By Andrew Vogler
LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Department of Neurology in the College of Medicine received $60,000 for multiple sclerosis research from the Rampy MS Research Foundation during a ceremony on Nov. 28.
Jo and Scott Rampy, along with other runners and walkers, relayed a check from Bentonville to Little Rock. The run was organized as part of the foundation’s Giving Tuesday fundraising efforts. The foundation made an initial pledge of $30,000 to UAMS, with donations made during the run added to the total amount.
Image by Evan Lewis
“We are very thankful for the Rampys as well as all the other people here today supporting their mission,” said Cam Patterson, M.D., MBA, UAMS chancellor and CEO of UAMS Health. “These are the advocates who not only shine a light on MS but also rally others to support the cause of research and treatment.”
The check was presented to Patterson and Rohit Dhall, M.D., chair of the Department of Neurology in the College of Medicine.
“At UAMS Neurology, we have assembled a team spanning multiple disciplines and departments to meet coordinated clinical, education, support and outreach needs of our MS patients. This allowed us to achieve the designation of Center for Comprehensive MS Care, with the National MS Society recognizing our team-based approach as among the best in the nation,” said Dhall. “In our mission to deliver high quality care and advance MS research, we have had steadfast support from the Rampys. We are honored that they are a part of our team and are deeply grateful for their years of support.”
It was Jo Rampy’s diagnosis with MS that was the catalyst for the couple’s advocacy for MS research and the creation of the Rampy MS Research Foundation in 2012. The foundation organizes several fundraisers, including its premier event Trifest for MS, an annual triathlon in Bentonville. In addition to UAMS, the foundation has donated to Northwestern University in Chicago and University of California, San Francisco. Since its creation, the foundation has raised close to $900,000.
“The Rampy Foundation’s primary focus is to help provide the resources that are critical in conducting MS research, so that the talented researchers at UAMS can focus on their work in the lab,” said Scott Rampy, president and chief advancement officer for the Rampy MS Research Foundation. “It’s very inspiring to see the Run the Check runners, doctors and researchers together today — it’s a reminder that we are on the same team when it comes to fighting multiple sclerosis.”