Crush MS and community unite to pursue a cure for multiple sclerosis
By Tim Carl
NAPA, Calif. — Something inspiring happened in the western outskirts of Napa last weekend. The annual fundraising event for Crush MS, a grassroots organization committed to battling multiple sclerosis, was held at Reid Family Vineyards. Launched in 2014 as a collaborative effort between Reid Family Vineyards and Counter Punch Wines, the event sought to advance the fight against MS, a cause that resonates deeply with both families.
"Both of our families have felt the impact of MS," said Kevin Reid, co-founder of Crush MS and co-owner of Reid Family Vineyards. "Our shared experiences led us to unite our love for winemaking with the vision of an MS-free world. Since its inception, Crush MS has become a rallying cry for our community, offering solace, hope and support for important research into the causes and potential cure of this devastating disease.”
Crush MS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds and awareness for a world free of multiple sclerosis. All funds raised are donated to MS research and programs and a Napa Valley support group that meets monthly. Previous beneficiaries include the International Progressive MS Alliance, the MS Society, Stanford Neurology, UC San Francisco, the Dignity Health MS Achievement Center, Canine Companions for Independence and others. Crush MS is proud to have donated over $600,000 toward finding a cause and cure, including research at Stanford University that has found a link to a possible cause of the disease.
MS is a devastating disease where the body's immune system attacks its own nervous system. It currently affects more than 2.8 million people worldwide, with almost 1 million in the United States, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. And although the complex nature of MS continues to confound scientists, Jeffrey Dunn, a clinical neurologist at Stanford Healthcare and Stanford University School of Medicine, recently made a discovery that links the Epstein-Barr virus to MS that earned accolades from the scientific community.
To highlight this breakthrough and to help celebrate the role that Crush MS founders and donors have played, U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson presented a congressional certificate of appreciation to Dunn at this year's event.
“Crush MS and our strong, supportive community have helped advance the science of understanding MS,” Thompson said. “Along with dedicated researchers such as Dr. Dunn and his team, efforts are being made to ultimately find a cure for this dreaded disease. I presented this award to Dunn today as a reminder of what a community can accomplish together.”
Thompson went on to urge the crowd to encourage their elected officials to support government efforts to expand — or at least maintain — current scientific research funding, reporting that efforts are being made to cut up to 20% of such funding in the future.
Upon receiving the award, Dunn thanked those gathered and announced an initiative that he hopes will develop a new therapy for the disease.
“We are grateful for this award from Congressman Thompson and for the ongoing support from this community and Crush MS,” Dunn said. “Crush MS provides the initial support that allowed our work that found the link between Epstein-Barr and MS. And going forward this year with such support we are beginning an unprecedented initiative to study an innovative cellular therapy for MS that promises potential benefits that we have not seen with any previous treatment options."
Dunn explained that unlike funding support from many larger organizations, the funds obtained from Crush MS allowed his team to follow links that were less well-defined and had a higher risk of failure. His team was able to test some early hypotheses that would otherwise have been left unexplored. The result was that sifting through hundreds of experiments, they were able to find nine patients who eventually led to the discovery of the link between EBV and MS.
“Not only was Crush MS’ support important to this research, but it was also pivotal,” Dunn said. “And now, as a result, we are able to expand the research and do even more to advance the science.”
The event offered much more than celebrating the community, scientific discoveries and fundraising. It was a delightful evening filled with live music from “California Zephyr,” a local folk band, delectable donated food and an array of wines from the region's top wineries, such as Amici Cellars, Lobo Wines, JCB, Sojourn Cellars, Over/Under, Crocker and Starr, Jessup Cellars, Page Wine Cellars, Mark Herold Wines, Flambeaux Wines, Fontanella Family Winery, Revolver Wine Co., J Gregory Cellars, Counter Punch Wines, Truchard Vineyards, Reid Family Vineyards, Hess Persson Estates, ZD Wines and more.
"Our goal is not just to raise funds for research but also to build a supportive community," Reid said. “It's heartening to see the impact that Crush MS has had but also that it has become a beacon of hope for many in our community and beyond."
The event concluded with a raffle and an auction that raised an unknown amount at the time of publication, according to Reid.
After awards had been given and speeches made, those gathered dispersed to enjoy a glass of wine, food and live music being played under towering redwood trees. The mood felt joyous and hopeful, buoyed by Thompson’s recognition of the organization's instrumental role in helping advance the cause of MS research. There was a real sense of fun coupled with an undertow of resolve — a sense that even a modest initial idea can blossom into a movement and in so doing can result in advancing the fight against MS.
“We took a leap of faith when we started Crush MS, and just look,” said Julie Hare, co-founder. “Seeing such support, we're more committed than ever to our mission. Together we believe that we can overcome MS.”
Tim Carl is a Napa Valley based photojournalist.
Hi, Tim,
Loved this article, as I do all...
How do I find out ahead of time about the Reid fund-raiser for next year? I never hear about it, and then wished I had been there to support, etc., after I read about it in news sources. I want to attend! Thank you, Donna
What a great event and cause. Congratulations to everyone involved for their efforts.