MS Society honors Alexandria resident for volunteerism

Talk about it

Dennis Bestge of Alexandria received a National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Minnesota Chapter Sylvie award for volunteerism at the chapter’s annual Sylvies awards show last month in Bloomington.

The awards, named after National MS Society founder Sylvia Lawry, are given each year to top National MS Society, Minnesota Chapter volunteers, fundraisers, donors and sponsors. Top volunteers are honored for contributing time, knowledge, skills and leadership.

Bestge received an Activist All-Star Award for his dedication to advocating on issues that matter to people affected by MS. He frequently attends town hall meetings as a champion for people with disabilities and this winter gave his personal testimony supporting the society’s Caregiver Tax Credit bill.

And, during a recent self-help group meeting, he motivated group members to get involved in activism, too.

“Our volunteers play an integral role in the National MS Society’s work to support families living with multiple sclerosis in our area and move closer to a cure,” said Maureen Reeder, president of the National MS Society, Minnesota Chapter. “We are extremely grateful to Dennis for all his amazing work to support this important mission.”

About multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis interrupts the flow of information between the brain and the body and stops people from moving.

Every hour in the United States, someone is newly diagnosed with MS, an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. Symptoms range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis.

The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS.

Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, with more than twice as many women as men being diagnosed with the disease. MS affects more than 400,000 people in the U.S., and 2.5 million worldwide.

Tags: local news, dennis bestge, ms society, news, alexandria, volunteerism, bestge