Fueling Impact, the current theme of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, refers to raising awareness by sharing life experiences in order to speak up for medical research funding, address insurance and pharmaceutical companies’ responsibilities to consumers, lobby lawmakers to increase and protect the rights of all who have or need medical coverage, and more.

Rachel Chapman, a member of Christian Fellowship UCC in San Diego, CA, fuels impact and in November 2014 was inducted into the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Advocacy Hall of Fame.  In March, at the Public Policy Conference in Washington, DC, Rachel was again recognized for this honor.  March is MS Awareness Month and the perfect time to hold the Society’s Public Policy Conference where over 300 activists from throughout the country also took a day to visit the offices of legislators to discuss issues important to not only those impacted by MS but all medical challenges.

Rachel has been an MS Activist since her diagnosis over 10 years ago. In her position as the chairperson of the local chapter’s Government Relations Committee, she builds relationships with legislators and their staff at the local, state and federal levels to be a voice of the MS community.  Rachel is also a member of the National Content Advisory Committee, a member of the Scholarship Review Committee and general volunteer.  Her team, Rachel’s Warriors, will participate in their 11th San Diego MS Walk on April 25.

Advocacy has become a family affair. Last year Kevin, Rachel’s husband, gave testimony on male caregivers to the State Assembly Committee on Aging and Long-term Care and their daughter Ashley is the Manager of Advocacy for the Virginia Multiple Sclerosis Society. The three were speakers during one of the sessions at the Public Policy Conference.

Rachel’s activism is not only for multiple sclerosis. She is a member of the Southern Association’s Inclusion Team and the UCC Disabilities Board where she is currently working on the Widening the Welcome conference and a Synod recognition of the 35th  Anniversary of Disabilities Ministries and the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.