don's report archive

Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

Appoint Yourself An Ambassador of Wellness!
Monday April 2, 2001

I loved watching parts of the Olympic Games last summer held in Sydney, Australia. I most of all enjoyed the track events, particularly the distance races, and of course the women's and men's inaugural triathlons contested in and along the spectacular Sydney Harbor. Two relatively unknowns won those two races, a Swiss woman and a Canadian man, respectively. As a friend of the Canadian's coach, I cheered as much as any Canuck when Simon Whitfield came from behind in the final stretch to win the first-ever Olympic gold in this relatively new sport.

Thus, I was interested to learn from a press release issued by the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society of Canada that 25 year-old Simon Whitfield has agreed to be an MS Ambassador for that good cause, in Canada. Multiple sclerosis is an often-disabling disease of the central nervous system, and Canada has one of the highest rates of MS in the world. Its symptoms are highly variable and unpredictable, but can include vision and speech problems, extreme fatigue, lack of balance and coordination, and even paralysis. Approximately 50,000 Canadians are affected by MS, which usually strikes between the ages of 20 and 40.

Whitfield will promote efforts by the Society to discover a cure for the disease and otherwise promote efforts to help people affected by MS enhance the quality of their lives. Furthering Whitfield's ability to function in this capacity is the fact that he has a favorite uncle who suffers from MS. Of the uncle, Whitfield said, "He is incredible. Coping with his MS, he runs an Olympic triathlon everyday. Any hardship or obstacle I face pales in comparison."

The head of the MS Society of Canada said that Whitfield is an inspiration to many Canadians, and we welcome him as an MS Ambassador. We believe his example of commitment, perseverance, and supporting his community will inspire others to do the same as they take part in our fund raising events and become MS Society volunteers.

Which is where you come in. You and I and 99.9 percent of the rest of the world are not as fast, athletically gifted, or as famous as Simon Whitfield, nor are we inspirations to Canadians or anyone else, at least not outside our immediate families and friendship circles! But, we can be ambassadors, too! We can promote consumer empowerment, personal responsibility, self-management, and other values and causes we cherish and most of all that we model daily, in the way we live and the positive results that we obtain from doing so. We don't have to go on TV to do this, don't have to give speeches or travel widely, and we certainly don't need to have an Olympic gold medal to be effective as wellness ambassadors to our children, family, and friends.

Just be your best self, everyday and throughout the day while enjoying the life you have created and you will continue to be the fine ambassador for wellness that you already are.

Be well, Mr. or Ms. Ambassador.

(Ed. Note: Views expressed in this and other columns are those of the author and not necessarily those of the SeekWellness Editorial Board.)

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