Rocky Mountain MS Center Gala: The Answers Begin Here

Go to the highly anticipated “Rocky Mountain Showdown” football game…or the annual, noteworthy Rocky Mountain MS Center Gala? With competing important events happening on the same night, more than 500 people made the good choice to support the fight against multiple sclerosis, making the gala another sold-out event full of dedicated donors. Fortunately for CU-CSU fans, game updates were announced often, and you just know that lots of home DVRs were in use for later viewing. So it was a win-win proposition all around.

Board member Suzanne Hickox (third from left), with friends

On Saturday, Sept. 16, the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel’s Plaza Ballroom was transformed with a glam Night in Monte Carlo theme. The evening began with a silent auction and cocktail reception before guests made their way into the ballroom with music by iconic Denver band Nacho Men. Amiable emcee Ed Greene presided over a program that addressed the challenges and triumphs of those living with multiple sclerosis, as well as the good works of the Rocky Mountain MS Center. Those speaking to the crowd: Gina Hensrud, CEO; Erica Tarpey, board chair; and Lyn Schaffer, gala co-chair (with husband Michael Schaffer, M.D.); and Raja Muhsen and Ramah Khammash. Auctioneer Gary Corbett kept bids high at the live auction, and the evening ended with dance-worthy Nacho Men music and a full gamut of casino games.

(l to r): Ed Greene, emcee; event co-chair Lyn Schaffer; RMMSC CEO Gina Hensrud; auctioneer Gary Corbett

RMMSC writes: “Our Gala is the premier annual event supporting Colorado’s largest center dedicated to comprehensive multiple sclerosis care, support, education and research (to) help support individuals and families living with multiple sclerosis and related neurological disorders. MS is a progressive and unpredictable disease of the central nervous system that disrupts communication between the brain and other parts of the body. Thanks to the generous support of our community, the Rocky Mountain MS Center has created a world-leading model for treating patients and families living with MS, no matter where they are on their MS journey.

(l to r): Jacob, Valerie and Carter Topkis

“Rocky Mountain MS Center jointly describes two elements of an innovative partnership: the Rocky Mountain MS Center nonprofit organization, and the Rocky Mountain MS Center at University of Colorado, clinical and research teams operating at UCHealth and the University of Colorado Hospital on the Anschutz Medical Campus. From a wide range of patient and community education programs to counseling and legal services, we work together to provide our community with a truly comprehensive approach for people and families living with MS.

“As a patient-centered organization, we prioritize listening to and learning from our patients and their caregivers. Their voices motivate our focus on better treatments. They have helped mold our education programs to be relevant for patients and caregivers. And they have inspired our cutting edge research to always explore the disease one step further and find the next answer. Patients are at the heart of all we do.” To learn more, please visit us at MSCenter.org.