The Story Behind the Mission
ziMS was born from one family's experience with MS — and a belief that love, determination, and community can change the course of a disease.
Over $5MM has been donated or pledged from the Foundation to support activities and project relating to the causes, prevention, treatment, and cure of multiple sclerosis since 2010.
Ryan Zimmerman
Founder, MLB Athlete
As President of the ziMS Foundation, Ryan is excited by the prospect of giving back to his community and finding a cure for this unpredictable disease. “My family has given me the support to fulfill my dreams. The Washington Nationals have given me the opportunity to play the game that I love at the highest level in our nation’s capital. I am thrilled to have launched a foundation that I hope can make a real impact in the life of my family as well as many others afflicted by MS.”
Ryan’s parents Keith and Cheryl, wife Heather and his brother Shawn serve on the ziMS Foundation’s Board of Directors. Cheryl Zimmerman is just one person with the disease. In the US, the number of people with MS is estimated to be about 400,000, with approximately 10,000 new cases diagnosed every year (that’s 200 new cases per week).
What is Multiple Sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, potentially debilitating disease that affects your central nervous system, which is made up of your brain and spinal cord. Multiple sclerosis is widely believed to be an autoimmune disease, a condition in which your immune system attacks components of your body as if they’re foreign.
In multiple sclerosis, the body mistakenly directs antibodies and white blood cells against proteins in the myelin sheath, a fatty substance that insulates nerve fibers in your brain and spinal cord. This results in inflammation and injury to the sheath and ultimately to the nerves that it surrounds. The result may be multiple areas of scarring (sclerosis). Eventually, this damage can slow or block the nerve signals that control muscle coordination, strength, sensation and vision.
Multiple sclerosis is unpredictable and varies in severity. In some people, multiple sclerosis is a mild illness, but it can lead to permanent disability in others. Treatments can modify the course of the disease and relieve symptoms.
The Board
Ryan Zimmerman, President
Keith Zimmerman, Vice President
Cheryl Zimmerman, Treasurer
Heather Zimmerman, Board Member
Shawn Zimmerman, Board Member
IN PERSPECTIVE
Our Story
The Zimmerman family (Cheryl, Keith, Ryan and Shawn) would like to tell you how their lives have been affected by Multiple Sclerosis (MS) over the past 24 years.
It Started With a Diagnosis. It Grew Into a Movement.
In 1995, Cheryl Zimmerman was told she had Multiple Sclerosis. She was a teacher, a mother, a wife — and overnight, everything shifted. Over the next decade, the disease progressed. The family adapted, pulled together, and refused to stop fighting. In 2006, Ryan, Keith, Shawn, and Cheryl founded the ziMS Foundation — not as a gesture, but as a commitment. To research. To support. To a cure.
Cheryl's PerspectiveThe year is 1985 before the symptoms of MS began. I was leading what most would consider a normal life for a newly married, young, working mother. A typical day for me included: getting up, taking a shower, dressing, brushing my teeth, getting a one-year old ready, fixing and eating breakfast, driving to day care and then on to a full day with my first grade class.
A year later in 1986 my body started to change. It started with a tingling in the little finger on my left hand. This tingling eventually progressed to the entire left side of my body. During this year I went to many doctors and had numerous tests preformed. The tingling would at times get worse or go away completely. The doctors and my family were baffled!
Over the next four years, even though I didn’t know it, I began my battle with MS.
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Now it is 1990. We owned and operated a Fitness Center in Edenton, North Carolina where I taught aerobics classes. We now had two energetic boys, and I performed the daily responsibilities of taking care of a family. My symptoms returned and continually got worse.
In 1991, we left North Carolina and moved to Virginia Beach where I became a special education teacher. Over the next four years the doctors and tests continued. MS, along with other diseases such as lyme disease, are now being suggested as to what may be wrong with me, but none of the doctors or tests could say for sure what I had. Finally, in 1995 the neurologist uttered the words “You have Multiple Sclerosis”.
1995 to 2000 were very challenging years for me and my family. I walked with a slight limp, I fatigued very quickly, and the heat and cold had a tremendous effect on my body. I was losing my ability to function, I was going back and forth between using a walker and a wheelchair, I had lost my fine motor skills, I was to the point that I was afraid to drive, I was fighting for my life and losing! In 2000, I was not able to function as a teacher and my symptoms forced me to retire.
My MS has progressed to the point that I can no longer care for myself and I rely on caregivers for all my daily needs. A typical day for me now includes: someone getting me up, someone giving me a shower, someone dressing me, someone brushing my teeth, someone fixing and feeding me breakfast, and doing everything else for me for the rest of the day. My current challenges are finding competent caregivers and surviving in a world which has little time or patience for the handicapped.
