Pro Player Foundation Hosted rEECh on the Road Minnesota October 5, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

PRO PLAYER FOUNDATION HOSTED rEECh ON THE ROAD MINNESOTA COLLABORATIVE PANEL TO SPREAD MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS OUTREACH, AWARENESS, AND ENGAGEMENT

Pro Player Foundation took its rEECh on the Road Panel to the Land of 10,000 Lakes on October 5, 2023. The event was hosted at the Vikings Museum in Eagan, Minnesota. Pro Player Foundation Ambassador, best-selling author and inspirational speaker Tyler Campbell moderated the fifth Collaborative rEECh Panel, aimed at increasing outreach, awareness, and engagement around Multiple Sclerosis. Doors opened at 6:00 p.m. CST with a #rEECh Collaborative Panel that kicked off the evening’s festivities shortly after. Tyler Campbell, renowned MS specialists Dr. Jonathan Calkwood, Dr. Gurdesh S. Bedi and Dr. Mark Keegan discussed how patients can navigate Multiple Sclerosis and highlight topics that impact the MS community. Guests enjoyed an intimate Meet & Greet setting at the Vikings Museum and enjoyed light bites and sips. Pro Football Hall of Famers Randall McDaniel and Paul Krause and Minnesota Vikings legend Esera Tuaolo were in attendance to welcome the MS community and support Pro Player Foundation’s mission of improving the lives of people affected by MS.

WHO & WHAT? 

 Pro Player Foundation hosted a live-streamed #rEECh Collaborative Panel at the Vikings Museum in Eagan, Minnesota. Pro Player Foundation Ambassador and Best-Selling Author, Tyler Campbell, emceed the Foundation’s 5th #rEECh Collaborative Panel designed to continue the spread of knowledge and resources in underrepresented communities affected by Multiple Sclerosis. The 2023 Panel also included MS neurology specialists, Dr. Jonathan Calkwood, Dr. Gurdesh Bedi, and Dr. Mark Keegan, and patient advocates. Dr. Calkwood is a nationally recognized neurology and neuro-ophthalmology practitioner with over 17 years of experience in the field of MS. Dr. Bedi has practiced neurology for over 20 years and has co-authored three peer-reviewed articles in the last 15 years. Since 2001, Dr. Keegan has acted as a consultant, Professor of Neurology and Head of the Division of Multiple Sclerosis and Autoimmune Neurology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. The Panelists aim to examine the challenges of managing wellness while living with Multiple Sclerosis and the influence of the disease on underrepresented communities.

Multiple Sclerosis is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. Nearly one million individuals are living with MS in the United States. Pro Player Foundation has determined there is a gap in educating and creating awareness about Multiple Sclerosis (MS) specifically in underrepresented communities. In response, we have created and developed the Educate.Elevate.Collaborate. Initiative to do our part to close this gap. According to the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA), although MS affects all races and ethnicities, specific minority populations may bear a disproportionate share of the disease burden. Recent research suggests African Americans carry a higher risk of developing MS and appear to experience a particularly aggressive disease course, with increased severity and more rapid progression. The National MS Society cites studies that show Hispanics with MS are more likely to have optic neuritis (an inflammation of the nerves that connect the eyes to the brain) than other ethnicities with MS on the rise in these communities.

Live musical entertainment for the event was provided by St. Paul Peterson, Donnie LaMarca, and Jason Peterson DeLaire. Pro Player Foundation proudly salutes our MVP Sponsors, Biogen and Genentech, our Tailgate sponsor Novartis and our SKOL sponsors ResorTime, EMD Serono and TG Therapeutics for making rEECh on the Road Minnesota a reality. We are thankful for our unsung heroes Dr. Jacqueline Dupont Carlson and Marc Carlson.

Our rEECh on the Road Minnesota event also included an exclusive in-person Meet & Greet in the lobby of the Vikings Museum. Guests were able to explore the rich history of the Minnesota Vikings while mixing and mingling with Viking legends, Tyler Campbell and rEECh on the Road panelists. Light bites and sips were provided for guests to enjoy throughout the Meet & Greet.

WHERE

Thursday, October 5, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. CST - 9:00 p.m.

Vikings Museum

Viewers can watch the discussion by visiting Earl Campbell’s Facebook Page at facebook.com/thetylerrose, the Pro Player Foundation website at proplayerfoundation.org/eec-panel or Twitch on twitch.tv/mssociety.

Instagram: proplayerfoundation

Twitter: @ProPlays

WHY

Pro Player Foundation launched the Educate.Elevate.Collaborate. Initiative in 2021 to grow our Multiple Sclerosis outreach. The EEC Initiative encompasses three pillars: a social media campaign, Fotonovela and rEECh on the Road Panels. It is our mission to spread awareness especially to the underserved and underrepresented in the MS community. Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2007 while playing football at San Diego State University, Tyler Campbell’s story resonates with many and he uses every opportunity to serve others. Tyler was a teammate of Minnesota Viking’s Head Coach Kevin O’Connell at San Diego State University, and we are excited to livestream our Panel from the Vikings Museum.

 The mission of Pro Player Foundation is to address the needs of  underserved and underrepresented communities by raising funds and awareness through special events and programs. Pro Player Foundation supports Multiple Sclerosis research in the hopes of ending MS and improving the lives of those battling this disease. Pro Player Foundation partners with athletes to achieve philanthropic and community needs, and we believe there is nothing we cannot achieve when we unite and work together.