32 - Peace & Love; The Race to Erase MS w/ Nancy Davis

Today I’m joined by the incredible Nancy Davis, who is the chairwoman of Race to Erase MS, founder of Cure Addiction Now, and designer of Peace and Love Jewelry. Nancy shares with us how her own multiple sclerosis diagnosis drove her to create a program that has single-handedly brought hope to those diagnosed with MS by funding research that has led to the development of new drugs for those with the disease. Together, we talk about Nancy’s inspirational work and the motivation behind each of her projects. 

Nancy begins today’s episode by sharing with listeners her own experience of becoming diagnosed with MS and how in her search to receive multiple opinions about her diagnosis, she realized many of the best doctors in the country were all doing identical research but weren’t communicating with one another. Seeing the potential in what could happen if they did share their research with one another, Nancy founded the Center without Walls program, which has allowed medical professionals in the field to form a network and share their expertise. This program has revolutionized MS research and led to the development of fifteen drugs that are now on the market that can improve the quality of life for those with MS. 

The Center without Walls program and Race to Erase MS organization are so important because they offer hope to those who otherwise may be facing a bleak future. Nancy explains that MS affects women three times as often as it does men and that it is usually diagnosed between the ages of 20-40, when most people are just starting to hit their stride in life. Not only does it affect a person’s health, but it can impact their career and their family, making the development of research that can improve someone’s quality of life incredibly life-changing. 

In addition to talking about her work with Center without Walls and Race to Erase MS, Nancy also shares with us her latest project: Cure Addiction Now, a charity dedicated to funding research to find therapies for substance use disorder and help people not only detox but stay in permanent recovery from addiction. Nancy explains how this project was inspired by her frustration at seeing how wrongly those dealing with a drug addiction are often treated and at the lack of effective, affordable treatments available in the United States for those suffering from substance use disorder. Through Cure Addiction Now, Nancy not only aspires to create an affordable, easily available kit that can help people get sober on their own, but she also wants to change the narrative surrounding addiction that often shames those who are suffering from this horrible disease.

Nancy and I finish our discussion by talking about some of Nancy’s other projects including her Peace and Love Jewelry line and her book Lean on Me: Ten Powerful Steps to Moving Beyond Your Diagnosis and Taking Back Your Life. Despite her diagnosis, Nancy continues to live a full and very active life, something she says she achieves by keeping a positive attitude and being thankful everyday for her health, family, and friends and not taking what she has in her life for granted.

If you’re looking to hear more about Nancy’s inspirational story and work, be sure to listen in! 

What You’ll Learn in Today’s Podcast:

On today’s episode, you’ll learn more about the work of Nancy Davis, her organizations Race to Erase MS and Cure Addiction Now, and how they’re helping to create ground-breaking medical research in efforts to help save and improve the lives of those suffering from either multiple sclerosis or addiction. 

Helpful Links:

To learn more about Race to Erase MS, check out the organization’s website at: https://www.erasems.org/

Learn more about Nancy’s charity, Cure Addiction Now, at: http://cureaddictionnow.org/

Interested in checking out Nancy’s book, Lean on Me? Find it here at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GCFXR2/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

Want to purchase Peace and Love Jewelry by Nancy Davis? Find it here at: https://www.peaceandlovejewelry.com/