Steps for MS was founded with the purpose of providing immediate relief and support for those who are suffering from MS and their families. Through working with other organizations and individuals Steps for MS will be producing a documentary with interviews from individuals and their families who suffer from MS throughout the different regions of the country as I walk and stay with them. The hope is that this documentary will be able to raise enough money to provide these families and more with support and relief. I thank you for all your support and hope that you will keep posted on where I am in this cross country journey and how things are progressing. If you would like to support the walk and cause, or are able to provide a place to stay for one of the nights please email how you would like to get involved to info@steps4ms.org.
Leading up to the start of the walk steps4ms.org will have updates on my training, fundraising milestones, and various information regarding the upcoming walk as well as other events. During the walk there will be updates on my location that will include pictures and videos of our beautiful country and reader e-mails with my responses.
Thank you again.
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Meet the Walker
Hi, my name is Stephen Homsey.
I was born on October 19, 1984 in Winchester, MA. I spent the majority of my youth getting involved in sports and outdoor hobbies/activities and carried this lifestyle with me, playing sports through High School and enjoying the not so distant mountains of New England. After graduating from Winchester High School in 2003, I attended Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. There I was able to maintain a very active and adventurous lifestyle. I joined a fraternity, Pi Lambda Phi, and was quickly introduced into a more philanthropic lifestyle, filled with community service projects, and aiding our International Chapters in our philanthropy.
Then, on May 10, 2009, I suffered a myriad of serious injuries as a result of falling over 40 feet off of a Boston apartment building, leaving me immobile for an extended period of time. During my rehabilitation I realized how lucky I was and how fragile life is. In the many hours of down time I was able to research a lot of things. One in particular was Multiple Sclerosis. Something I could relate to in some degree, the loss of mobility suddenly and how you and your family cope with the struggle. Fortunately mine was temporary, but there are many who are not so fortunate. With my second chance I made a vow to make the most out of every day and give back as much as I could. It was then that I realized what I was to do. Craving the open road I decided to walk across the country, see the true inner happening of the states, making stops at various cities along the way, and meeting whoever I happened upon. However, just walking wasn’t enough, I wanted to take this opportunity to help and better the approximately 400,000 individuals in the U.S. who suffer from MS with their everyday lives. In November 2009 it was decided, I was walking, but with May quickly approaching there was not enough time to organize everything. The walk would be postponed 1 year. The more I talked about it the more people wanted to get involved, taking it from a small act of good to one that has limitless potential. There, on the day of July 13, 2010, Steps for MS was incorporated. A non-profit with a strong desire to not only discover a cure for MS but to support the people battling it everyday.
2 years after the fall, on May 10, 2011, I will be departing the East coast on a journey across the country.
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What Next
Now that you have met the man that is going to be spending six months walking across the country, I would like to take this time to let you know what to expect from Steps for MS.
The most important goal at this organization is to raise awareness, as well as raise money for Multiple Sclerosis research and immediate support for MS patients and families. In order to do that, we will be putting together a business plan to present to various companies/corporations to get sponsorship and all of the necessary supplies for the walk (shoes, clothes, GPS, nutritional supplements, etc). While we are doing that, we will also be keeping all of you informed on the progress of Steve’s training, map of the walk, pit stops, start/stop points, video interviews, and upcoming fund raising events. So bookmark us, and stay tuned for exciting developments on this incredible adventure Steve is about to embark on.
But we can’t do this on our own; we need your help spreading the word on our cause! Tweet, blog, text, e-mail and just talk about Steps for MS to your friends and family. Tell them that we are raising money for research to prevent an auto-immune disease that affects approximately 350,000 Americans every single year.
Thank you for supporting Steps for MS!
This is awesome! I’m a friend of your mom’s – I know she is very, very proud of you!
I am your mother’s cousin. I will get the family on board to follow your walk.
How proud your grandma and grandpa would be of you. Know how proud your parent’s are.
Good Luck
Kay
Good luck Stephen. We’re all pulling for you to have a successful walk and will be following you on your journey. Aunt Jean Lally
Best of luck Stephen! We are all cheering you on! Lots of love, Karen, David, Thomas, Matthew and Ava
Hi Stephen,
We think that your goal of walking across America for MS is inspirational. We do wish you the best on your walk. You Winchester neighbors are certainly cheering for you and all of your efforts!
Wendy, David, Chase and James
Dear Stephen, You are truly an inspiration! Wishing you all the best. We will be following your journey.
Rob and Lynda Rae
Hello Stephen,
Best wishes Stephen for a successful journey for a wonderful cause.
Best regards,
Carl Gargula
Hello Stephen,
What you are doing sounds like a wonderful trip and a great service to boot. I would offer you a place to stay at our house, but it is a bit out of the way. Perhaps, you could stay with Joseph and Sara in Lafayette, Colorado if your journey takes you through that area.
Let me know if there is anything that Carol and I can do to help.
All the best,
Frank
Thank you very much Frank. Colorado is a little bit out of the way, but there is always a possibility the route may change. If it does I will definitely contact you. Thank you again.
Good luck, my new friend. A very good friend of our family has a sister – Lola Reynolds – that has MS and our thoughts are with you during this amazing journey.
Jay and Sue Wingate
Hi Stephen,
My friends Jay and Sue introduced me to you. Thank you so much for taking, what could have been permanently negative experiences, and turning it into such a positive one for MS. I’m just back from visiting Lola, who keeps fighting, even though she hasn’t moved in nearly 10 years. Walk for her and everyone fighting the disease. Our prayers are with you!
Sheila, Gerry and the Jackson Family
Hi Steve,
Your mom has been keeping me abreast of your walk. I applaud your spirit and commitment to the cause.
