National Multiple Sclerosis Society Central Illinois Community Council

07/17/2026

📣 Attention all followers!

Thank you for being part of our journey! 💜 This page is being sunsetted as we bring everything together in one place.

To stay up to date on all things Beat the Funk —including upcoming events, fundraisers, community partnerships, and exciting announcements—please follow us at Beat the Funk.

We can't wait to keep spreading positivity through music, movement, and community with you.

Keep the Funk Alive! 🎶💃🕺

Beat the Funk is a 100% volunteer-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to bringing people together through music, movement, and community.

07/13/2026

The Greater Peoria Mass Transit District will be hosting the 5th Annual ADA WOW! Celebration & Resource Fair on Thursday, July 23 from 4:30-6:30 PM at EP!C. This is a FREE event in celebration of the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) & offering valuable resources to the local ADA community! For more information, visit https://bit.ly/40UGXuB

06/26/2026

Beat the Funk is a 100% volunteer-driven Central Illinois nonprofit movement built around one simple idea:
use music, movement, community, and FUN to create real local impact for people living with multiple sclerosis and other neurological conditions.

Founded by community advocates in the Peoria area, Beat the Funk began as a fundraiser supporting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. As the organization evolved, the vision expanded toward creating a more direct and measurable impact right here in Central Illinois.

For 2026 Beat the Funk proudly supports the Glen and Polly Barton Clinic for Fitness and Function at Bradley University — a faculty- and student-run pro bono clinic within The Department of Physical Therapy & Health Science at Bradley University. The clinic provides essential therapy, fitness, and wellness services at no cost to uninsured and underinsured individuals living with MS and other neurological disorders.

What makes Beat the Funk unique is its philosophy:

Fundraising should feel like a celebration, not an obligation.

At its core, Beat the Funk exists to:

* Build community
* Promote wellness and movement
* Support people living with neurological conditions
* Empower students and healthcare professionals
* Keep fundraising local and impactful

And perhaps most importantly:

100% of proceeds stay in Central Illinois.
Please follow Beat the Funk and check out the events tab.
Stay Funky🕺

Beat the Funk is a 100% volunteer-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to bringing people together through music, movement, and community.

06/11/2026

🎖️ COMMUNITY PARTNER SPOTLIGHT 🎖️

We are proud to support one of our incredible community partners, Veterans Helping Veterans Helping The Community!

All proceeds from this effort will help fund much-needed batteries and repairs for power chairs and mobility scooters, ensuring local veterans and community members can maintain their independence, mobility, and quality of life.

These repairs can be life-changing, and every dollar raised makes a direct impact right here in our community.

We hope many of you can come out and support this wonderful cause and the people who have given so much for others.

Please SHARE this post to help spread the word and increase awareness!

Thank you in advance for your support. Together, we can help keep our community moving forward.♥️🤍💙
Main Street Tap

06/10/2026

It is very hot in Illinois right now. Extreme heat can make you very sick, especially if you have a disability or a health condition. Please read this message to help keep yourself, your family, and your service animal or pet safe.

How to Stay Cool

Drink lots of water and natural juices. Do not wait until you feel thirsty. Avoid alcoholic beverages, coffee and colas.

Put a cool, wet cloth on your neck or arms. You can also take a cool shower or bath. Avoid or minimize physical exertion.

Keep rooms well-ventilated with air conditioners and fans. Keep shades drawn and blinds closed but keep windows slightly open if you don't have air conditioning or a fan.

Note: Fans will not prevent heat-related illness when the temperature is in the high 90s. (https://ready.illinois.gov/hazards/extremetempshot.html)

Rest often. Stay in the coolest room in your home. Wear loose, light cotton clothing.

Seek a cooling center or other public air-conditioned space (library, mall, etc.), if possible.

Further guidance can be found here: https://keepcool.illinois.gov/keeping-cool.html

Keeping Service Animals and Pets Safe

Your trained service animal can go with you into any public cooling center. They cannot be turned away.

If you have a pet, call 211 to find cooling centers that allow pets.

Do not walk animals on hot pavement. It can burn their paws. Walk them early in the morning or later in the evening.

Give your animal cool, fresh water and shelter from the sun all day.

Never leave an animal in a car. It can become deadly within minutes. Police in Illinois can break a car window to save an animal in danger.


Free Help in Illinois

Call 211: Dial 2‑1‑1 anytime. They can help you find cooling centers, food, emergency help, and more.

Free rides: Call 211 or your local transit district to ask about free rides to cooling centers.

Cooling centers: The State of Illinois opens free cooling centers during extreme heat. Cooling centers can be found here: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/325f18499d2347e3919b68fbb883bc04

Help with electric bills: If you cannot afford to run your air conditioner, call 211. Some local agencies have emergency help, fans, or other resources.

Additional resources can be found at Keep Cool Illinois: https://keepcool.illinois.gov/

Signs of Dangerous Heat Illness – Call 911

Call 911 right away if you or someone else has:

Very heavy sweating or very hot, dry skin

Feeling confused, dizzy, or faint

Vomiting or feeling very sick

A fast heartbeat or a strong headache

Stay Safe!

During the summer months, the temperature in Illinois can reach dangerous levels. Extreme heat can be particularly hazardous for children, seniors, those with special needs, and pets. In addition to discomfort and fatigue, high temperatures can cause

06/04/2026

Hey y'all!! We are only a week and a half out! Our friends at Tri 2 Beat MS are in need of more than 25 volunteers for their event! If you are willing to give a few hours of your time, you can enjoy the event and get free donuts, coffee, and a t-shirt! That's a real deal if I do say so myself!

Link to sign up to Volunteer in the comments!!

05/24/2026

Save the Date!
The Greater Peoria Mass Transit District CityLink Peoria will be hosting the 5th Annual ADA WOW! Celebration & Resource Fair on Thursday, July 23 from 4:30-6:30 PM at EPIC . This is a FREE event in celebration of the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) & offering valuable resources to the local ADA community! For more information, visit: https://bit.ly/40UGXuB

05/19/2026

A research team at the University of Illinois Chicago is looking for individuals (50-69 years old, with and without relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis) to participate in a research study that aims to develop improved tests of aerobic capacity. You would come to the lab twice, with no more than 7 days in between. You would perform all-out exercise at the first visit and less intense exercise at the second. You would also wear an activity monitor between the visits. Compensation is available. If interested, please contact Dr. Paul Hibbing ([email protected]) or Dr. Brooks Hibner ([email protected]). You may also share this post.