2006 NMSS National Achievement Award

Kathleen Wilson MFA, MA

Kathleen Wilson is the 2006 Achievement Award winner. She is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, who has been creating photographic images since 1981. She has focused her attention on the surfaces and abstract images that live on the surfaces of water, particularly ocean water. Kathleen’s images capture the essence and beauty found in nature. Working to create art is Kathleen’s way of exploring life and meditation. She has exhibited her art in NYC, San Francisco, and many private showings while receiving numerous creative awards for her work.

Her fight against multiple sclerosis began in 1988. In 1995, feeling alone in her struggle and sensing a need for personal contact among others with MS, Kathleen founded MSWorld (msworld.org). What began as a single online chat room has blossomed into a global community, offering continuous support and information for people challenged with MS. As a Patients Helping Patients®, organization MSWorld is staffed by volunteers, each diagnosed with MS.

Under Ms. Wilson’s continuing presidency, MSWorld has grown into a safe on-line community offering a variety of support services. Daily scheduled hosted chats, special guest speakers, extensive message boards, a resource library, email groups, an award-winning online magazine and more. Additionally, MSWorld is the official chat and message board provider for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society since 1998. She is a valued partner in the MS movement.

Kathleen has received awards and grants to enable the on-going work of her organization and in 2003 she was recognized as one of fifteen people to have made the greatest contribution to the MS community. She has authored chapters in three books and is currently working on a second book due out in late 2007.