Robert Sullivan -- Stark Naked

Why am I doing Stark Naked? That’s a difficult question to answer given the fact that there is not one single reason but a myriad of reasons. 

However, for me, the most important aspect of this commitment is to raise money for a cause incredibly close to my heart. Two of my closest family members were diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and I have watched firsthand the debilitating effects physically, mentally and emotionally that it has taken on not just the two of them but those who love them. It’s often said that we, as an American society, take much for granted and I suppose that this is true; however, when we discuss the things taken for granted, we often discuss the amenities of a leading first world country. But please imagine if you were not able to get yourself out of bed in the morning, to bathe yourself, to even be able to taste your meals and to know each and every day that your mental faculties are declining with nothing to help stop or mitigate those conditions. These are just a couple examples of what it is like to live with primary and secondary progressive MS on a daily basis. 

While there are many organizations and charities who have a lifelong commitment to finding a cure for MS, there are those individuals that must continue dealing with the disease while hoping, waiting and praying for a cure. That is where my chosen charity, Can Do Multiple Sclerosis, stands apart from the others.  Their mission is to transform the lives of those who must live with the symptoms of MS by providing assistance with exercise, nutrition and motivational programs to help families with MS thrive. If I can, in some very small way, contribute to the well-being of just one person suffering from this despicable disease, then it will make every sacrifice I make throughout this journey not feel like a sacrifice at all, but a true privilege.