The Simonettis fight multiple sclerosis

When Gail Simonetti was diagnosed with a dibilitating disease, multiple sclerosis, she and her husband, John, immediately became active in the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to help others suffering from the disease. Their efforts reached Ohio State, changing students' lives.

"In 1992 my wife, Gail, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. We immediately became involved with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society as volunteers to help those who, like Gail, were affected by this debilitating disease which attacks the nervous system.

Through the years, our role with the Society grew with my service as the Board Chair for the Ohio Buckeye Chapter as well as serving eight years as a member of the National Board of Directors for the Society.

In those roles, Gail and I came to see how traumatic the effects of the disease can be on not only for the person with MS, but also for their families, and especially their children. MS can rob an individual of their health, but can also diminish their earning capacity, causing deep struggles for family members.

As my career as a corporate lawyer grew to an end, we decided that we wanted to do something to directly help a person effected by the disease, as well as support The Ohio State University. With the guidance of the development office, we endowed an academic scholarship specifically for a student with MS or a student who has a parent with MS.

To date, there have been two recipients of the scholarship. Gail and I have been thrilled to be able to assist them in attending Ohio State and look forward to continuing to support such students in the future."

Share your story by contacting Leslie Kreinberg at 614-247-6600 or by email at kreinberg.3@osu.edu .