LEGACY: A gift from the past. Jimmie Heuga left a legacy as one of the first US ski racers to win an Olympic medal for Men’s Alpine Skiing.
Jimmie also left a legacy as an advocate for living better with the chronic disease of multiple sclerosis. For these two gifts, we honor Jimmie’s incredible life, and his inspirational spirit to always choose what you can do.
The Jimmie Heuga Legacy Foundation for MS (JHF) promotes Jimmie's legacy and supports research and programs which continue Jimmie’s philosophy for living better with MS.
We share Jimmie’s Vision for an MS clinical care model that is based on exercise, coupled with nutrition and incorporates wellness techniques designed to maintain physical and psychological well-being. The Mission The Foundation’s mission is to promote the legacy of Jimmie Heuga and his can do spirit to help people with MS live better lives.
We do this through education about Jimmie’s life and support for scientific research-based health programs designed to optimize physical and psychological well-being for individuals living with multiple sclerosis.
About Us JHF was created in 1997 to ensure longevity in financial support for Jimmie's vision. It was the inspiration of Waldon (Brock) and Evalyn Byers, long-time supporters of Jimmie and his fight against the devastating effects he experienced while living with MS.
JHF is focused on promoting the Legacy of Jimmie Heuga through permanent reminders of what this inspirational man accomplished in his life. The Foundation launched Jimmie’s personal legacy story by producing the documentary film CAN DO: The Legacy of Jimmie Heuga, created by Mike Marolt to ensure Jimmie's story continues today.
Our work continued through a research grant provided to RMMSC at the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, CO. This clinical study was designed to further the work Jimmie started to prove that symptom management for living better with MS should incorporate exercise and nutrition. In Jimmie’s words, “Everyone with this diagnosis (MS) deserves their own exercise prescription so they can pursue their health”.
Jimmie had a fundamental vision for “providing medical programs and research to reanimate the physically challenged”.
Today, The Foundation promotes Jimmie’s legacy through public awareness and education which provides reminders of who Jimmie is, and the impact he has made in the world both as an Olympic athlete and as an advocate for living better with MS.
Jimmie Heuga's talent for downhill skiing was evident as a youth growing up in Squaw Valley, CA. As the youngest member of the men's Olympic ski team, Jimmie and teammate Billy Kidd became the first American men to medal in alpine skiing. Jimmie was a fierce competitor and trained tirelessly to achieve excellence in his sport. more >>