MS QUEST FOR A CURE.

Bentonville (Jan. 12, 200 Northwest Arkansas’ Dinner of Champions benefiting the Multiple Sclerosis Society raised over $78,000 Saturday, February 9, 2008 while honoring Dick Trammel with the MS Hope Award. The Hope Award is the highest honor the National MS Society gives out each year. Previous recipients include George Bush Sr. and Bill Clinton.

            Other highlights of the night included KNWA’s  anchor Matt Turner acting as Master of Ceremonies, a live auction, a special plaque recognition for supporting sponsors at the VIP reception, a live auction, personal testimonies shared by twelve-year old Kendall who has multiple sclerosis himself with his mother Brandi and Alexandra Rampy who spoke about her mother’s diagnosis. Rampy’s dad, Scott Rampy, was the 2008 event chair.

            “My dad joined the MS Quest in 2006 with a vision to share our family’s story with passion, purpose and joy,” Alexandra Rampy said. “Saturday’s turn out and support beat our expectations. I couldn’t be more proud of how my dad and the MS Quest committee are spreading awareness about multiple sclerosis.”

            The night rallied around champions such as Coach McCarthy, Dick Trammel, those with multiple sclerosis, their families and the communities that support them. The Dinner of Champions hopes to inspire and recognize the inner champion within everyone by calling all champions to join the quest against MS.

            With the success of the 1^st Annual MS Dinner of Champions in the area, the MS Quest committee plans on making the NWA Dinner of Champions the group’s marquee event year after year. Other events the MS committee orchestrates includes the annual walk/5k run, car show and dog walk.