The end of our Coffee House. But our cause is far from over!

Well the event is finished, and we're exhausted! But we are happy with the turnout. We raised about 600 dollars in funds today and much more in awareness and talent! Every act was amazing and I think everyone had a good time. Many thanks to all that showed up to donate, to listen, to participate.

If you missed out, don't worry. We plan on posting some videos of some of our live acts soon! And as always, you can donate (or join our team!) by clicking on one of the many links on the sidebar.

Happy St-Patty's Day!

The end is near!

Well our last act is finishing up now, and we're getting ready to do the raffle! There are lots of prizes to be won, and we're happy to have the chance to give back to our generous sponsors.

Here's a shot of our last performers, Nick Phillips and William Macminn.And here are a few shots of our amazing audience!

And some pics of our members...

Best of luck to our ticket holders! And many thanks for participating in our event!

Gloria Song is Singing!

Gloria Song is playing us some tunes now, and our last act is just around the corner.



We're so happy with the turnout. I hope everyone is having a wonderful St-Patty's Day. I know we are!

Theatrics

Well this is turning out to be a terrific day! Nancy Kenny just finished her performance. Her crew (Linda, Chris, and Caitlin) read the script very well, and I think everyone was pretty impressed. This was the first show she's written, and would like feedback in preparation for her Fringe Festival performance. If you would like to give her feedback, please check out Nancy's blog for contact info.

Up next, Gloria Song!

P.S. We're running a little bit behind schedule, so there is still time to come and check us out!

The Agora Bookstore & Internet Cafe is AMAZING!

I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank the Agora Bookstore & Internet Cafe and its staff for being so fantastic in supporting our team in this cause.

Beth and I both worked here at one time (during our time in university) and it truly is an amazing business not only for providing lower cost textbooks for struggling students, but also for supporting local initiatives, such as this Walk for MS and Operation Go Home.

If you have never been, you should definitely go and check it out. They have books, textbooks, fairtrade coffee and teas, internet and so much more!

Act #4

Kader Blaine is up now, and he's singing and playing guitar to entertain all of the wonderful people here.Up next is an original play performed and written by Nancy Kenny. The full version will be performed at Arts Court during the Ottawa Fringe Festival in June.


There is still time to come and check us out at the Agora Bookstore & Internet Cafe! The snow has even died down just for you to head over here!

Keep it coming!

Well mid-way through Eric's performance, things started to pick up around here. All of you avid readers of the buttonsandbeau's blog must have been convinced by my amazing live blogging, because people started showing up in droves! Tessa and Kim had to go and find more chairs!

Here's another picture of Eric's set. It was fantastic!


So an all-female singing group, The Burning of Beatrice, just finished their second song and they sound great!

The doors just keep opening with more and more people. So keep it coming, folks!

The more the merrier!

Act #2 Eric St-Cyr

Well Eric St-Cyr, member of local band Twelve34, has begun to play and the crowd is loving it! There's still time to come check it out so hurry down to 145 Besserer Street for a good cause. We have a raffle with many great prizes to give away.

Here are a few pictures to entice you....

Come out and say hi! We're still waiting.... ;)

The Coffee House has begun!

Well we were hard at work setting up the space early this morning, and the first act has started. Calla Barnett is singing her heart out and the crowd is loving it.

We still have more performers set to impress and inspire you! So come on out. The weather isn't that bad, honest!

Stay tuned for more updates!

See you soon! ;)

The Day is here!

Today is our Coffee House fundraiser at the Agora Bookstore & Internet Cafe.

Don't forget to come check us out this afternoon from 1-5pm at 145 Besserer Street.

Our lovely members will be decked out in awesome tie-dye team shirts, and there will be raffle tickets, great prizes, live music and even some drama for you to enjoy!

If you are snowed in or out of town and can't make it today, don't fret. We will be blogging live on location all afternoon and our fundraiser page is just a click away!