Best of luck on your journey.
Warm Regards,
Deb Neiman
Stevie,
Doing this good thing takes a lot of courage. Take care of yourself. Be careful. I wish we were on the route to help you. You have our thoughts and prayers and wishes for however success is defined here.
We wish you all the best, Stephen – what a wonderful generous thing you have chosen to do – we will be sending you good thoughts as you venture across the country!
Hey Stephen,
Just met you at the bank I wish you the best of luck on your journey. It really takes courage to stand up for a disease such as this. Like I told you and your mom my sister died last year after a 10 year battle but hearing you go above and beyond to do this journey really made my day 🙂 be encouraged and don’t give up!!
Steve,
Good luck today. Safe trip and can’t wait to see you when you return.
Love,
The McKelveys
Have a great trip……safe travels my friend !
Dear Stevie!
You are fabulous! My prayers and thoughts will be with youe ach day!
Love,
Patt
I just fealt like run-ning…
Steve –
I have been very proud of you your whole life, but never more so than seeing you stroll off on your journey this Tuesday. Your desire to help others and create change is inspirational. I have no doubt that your mission will be a huge success!
You know I will be following you very closely! Stay well and stay in touch.
Love you –
Mom
Hello Steve!
Congratulations on everything you have accomplished to make this journey!
PL
I am a friend of JJ McGrath’s mom, Anne. We live in San Diego and you are welcome to stay at our house when the time comes if you still need a place. best of luck. Travel safe!
Hello Steve,
Already Day 5!
We celebrate your purpose!
Love,
PL
Hey Steve, great to meet you the other day At EMS West Hartford. Safe Journey and hopefully your new SPOT will not fail!
Hello Stevie!
Over 100 miles!
Keep up the good work!
Love,
PL
Hi Stevie!
I look forward to seeing you soon in Virginia!
Love, PL
Hi – My friend Chris and I saw you at the little convenient store in NJ yesterday, May 21. Have a safe trip!! What an amazing thing you are doing for such a wonderful cause!!!
Wow! I passed you in Flanders, NJ on Saturday…didn’t know who you were but cheered as the car went by when I saw the Steps/MS on your cart. My 23 year old daughter was diagnosed last June and did her first fund raising event for Walk MS with her wonderful team this past April. I wish I knew you were coming through we would have loved to meet you…feed you….foot massage…whatever! And it turns out that high school friends of my daughter know you from college. What a life altering experience you will have and all for such a wonderful cause. I can’t wait to follow your adventure. Best of luck!!!
Hey Stephen,
I can’t tell you how proud we are of you. Your blogs are so interesting.
It is quite an adventure. Take care of yourself.
Affectionately,
Jim & Maureen
Steve…if your jouney should happen to take you through Phoenix Arizona…we have a place for you to kick back…cool off in the pool and rest your head for a night or two!
Not Four Years But A Lifetime…Bill
good luck on your journey Stephen…it was great to meet you and we’re following you across the country…..Kathy McGary..Cup A Joe..Bedford, VA
All the brothers and alumni of Pi Lam have you in our thoughts!
Miss you buddy, hope all is well.
Thank you. All is well. The walk is going great, although it is getting kind of hot again. Hope you are well.
Steve
I just want to thank you so much for this great deed you’re doing! I live in Johnson City, TN and wish I could’ve met you. I have MS and have high hopes for the future of treatments and cures…and YOU are making a huge “step” for this to happen! Also, I wanted to share with you that my daughter just moved to Winchester about a year ago. She is also very appreciative of your efforts. Take care, best of luck!
I also wish we could have met. I wish you the best and hope that we are able to make big changes in the near future. Thank you for your support and thoughts. Small world that your daughter moved to Winchester. Such a small town.
I just read your story on my local news website.. Amazing. Safe travels!
Thank you Stephanie.
Hi Stephen,
Met you today alongside the road just north of Sweetwater, Tennessee. I posted your website on my Facebook status along with a story on how I saw you walking alongside the road and had to know what you were up to. You are an inspiration and I wish you safe travels on your journey. I hope you raise a lot of awareness and money for curing this awful disease. Best wishes!!
Hey Keith,
Thanks for stopping as well as sharing the story.
I think of you daily and I am very proud of you. My gosh – you are something!! Love, Jeannie
Met him today in Scottsboro,Alabama at Kramer’s Gymn.He is a very nice guy!
Have a safe and happy journey!
Stephen is a wonderful young man who is doing something positive for our country, MS patients, and all who meet him. I am glad I had the blessing of meeting him last Saturday.
Thank you Dex. It was great to meet you.
Steve,
When I heard the story of what you’re doing, I was immediately impressed. Walking cross country to raise money and awareness for MS is amazing, but knowing that you didn’t personally know anyone with MS prior to deciding the walk is truly a selfless act that we can all learn from. It was a pleasure meeting you, best of luck & safe travels on your mission, I’m sure you will inspire others to greatness!
Albert,
It was great to meet you today. Thank you for letting me speak to your office as well as everything you have done for me. Sandra gave me the bag of supplies. Thank you for everything.
Steve
We saw you walking on HWY 72 outside of Huntsville, AL Sunday…… We will be praying for you as you continue your walk! 🙂
Thanks Melanie.
Dear Stephen,
What an amazing gift you are giving to the MS community! I pray God will keep you safe every step of your journey. My family and friends have lived with the tragedy of ALS so we truly understand the importance of what you are doing and the great sacrifice you are making to help others.
You are awesome!
Tricia
Patricia,
Thank you for your support and prayers. I am sorry that you all had to experience ALS. I wish you all the best. Thank you for all your support.