From Sept. 30-Oct. 2, Team UndeFEETed — consisting of six local women — will participate in the 50-mile, MS Challenge Walk from GMU to the U.S. Capitol steps.
The women will be raising money to help find a cure for multiple sclerosis. But first, they need to raise enough money — $1,500 each or $7,500 total — to participate in the event.
Toward that end, they've held various fund-raisers, and their next one will be in conjunction with Bonefish Grill in Centre Ridge. It's a special luncheon planned for Saturday, May 21, from noon-2 p.m.
"MY MOTHER was diagnosed with MS in 1985 and is in remission," said Tony Stafford, the managing partner of Bonefish Grill. "So when I found out [this event] was for MS, I definitely wanted to be involved in it."
MS is a chronic, often debilitating, disease of the central nervous system, and it can cause paralysis and loss of vision. "Most people are diagnosed between ages 20-50, but the effects can be lifelong," said Centre Ridge resident Janice Morrison of Team UndeFEETed. "And the progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted."
The other team members are Deb Abramczyk, Astrid Lohman and Tammy McCarron, also of Centre Ridge, plus Jenni Burch and Debbie Quidley of Manassas. They formed a team, said Morrison, because "all of us have family members and friends close to us who have MS and are struggling with it."
To raise money so far, the women held a purse party and then used the purses as prizes for an April 29 Ladies Bunco Night at the Centre Ridge Community Clubhouse. Said Morrison: "We had a good turnout and raised over $650 for the MS Society."
And last Saturday, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., they held a bake sale in front of the Centrewood Giant Foods store. They sold homemade muffins, cookies and brownies, plus coffee donated by Starbucks, and made about $300.
But the women hope their upcoming fund-raiser at Bonefish Grill will be their biggest one, so far. It's open to the public, and the menu that day will be a choice of oak-grilled salmon, sirloin or chicken, warm bread, garden salad and a dessert sampler. It's also being sponsored by Pearmund Cellars, a Broad Run vineyard which will showcase its fine Virginia wines during the luncheon.
Cost of the meal is $26 without wine and $33 with wine, with all but $6 of each meal being donated to the MS Society. Meals for children, 12 and under, are $15. RSVP by May 18 to Abramczyk at 703-803-3143 or at Debie.Abramczyk@Equant.com; however, walk-ins will also be accepted. Payment will be in cash or checks — made payable to the MS Society — only.
"All of Bonefish Grill's staff is donating its time because the restaurant is normally closed at lunch," said Morrison. "Bonefish carries Pearmund's wine so, for the fund-raiser, Pearmund will reimburse the restaurant for the wine used that afternoon, and this money will also go toward the fund-raiser."
SINCE BONEFISH can hold about 100 people, she said, the team hopes to raise at least $2,000 that day. "It's really generous of Bonefish Grill and Pearmund Cellars to sponsor this fund-raiser for us, for the MS Society, in its quest to find a cure," said Morrison. Also during this event, a raffle will be held, plus a silent auction for purses and gift certificates for dinners at local restaurants.
Noting that Bonefish Grill is part of the Outback Corporation, Stafford said it believes in philanthropic endeavors. "It's easy for us to open at lunch for a special event," he said. "And it's one of the ways we can get involved in the community." Praising the efforts of the six local women behind the fund-raiser, he added, "We wanted to support people in the community, like Janice, who are volunteering their time to make a difference."
And Team UndeFEETed also has other fund-raisers on the horizon. On Saturday, June 11, it'll hold a raffle for gift certificates for meals and merchandise from local businesses. Drawings will occur throughout the evening, and winners will be notified by phone when the event is over.
Items to be raffled will include DVD rentals from the Centre Ridge Hollywood Video, gift cards from the Fair Oaks Mall Bennigan's and meal gift certificates from Rosemary's Thyme Bistro in the Colonnade shopping center. To purchase $5 raffle tickets, call Abramczyk.
The women have also been working with Abbey Levinson, promotions manager of Champps Restaurant in Fair Oaks Mall. And on Friday, June 24, from 6-10 p.m., 15 percent of all food revenue there will be contributed to the MS Society.
Online contributions to the MS Society may also be made at www.msandyou.org/ms_challenge/index.php. Click on the "pledge" button and complete the online form. Be sure to indicate that the money is for the Three-Day Challenge Walk contribution (Oct.) and the team/participant is Team UndeFEETed.