Press Release

For Immediate Release

GRASSROOTS CHARITY 2.0
AN ELECTRONIC COMMUNITY HELPS TO FIND A CURE FOR MS.

OTTAWA - March 16, 2007 - The MS Society of Canada, Ottawa Chapter has found a whole new age of supporters, thanks to a very tech-savvy and innovative twenty-something. Last year, Beth Button, at the start of her career as a teacher, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She has seen her world turned up side down, but with the help and support of her family and friends she is determined to find a cure.

After her diagnosis, Beth decided she needed to find a positive way of dealing with the news. So, she started a blog called "Wandering Wonder",baring her soul on the Internet, telling her story about multiple sclerosis. "It started out as a place to put my thought's down, to deal with my own personal grief" she explains, "but I soon realized it was a place for people to learn about MS through my eyes." Now, in the matter of a year, Beth has taken her blog, and other web 2.0 tools and started
to gather a base of supporters to help her fundraising efforts for the Super Cities WALK for MS, to take place on Sunday, April 29, 2007.

On Saturday, March 17, from 1-4 p.m., the Agora Bookstore at 145 Besserer Street has offered its space to kick-off Beth's Walk campaign. Beth has been promoting the event through an online networking tool called facebook and through her blog. The word is getting out there and now 280 supporters of the cause are coming out this weekend to support Beth. The event will feature five bands, a raffle, and plenty of freshly brewed coffee. The Agora bookstore has also promised that the proceeds of the coffee sales will go directly to the Super Cities WALK for MS.

For Beth, finding a cure for multiple sclerosis has become a huge focus in her life. With so many Canadians (55,000 to 75,000) touched by this disease, she hopes connecting with her e-community in the Ottawa area will help young people realize that this disease affects everyone. She shows no visible signs of MS, but for her, and so many others living with this disease, the silent symptoms, like fatigue or vision loss, are a constant challenge.

Background on MS:
MS is a chronic, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. It is the most common neurological disease of young adults in Canada. Symptoms may include loss of balance or impaired speech; others have extreme fatigue, double vision, or paralysis. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 15-40, and the unpredictable effects of MS last for the rest of their lives. The MS Society provides services to people with MS and their families and funds research to find the cause, prevention, treatment and cure for this devastating disease.

Background on Beth Button:
Beth Button is going to be one of eight individuals in the Ottawa area to take part in a third-stage clinical trial. Researchers at the Ottawa Hospital's MS Clinic are studying the drug known as fingolimod to see if it can help stop a form of multiple sclerosis. In an upcoming story with CTV's doctor Dr Marla Shapiro, Beth will tell her story about life with multiple sclerosis.

This is Tessa

Hi, my name is Tessa Button. I am from South Surrey, British Columbia and I am here in Ottawa doing my first year of university at U of O where I hope to learn many important life lessons. I enjoy going for long moonlit walks along the beach, or here in Ottawa along the canal, and pondering life while watching the stars. I like eating oatmeal and reading MacLean’s magazine while watching the weather network. I love exploring new places and learning about peoples lives and cultures. While I don’t love how all my family and friends are back in B.C., I am glad and greatly appreciative to have many new friends here in Ottawa along with my fantastic Aunty Beth.

Beth, or Aunty B as she is to me, is why I am doing the walk.

I walk to find a cure for a disease that has changed the life of my Aunty B along with the family and friends of so many others. I walk because I want to make sure that Aunty B’s life won’t be so rudely interrupted again in the future and that no one else her age, or any age, has to go through what she has. I walk to help make it possible for Aunty B to teach, travel, and live the way she wants and hopes to. I walk because I can. I walk because I want to support and be there for Beth in any way I can. I walk because of my great friend and amazingly courageous aunt, Beth.

https://msors.mssociety.ca/walk2007/Sponsor.aspx?L=2&PID=898546

This is Luce

I am a person who chooses to walk for a cause that has touched a few friends. A person who wants to support a walk that means so much to so many, especially my friend Beth. Everyday a person is diagnosed with an illness and it is the involvement of family, friends, co-workers, etc... that shows their love and support to that person. That's why I choose to walk.

https://msors.mssociety.ca/walk2007/Sponsor.aspx?L=2&PID=924306

This is Hilary (in the middle)

I am an eccentric, fun, loving, optimistic, and passionate young woman who is a daughter, sister, aunt, leader, friend, athlete, professional, and teacher.

