Source: Napa Valley Register / Tim Carl
Two Napa wineries, Reid Family Vineyards and Counter Punch Wines, have created a grassroots effort dedicated to raising awareness and funds to ensure a world free of multiple sclerosis. Their organization, Crush MS, will hold its annual fundraising event on July 30 at Reid Family Vineyards in Napa.
This year’s guests will enjoy music from local musicians and sample wines from some of the area’s finest vintners, including Silver Oak, Twomey, JCB, Dry Creek Vineyard, Cairdean, Jamieson Ranch Vineyards, Cakebread, Humanitas, Page, Olivia Brion, Crane Family Vineyards, Counterpunch Wines, Trahan Winery, Fontanella, Reid Family Vineyards, Titus, ZD Wines and more.
Local restaurants and caterers will provide tasty bites, and a raffle and silent auction will be included.
“Julie and I both have MS, and we felt that although there are many good causes supported here in the valley, MS did not have much of a voice,” said Kevin Reid, co-founder of Crush MS and co-owner of Reid Family Vineyards.
“Since starting Crush MS, we’ve witnessed a wonderful outpouring of community support, and from the feedback of those involved we’ve learned that these efforts have had a positive impact on many people touched by MS, directly or indirectly, many of those expressing that they feel less alone by just finding so many supportive and understanding people within their own community.”
According to Reid, MS affects more than 2.4 million people worldwide and over 400,000 in this country alone. The disease causes the body’s immune system to turn against its own nervous system. The cause of the disease remains unknown, and there is currently no cure.
“Beyond building a community, we are also a fundraising organization with the goal of finding a cure for the disease,” said Julie Hare, co-founder of Crush MS and co-owner of Counter Punch Wines. “The proceeds from our event go to support the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and MS research at Stanford University.”