Do you know the story about how the Tri-State Multiple Sclerosis Association came to be?

There are a good number of families in the tri-state area who have had a family member living with Multiple Sclerosis for many years. They were diagnosed in the years before MRI technology allowed doctors to see lesions on the brain or spine, years before any MS-specific medications were available, years when therapy was not recommended for people with MS.
In fact, many of those who were diagnosed with MS, were basically told there was nothing to be done except prepare for the disease to put you in a wheelchair or worse.
Patients had few resources for information for these were days before the internet, few books existed and the few that did were mostly clinical in nature. It was difficult to find anyone else living with the disease because support groups were few and far between. The national resources that existed were not based in the tri-state area so they seemed distant.

Then, a group of volunteers, some living with MS and some interested in helping tri-state residents affected by Multiple Sclerosis, decided there was a need for local services and support for families affected by this disease. A dream was born and this group was determined to make it a reality. Over time, the group was able to get a 501 © 3 license to form a not-for-profit, donations were accepted, and from the home of one of the members, a phone line was open to anyone in need. The volunteers began to offer services in response to the calls received. Eventually, the group formed a board of directors and Debbie Hebbeler accepted the position of Executive Director. Her home was her original office and she’s made a few other moves over the years as services grew and needs changed. The board has continued to direct the association’s purpose and mission with strategic plans for long-term growth set forth in the late part of 2005. Our association now employs a part-time social worker and a part-time office assistant. There are six active support groups, a monthly newsletter, an annual family weekend at Camp Carson, an adult weekend away in Evansville, two annual autumn walks, and numerous educational programs, all of which help over 1,100 families in the tri-state area.

The association thrives because of the support we receive from those 1,100 families and from generous corporate and local business sponsors. We are grateful to the foundations which offer support through grants and other funding programs.