Joan Pena

Pictured to the right are some of the Blister Buddies, or Bistro Buddies in this case, working at a fundraiser where we prepare and serve a gourmet meal for eight. I'm the clown in the middle.

Patty Thorpe is the kind of friend who inspires me to do more. The list of things I have opened my mind to or have been willing to be challenged by grows longer as our friendship does the same.

Patty has a secret power that finds me neck deep in some adventure without remembering having jumped in. She has made it her goal to help me enjoy the holidays, for example. While I haven't exactly gotten to the point where I'm going door to door caroling, I do see them in a bit of a brighter light. That's what Patty does. With darkness as her foe, she directs the light so the rest of us can face what we fear.

Inspirational, funny, warm, unselfish, talented all are words that stand in her shadow. I think it describes her best to simply say she is the reason I have believed every year for five years that I can walk 50 miles and want to do so.

Patty, I walk beside you because you are my friend. Together we will walk towards the cure, kicking MS's butt as we do so.