| HEUGA CENTER CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF CREATING HOPE, HEALTH |
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In 2004, The Heuga Center will celebrate 20 years of promoting health and creating hope
for thousands of people living with multiple sclerosis (MS). It also marks the 40 th
anniversary of the 1964 Olympics, when the Center's founder, Jimmie Heuga and his
teammate Billy Kidd, won the first ever US men's Olympic skiing medals. Heuga
took the bronze and Kidd won the silver in the slalom event. However, Heuga's
legacy extends far beyond being a ski champion.
Heuga was diagnosed with MS in 1970, at the height of his racing career. At the time,
people with MS were advised to avoid physical activity. Defying conventional wisdom,
Heuga began a program of exercise, nutrition and psychological motivation and found
not only his physical condition but his outlook on life improved.
Jimmie's success revolutionized the management of MS. He transformed his frustration
into productivity, reclaiming his life and showing the medical community that there was,
indeed, another way to live with MS.
Jimmie Heuga founded The Heuga Center in 1984 to teach people with MS how to use
exercise to help manage their life with this chronic disease. He wanted to share
the principles that transformed his life from one of despair to one of health
and well-being.
Today, The Heuga Center has expanded Jimmie's approach to focus on the whole person
and family living with the impacts of MS. The Center's renowned CAN DO Programs
include education, nutrition, mental well-being, exercise, as well as learning
specific, individualized management skills to integrate wellness activities into
everyday life. At CAN DO Programs, people learn to focus on what they “can do”
in life instead of what they cannot, thus empowering them to live fuller, more
productive lives. The interdisciplinary staff of MS specialists evaluates each
participant, helps them set personal life goals, and teaches the strategies,
confidence, and support to strive for those goals. Programs also include addressing
the challenges, concerns and education of support partners.
The Heuga Center 's unique programs are recognized worldwide as a valuable complement
to regular medical treatment. The Center is a member of the Consortium of Multiple
Sclerosis Centers and works closely with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society
and the American Academy of Neurology.
As a leader in the field of MS, The Heuga Center has brought health and hope to
thousands of people and families living with MS. It remains the only resource of
its kind in the world.
The primary source of funds for the non-profit Heuga Center is Jimmie Heuga's
Snow Express for MS, the premier on-snow fundraiser in the country, presented
by Columbia Sportswear and RSN. The series of races will take place in
15 resorts throughout the U.S. and Canada this winter and are open to skiers
and boarders of all ages and abilities who want to make a difference in the
lives of people with MS. For more information, call 1.888.DO.IT.FOR.MS, or visit
www.heuga.org.
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| - reprinted with permision from- The Heuga Center. |
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