Keith's PerspectiveAfter almost ten years (1986 to 1995) of countless tests and doctors – we had an answer. We had no idea what MS was! It was a double-edged sword – the doctors told us what Cheryl had, but could not tell us how she got it. We didn’t know if it was going to get better or worse, and there were very few medicines for people suffering with MS. As we became educated about MS, we learned that some people go through life with very few symptoms, some people like Cheryl get progressively worse, yet some people go blind and become bed-ridden in literally months. I think that is when Cheryl and I went through some of our hardest times, not so much physically but emotionally. Now we knew what to call her symptoms but had no control over what was going to happen next. Learning to control your emotions and conditioning yourself to handle whatever the future may bring can be a daunting task!
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So here we are. In a short 24 years, our lives have progressed to what we have told you. Yet we are the lucky ones! We have each other, we are blessed with two wonderful sons that support us is many ways, we have an extended family that helps us, we have friends and neighbors that help when needed and keep us sane. Cheryl and I often talk about the people that are suffering with MS that don’t have this kind of support.
Now the doctors and tests are better able to diagnose MS. Now the people that have a tingling in their little finger have a chance of new procedures and medicines. These new medicines and diagnosing procedures take dedicated people and money! Having lived through this and knowing this prompted us into action. In 2006 Cheryl, Ryan, Shawn, and I, with a handful of dedicated volunteers, founded The ziMS Foundation. The Foundation has two main goals: raise money and raise awareness! The Foundation has two missions: use that money toward research to find a cure, and to help people with MS survive in their daily lives.
Ryan's PerspectiveMS is a disease quite close to my heart. In 1995, my mother Cheryl was diagnosed with MS, a chronic and unpredictable disease that affects the central nervous system. MS affects roughly 400,000 Americans and can impact the body in almost as many ways. I look at my Mom’s condition as an influence on my development as a person. It forced me and my brother, Shawn, to assume responsibilities in our home at an earlier age than most of our peers.
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As President of the ziMS Foundation, I am excited by the prospect of giving back to my community and finding a cure for this unpredictable disease. My family has given me the support to fulfill my dreams. The Washington Nationals have given me the opportunity to play the game that I love at the highest level in our nation’s capitol. I am thrilled to have launched a foundation that I hope can make a real impact in the life of my family as well as many others afflicted by MS.
In 2009 and 2010, I donated $200,000 to the Foundation. I also obtain autographed memorabilia from professional athletes which are auctioned off at the Foundation’s Annual Gala. Through my public appearances, I am able to promote the Foundation and help to “bring home a cure” for MS.
Shawn's PerspectiveWithout a doubt, living with MS has its ups and downs. My mom would never let us look at the negative aspects of how the disease affected our lives. Her attitude was always upbeat and positive. Doing the laundry, cooking and cleaning as a kid was tough to handle sometimes, but all those jobs made me grow up a little faster and learn to handle life’s responsibilities sooner.
To tell you the truth, it helped me a lot through high school and especially in college! I was the guy that everybody came to with questions because they knew I would have the answer. How to clean this, how to wash that, and what to cook for dinner were questions I was asked on a daily basis. I was “Emeril Lagasse” for my roommates because of the culinary skills I gained while cooking when my mom couldn’t. I also taught a lot of people how to do laundry as well. So, between the adversities that arose from my mom having MS and the positive attitude my mom instilled in me without a doubt made me into the person I am today.
IN MEMORY OF
Mary “Bunky” Elizabeth Womble Manley
It is with the saddest of hearts that we are mourning the passing of one of the ziMS Foundation’s Champions. Fondly known as Bunky, she had been with the Foundation from its inception in 2006. Her passion and energy as a volunteer, secretary, board member, decision-maker, and friend touched every aspect of how the Foundation has grown over the last 15 years. Bunky was an integral part in guiding the Foundation from a simple idea and discussion in 2006 to a thriving organization that has given back many millions of dollars to help those suffering from Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and ultimately find a cure.
Beyond the ziMS Foundation Bunky wore many “hats”. One of her true loves was teaching. For 15 years we always waited with wonderment as the first week of school would roll around and she would tell us about “her” kids and the plans for the coming school year. It was a delight to see her face light up as she would talk about the Math and Science Academy and the Science Camps she was a major part of developing and running. It is for this reason that the ziMS Foundation is coming together with Linkhorn Park Elementary School to help fund a science lab in Bunky’s honor. Donations may be made by clicking here. Please place “Bunky Manley” as the Memorial Name to help us direct the funds to Linkhorn Park Elementary School. Any donation is welcome and greatly appreciated.
To read more of Bunky’s lifes accomplishments please click here.
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