PERRYVILLE WOMAN MS SOCIETY MOTHER OF YEAR

PERRYVILLE -- They call her the MS Society Guru of Southeast Missouri, and now they also call her Mother of the Year.

Victoria Pingel is recognized as an expert on multiple sclerosis throughout Missouri and Illinois. Although diagnosed with the disease herself in 1991, Pingel has been a great contributor to educating fellow sufferers in the advances that have been made in treating and possibly curing the disease, which attacks the central nervous system.

She was recently named Mother of the Year by the Gateway Area Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, which represents about 4,000 people in over 90 area counties in eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois.

The award is given to recognize a mother with multiple sclerosis who has overcome obstacles with courage, been active in the community and has provided outstanding service to others with MS.

"She appears to be this quiet person minding her own business, but she really has become an expert about MS," said Jane Courter, public relations manager for the chapter. "She was given the (Guru) nickname because everybody turns to her in Southeast Missouri. She's kind of the coordinator of resources."

Courter said Pingel has made it her business to learn as much as she can about the new medicines being used to treat MS. There is no cure for MS, Courter said, but three new drugs have come out in the past five years that slow the progression of the disease.

Pingel has helped other people with MS by starting information and support groups in Cape Girardeau and Perryville that keep people knowledgeable about what is happening, she said.

"She's started support groups for MS patients taking the new drug Betaseron," Courter said. "They talk about their experiences, and what side effects they may be experiencing. It's really helpful for people taking a scary new drug they don't know much about."

Courter said Pingle has also started a number of self-help support groups for people with the degenerative disease so they may support each other.

"Victoria's very well-known by the other volunteers in this chapter," Courter said. "She appears to be quiet and shy when you first meet her, but she rises to the occasion when something is required."

Pingel lives in Perryville with her son Ben, 21. "She's an extremely strong woman," he said. "She has more courage than I do. Twenty-one years ago, when it was pretty taboo for a woman to be a single parent, she put up with that, she put up with me. Then when she was diagnosed with MS, she decided to live with it. That's what she does, she lives with it everyday."

Besides volunteering with numerous support groups, Pingel has worked as the corresponding secretary for the Association of the Miraculous Medal for 28 years. She also works with a number of youth and civic groups, including 4-H, the Tourism Commission for Perry County, and Parents Without Partners.

"She's a really dedicated person," Courter said. "I really respect and admire her."