choice.*

There is a Facebook Group already up and running.

I also want to spend a moment discussing signs/symptoms and diagnosis of MS.

The symptoms of MS are varied and numerous. They can include pain, spasticity, cognitive dysfunction, fatigue, partial paralysis, vision problems, and even dementia (though rarely). For a more thorough look at the very, very long list of possible symptoms visit here or here.

MS is not an easy disease to diagnose. Unfortunately it isn't as simple as doing a blood test and getting a positive. Getting a diagnosis requires answering a lot of questions about one's medical history, and undergoing lots of tests (such as neurological and vision tests). Then, after all that, an MRI is usually used to confirm the diagnosis. For a look at the current criteria used to make a diagnosis see this Wikipedia entry on the McDonald Criteria.

MS diagnoses are almost as mysterious as the disease itself which researchers are still trying to find the cause and cure for. To help fund the ongoing research and to help those affected by an MS diagnosis click here.

*These perks will be retroactive for those who have already made donations.

March is Multiple Sclerosis Education & Awareness Month. Every Monday in March will be MS Monday (starting next week on the 2nd). MS awareness and MS research are issues near and dear to my heart. My mother, probably the classiest lady I've ever known, has progressive MS. As I've grown up I've watched her take the cards life has dealt her and make the best of them. Her strength never ceases to amaze me. She is the reason that I did the MS Walk in 2007 and she is the reason I'm doing it again this year.

I'll be doing the 12 km walk and you can read more about the walk and make an online donation here (I've already pledged 3 months allowance so I hope you'll join me in this cause)!

You can look forward to more exciting posts with more information about MS and about the MS Walk and how you can help (there will be contests and prizes)! Monday might not necessarily be the only day with posts relating to MS Education & Awareness Month so be sure to check in often.

And here are a few links to tide you over until I announce some of the fun currently in the works.

• The MS Society (Canadians click here)
• MS FAQS
• The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
• The Wikipedia entry on MS