09-04-2025
Top Doctors: How Nancy Davis Took Action to Combat MS and Addiction
When I was diagnosed at 33 with multiple sclerosis, I had three kids. Doctors told me life as I knew it was over and that I would never walk again, and the most that I could look forward to was to operate the remote control on my TV set. I wanted to take care of my children, and suddenly they're telling me that's not going to happen. I went all over the country getting second opinions, but unfortunately, everyone [confi rmed the diagnosis].When doctors would tell me about the research they were doing — it was every really good hospital, from Harvard to Yale to Johns Hopkins to the Cleveland Clinic — they were all doing identical research. I would bring that up to the other doctors, but they were convinced they were the only ones doing that study, and they'd go, 'No, no, no; you're not a doctor.'A light bulb went off in my head. I thought if we could get the best and brightest to communicate — because there's no room for duplication — we could fi nd a cure a lot quicker. Race to Erase MS, which I founded 30 years ago, has always kept a database — we were very virtual before virtual was in. And we've updated our website every month, as doctors have been fi nding critical information. There had been zero drugs on the market — and zero hope — to help stop the progression of MS. But as of December, we got FDA approval on the 25th drug to help fight MS. So it's kind of an exciting time in the world of medicine.
And for a person diagnosed [with MS] today, there's about a 92% chance that they will have an independent life, which is pretty son, Jason Davis, who I love more than life itself, always worked with me in my charity. We've had great success coming up with medicines, and he came to me one day and said, 'Mom, I have an addiction problem, and the [Alcoholics Anonymous] 12-step program is not working for me. We have to do something science-based, just like we do for MS.' And he goes, 'I'm going to way too many funerals of people my age.'So we started a charity together [called Cure Addiction Now], and we got our 501(c)(3), about four months before Jason passed away. For 25 years, nobody put any money into basic science research for addiction, and it is the leading cause of death in our country for people 50 years old and under. I'm on a mission, and I have to make this happen, no matter what. It's my son's legacy, and it inspires me every day.I'm passionate. I really want to find a cure — just to think of the number of lives that are changed any time you come up with a medication is kind of overwhelming and exciting.'Nancy Davis is the founder of Race to Erase MS and co-founder of Cure Addiction Now. The 32nd Race to Erase MS gala will take place May 16 at the Fairmont Century Plaza.
