In mid-March the National Multiple Sclerosis Society promoted National MS Awareness week. It rang in the spring season, which is full of fundraising opportunities such as the annual MS Walks held throughout the country. As an active member of the MS community, something caught my eye last month when I was scanned the homepage of the Indiana Pacers. One of Indiana?s cheerleaders (known as Pacemates), Michelle Bowyer was featured in a video highlighting her work for the National MS Society.

As someone who cares deeply about MS Advocacy, I decided that I?d use the small amount of leverage I?ve established in the NBA world to see what I could do to truly make a difference for the millions of people that are affected by the disease. I got into contact with the Pacers, and before long was exchanging e-mails and phone calls with Michelle, who?s father suffers from the neurological disease. We began to come up with a few ideas that would allow us to make something special happen in the NBA.

At first, our ultimate goal was to have the entire league to recognize MS Advocacy week next season, with each of the thirty teams hosting ?MS Nights? in the month of March. After speaking with some of the league representatives in the NBA Cares office, I realized that this might be too optimistic of a goal (charity nights such as the one we were suggesting are booked on a team-by-team basis). So we have narrowed our goal to a single NBA team. All we want to do is get one of the league?s thirty teams to host an ?MS Night? next season, and we?ll consider ourselves a success.

A few years back, the Chicago Bulls did something like what we are proposing, so we are going to try to use their event as a model. The disease itself doesn?t get the attention and publicity it needs to help make advances towards improving millions of American?s lives. A very small number of NBA players are active in the fight against MS, although it could be that few make it public. Knicks? center Channing Frye hosts bowling nights at Madison Square Garden as MS benefits, and explained to me how much it means to him before a game earlier this season.

Another prominent NBA player, Grant Hill, deals with MS on a daily basis. His wife Tamia suffers from the disease. She is one of the few spokespeople for the MS Society, but she?s doing all she can to raise awareness using both her name and financial flexibility. The disease itself remains a mystery to most people who are unaware of it, and even to some who know its basics.  Hill commented, ?It?s something that you go from not knowing much about to having someone very close to you having it, my wife.?

Unfortunately, I know what that difficult transition can be like for a couple, or any person for that matter. Back in August of 2004, my girlfriend Christine, now of nearly four years, was diagnosed with the disease. It started with the loss of vision in one eye, pounding headaches, and vertigo, and ended in a diagnosis that we thought would forever haunt us. Much like the Hills we thought the worst, ?It?s not a death sentence, which I thought it was. But it?s something you just have to continually manage,? said Hill.

So, using the inspiration of Michelle, Channing, the Hills, and ultimately Christine, I came up with the idea to launch a campaign of sorts. My goal, along with the help of Michelle and anyone else who?s willing, is to attend an ?MS Night? at any one of the NBA?s thirty arenas in 2008. I?ll be sure to keep you updated on my progress, and I hope that you?ll consider joining my cause. Please visit the link at the beginning of the column, if you?d like to consider donating or participating in this spring?s MS Walks (I will be walking in one on Saturday).

When I asked Grant if he ever tried to get his teammates or friends in the league on board to help with the cause he responded, ?I haven?t ? but that?s a good idea. I think I will.?

I think I?ll adapt that as my motto of sorts. This is a great idea, it only needs some help. I?m going to give it my all; we?ll have to see what comes of it.

If you?re interested in trying to help make this happen, or you know of any way that I can take a few steps forward, please let me know. It would be greatly appreciated? Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com