Minion Milers fundraising team from Dover challenges MS

min·ion ˈminyən/ noun a follower or underling of a powerful person, especially a servile or unimportant one.

We beg to differ with you. Anyone who has seen the movie “Despicable Me,” knows minions are very important. They made such an impact that Dover dermatologist James Campbell named his fundraising team after them (he had seen the movie “at least a dozen times” after all). And thus, the Million Milers were born to help the fight against multiple sclerosis, a cause close to Dr. Campbell’s heart, as his sister has the disease.

The group -- six strong as of press time -- is taking part in the National MS Society, Greater New England Chapter’s 50 mile Walk MS: Cape Cod Challenge, which takes place Sept. 5-7. Their goal of $20,000 was within striking distance by press time, through individual fundraising as well as through fundraising done at Botox clinics at the Dover office.

Practice manager Laurie Seavey described the atmosphere at the Aug. 27 fundraising event, which brought the total to $19,026, as “Very exciting. People come in every three to six months to repeat their Botox, so they were at the initial fundraiser as well. They’re helping to get team geared up for their event. And the Minion Milers want to be in the top 5!”

Also, these Minions definitely aren’t ‘unimportant.’ To show just how serious they are about helping fight MS, Dr. Campbell has issued the following challenge: To everyone who donates after the team reaches its $20,000 goal, he will match that, up until Sept. 4. For instance, when the team reaches $20,000, if you donate $100 to the Minion Milers team, Campbell will also donate $100.

The challenge walk of 50 miles takes place Sept. 5 to Sept. 7. By participating, teams help to support programs, services, and research sponsored by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable, often disabling, disease of the central nervous system that interrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. Millions of people are affected by MS and the challenges of living with its unpredictable symptoms, which range from numbness and tingling to blindness and paralysis. The progress, severity and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS.

Join our team!

Your gift helps support cutting-edge research and programs and services for everyone impacted by MS. Ending MS means no one will receive an MS diagnosis again. Every step counts. Every dollar helps. Every connection matters.

The Minion Milers are Samantha Wibel, Dr. James Campbell Jr., Kimberly McGillicuddy, Jackie Sells, Sunny Wencek and Katie Barrett.

To donate, visit http://dermskinhealth.com/walk-ms-cape-cod-challenge-walk-2014.

For more information, or to make an appointment with Dermatology and Skin Health, call 742-5556. The facility is located at 784 Central Ave., Dover and on the web at www.dermskinhealth.com.