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It was Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009 and hundreds were gathered for the 31st annual MS Dinner of Champions. Jeff, a resident of Danbury, had just won a much coveted five course dinner for six to be prepared at home by the renowned chef, Tim LaBant, of the Schoolhouse at Cannondale in Wilton. Although the dinner and wine pairing was without a doubt a great prize, the president and chief executive officer of Nukem, one of the world’s largest intermediaries in the international nuclear fuel market, was bidding that night on much more than just a take home chef; he was staking his life on a cure. Years earlier, in 2001, after months of wrestling with strange and baffling sensations throughout his body, Jeff made an appointment to see his doctor. “I began to feel a tingling sensation in my thighs and then noticed that my foot seemed droopy and uncooperative,” Jeff explained. “My doctor ordered an MRI and a spinal tap. I went to the hospital for the tests but couldn’t wait for the results as I had to leave immediately for Japan.” The results were ready before Faul returned from his business trip. His wife, Elsie, momentarily shaken by the news, chose to sit on the results until she could speak to her husband in person, face-to-face. “It was such a shock,” said Elsie, whose 22-year marriage has given the couple two now grown daughters. “Our doctor revealed to me that Jeff had MS. I knew this diagnosis could be unsettling for Jeff. I didn’t want him traveling under duress without the support of those who love him.”
“I knew very little about multiple sclerosis,” said Faul. “But what little I did know was enough to give me pause. These were uncharted waters and I knew my life was about to change.” More than 6,000 Connecticut residents, like Jeff, live with multiple sclerosis, a chronic illness affecting the central nervous system. Symptoms can include numbness and tingling in the limbs, difficulties with speech and vision and, in some severe cases, complete paralysis. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot be predicted. There is no cure for multiple sclerosis. Jeff had always been very active throughout his life, skiing in the winter and cycling up to 3,000 miles each summer. Lifelong daredevils, he and his older brother, John, had even graduated from the famed Skip Barber Racing School, an MS Dinner of Champions auction item won by John and his brother two consecutive years. Jeff vowed not to give up or give in. He educated himself on MS, began therapy and remained active, uniting his passion for cycling and other activities with his newfound quest to help find a cure. “I cycle in a number of National MS Society benefit rides, including the Bike MS event held in Westport each year,” said the 54-year-old. “About eight years ago, I also got involved with the Connecticut Chapter’s annual MS Dinner of Champions. Each year I captain a table, inviting friends and family to attend. It’s an empowering evening – many people coming together with one goal in mind – finding a cure.” Upbeat and optimistic, Jeff says there is great hope for the future, pointing out that in just the past 10 years science has advanced at record speed when it comes to MS. “Multiple sclerosis can change your lifestyle but it doesn’t have to define you,” said Jeff, who this year cycled MS benefit rides in Connecticut, New York and California. “My neurologist believes that if I stay fit my flare-ups may not be as severe. But, I admit, the toughest part is the unknown – not knowing what tomorrow holds. That’s where hope in science and faith in God come into play.” Jeff and Elsie are already preparing their table for this year’s 32nd MS Dinner of Champions, which will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Old Greenwich Thursday, Nov. 11. The event features a cocktail reception followed by a four course dinner. Keynote celebrity speakers from world of sports highlight the evening’s festivities, which conclude with a robust live auction for vacations and getaways, golf packages, one-of-a-kind autographed collectibles and much more. “This is a shared journey,” said Elsie, glancing at her husband seated beside her. “There are a lot of people out there trying to help – raising awareness, raising money and moving science forward toward what we want most – a cure.” National MS Society, Connecticut Chapter events, such as MS Dinner of Champions, ensure ongoing scientific research to find better treatments and a cure. These funds also provide for the continuation of vital programs and services offered by the chapter to those in Connecticut living with multiple sclerosis. To learn more about MS and the many ways to help, please visit www.ctfightsMS.org. For more information on the 2010 MS Dinner Champions or to secure tickets, please visit www.ctfightsMS.org or call Kim Maloney at 860-913-2550, ext. 334. © Copyright by ConnecticutPlus.com. Some articles and pictures posted on our website, as indicated by their bylines, were submitted as press releases and do not necessarily reflect the position and opinion of ConnecticutPlus.com, Canaiden LLC or any of its associated entities. Articles may have been edited for brevity and grammar. CURRENT HEADLINES: Top of Page
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