I walk to support my friend Beth who is a truly strong, remarkable, talented, and optimistic young woman. I believe this walk breeds hope for a better, brighter future: one with a cure in sight. The walk proudly celebrates the accomplishments, successes, and personal support of those touched by MS. It proves that MS does not define a person, and showcases the bravery of those affected.

https://msors.mssociety.ca/walk2007/Sponsor.aspx?L=2&PID=902758

This Is The Agora

Officially, the Agora Bookstore is a student-focused, learning organization which strives to meet the needs of the University of Ottawa community by providing excellent service and course materials at the lowest possible prices, thereby helping to reduce the costs of a post-secondary education. The Agora Bookstore and Internet Café was established in 1999 and is owned by the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa. Our website is www.agorabookstore.ca.

Unofficially, the Agora Bookstore is an awesome place to work and is always evolving. There’s always fresh coffee and interesting people to chat with. Our staff is a mix of uOttawa alumni, current students, and other great people from our community who saw the potential of the Agora.

Why are we involved? That’s easy! Beth worked here a few years ago and left her mark. People with her dynamism and enthusiasm for life helped the Agora continue on its mission. We want to return the favour. We know that a little goes a long way and want to be a part of what is sure to make a difference.

We Put The FUN in FUNdraising

This is Karen

My name is Karen Storey and I'm a proud Maritimer from
Moncton, NB. I am studying Applied Linguistics at
Carleton University righ now. I love teaching. I love
learning about new cultures and languages. I taught in
Japan for 2 years before coming to Ottawa.

I love life!! I love laughing and singing and hanging
out with friends.

Why am I doing the walk for MS? I am so inspired by my friend Beth. Her courage and determination to fight this disease and make a difference for others is
amazing! I want to support her in any way I can.

https://msors.mssociety.ca/walk2007/Sponsor.aspx?L=2&PID=898008

This is William

Who am I?

I'll avoid the existential implications of that question and just be straight up:

I am a serious lad with a goofy streak that is hard to shut down once I get going.

I once broke my collarbone by tripping over a potato. (You would think that would teach me not to be so serious. Alas...)
I love music, writing, poetry and hockey (I needed a sport in that list).

Despite the word 'concise' being in my vocabulary, I cannot use it to describe myself--Beth would never let me get away with it!

Why do I walk?

I walk because of Beth.

Beth and I go back a long way. Growing up together in the Presby youth groups up until living in Ottawa, we have been through a lot of stuff: and I am with her in the part of the journey that involves MS.

I am walking and raising funds to fight MS because I believe "you gotta kick at the darkness 'til it bleeds daylight." I am throwing what I have towards the cause: my feet, my hands, my music, my voice, my heart. I know that with enough people doing their unique roles, God will multiply what we do and accomplish far more than we can ever imagine. I have already seen that happen...

Do you want to be part of this with Beth and us? Come join in!

This is Kim

Who am I?

I have an off-beat sense of humour. I collect collections. I have too many hobbies and not enough time. I can't add but I can take a derivative. I'm learning to make candy and to draw. I amass coats and hats. I love shopping and skating. My cat can shake a paw and I can drive a Model T. I drive too fast.

I'm me – I'm Kim.

Why I do the walk?

I'm doing the walk for Beth.

I'm doing the walk for everyone who has ever had a positive life-changing test result.

I'm doing the walk because if we start small, we can achieve great things.

I'm doing the walk.

https://msors.mssociety.ca/walk2007/Sponsor.aspx?L=2&PID=920997