The RAMS gala featured a gourmet plated breakfast, silent auction and guest speakers.
Rockin’ Against Multiple Sclerosis, an MU student organization, hosted its inaugural RAMS Gala Saturday, Feb. 18, at the Tiger Hotel from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event hosted 72 attendees, featured a silent auction, a mimosa bar and two guest speakers.
RAMS, the largest student-run MU philanthropic organization, raises money for the Multiple Sclerosis Institute of Mid-Missouri by hosting fundraising events throughout the month of February each year, and offers services — such as helping with housework — to people living with multiple sclerosis while spreading awareness about the disease on campus.
Saturday’s event marked the first ever gala RAMS hosted, organized by members Grace Breeding, Kaitlyn Hartnagel, Skyelar Nelson and Cameron Duello. Breeding first pitched the idea for a gala.
“She threw it out in her interview to be a part of RAMS,” Duello, RAMS director of community engagement, said. “And we decided to take it and run with it.”
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The attendees enjoyed the plated brunch and mimosa bar while bidding for the silent auction, which offered items like a football signed by Marquez Valdez Scantling of the Kansas City Chiefs, and a baseball signed by David Freese and David Eckstein of the St. Louis Cardinals. RAMS received all auction items as donations.
After brunch was served, Duello took the podium as the first speaker. Duello talked about several of his family members who have MS and his experience as a member of RAMS.
“I cannot express enough the fundamental role this organization plays in the lives of our clients and how impactful this organization is,” Duello said.
Alice Sydow, a wardrobe stylist and “ability advocate,” spoke next, talking about how she shifted her mindset after being diagnosed with MS and suffering professional adversity.
“I don’t ever say I have MS … I don’t give it airtime,” Sydow said. “I look at my life in freedom. I don’t even think that I have MS, I come from a different point of view — I feel that once I can get my mindset right, my body will follow the mind.”
Duello felt the gala was a success and is optimistic about it becoming a recurring RAMS tradition.
“We did say first annual, so hopefully there will be a second annual,” Duello said. “And hopefully it continues on and continues to grow, and continues to spread our message.”
Edited by Annie Goldman | agoldman@themaneater.com
Copy Edited by Grace Knight
