I am Melissa Sherak Glasser. 33 years ago, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, and 29 years ago I began speaking and sharing my story with all of you. 29 years ago, my father set out on a mission to raise as much money as possible to help all those suffering with MS.
Whenever the MS Society, UCLA or anyone needed help, my dad and I would be there. Me telling my story, and my dad raising the money for research and support services. I remember saying to him that I just wanted everyone to be there with me, to walk with me at the walks or to come to the dinners and lunches and hear me speak.
I loved seeing you there every year. I loved the hugs, the calls, the smiles, and especially the emails the following day saying how much you enjoyed the Dinner of Champions. The dinner was magical for me. It gave me hope, and it was that hope that was healing. And that healing inspired me to be the best me that I could be. To stop and see and smell the roses. You gave me that gift! Thank you.
My dad though, focused on raising the money, and every time I would say, I just want them to show up, he would look into my eyes, shake his head and say, “Melissa, we need them to donate!!” You see, the difficulty for my dad was that he could not control the things happening to me, but he could raise funds to help me and everyone else who has MS.
When you gave, you gave my dad hope. That hope helped him heal and inspired him. You knew when the call came what he wanted. He was good at asking, but that was because you were so very good at giving, and you did just that. You were generous beyond our wildest dreams! You gave both me and my dad hope!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Now here we are, and it is 2020.
After much thought and too many years of struggling to stay healthy, I decided that on this Giving Tuesday, December 1st I would go back to what I know and what has always worked in the past. Together, my dad and I were a great team. Only this time, I will be doing both my part and his. I would like to share my story with you.
Hopefully, I will be able to fill my father’s shoes as well! Your donation will go directly to the Tom Sherak MS Hope Foundation at UCLA. We are a game-changing, action-oriented, nonprofit organization that responds, with immediacy, to the needs of people with multiple sclerosis by supporting innovative, person to-person programs and services, and funding cutting edge research.
I have made this video just for you, so please watch. My wish is that you feel the hope, healing and inspiration that I do. Oh, I almost forgot (sorry dad), please, please “Give until it feels good”!!!