Volunteer of the Week

DOUG RICHARDSON

Doug Richardson had a successful career as a business executive when in 1988 he began to suffer from symptoms of the debilitating disease multiple sclerosis. After falling down at a conference, he received the diagnosis but kept it to himself and kept on working. “I can avoid things exceptionally well,” he explained with a wry smile. “You don't want to tell people until you have to.”

Eventually the disease progressed to the point that it affected his ability to walk. At that point his superiors offered him the opportunity to work from home, but Richardson declined. He had risen to the level of vice president of Service Marketing and he knew how important it was to interact on site with his employees. “I would commute to Sunnyvale everyday and on the ride home I would have to pull over and sleep for an hour. I finally went to the doctor and said, ‘I can't do this anymore.' And the doctor said, ‘I can't believe you've done it this long !'”

It was at this juncture that Richardson decided to retire, two years ago at the age of 48. While some might view retirement as the end of one's productive years, it would appear that Richardson was just getting started. Since his retirement he has thrown himself into volunteer work with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Silicon Valley Chapter.

He was recently named Client Volunteer of the Year for his efforts with the Government Relations Committee. The role of the committee is to influence federal, state and local legislation by advocating issues which impact the MS community. Doug's efforts have helped to add members throughout the four counties supported by the Silicon Valley chapter. In this role the committee has advocated to induce Medicare to pay for MS prescription drugs (they currently don't cover it), dealt with insurance issues and worked on the 2004 state budget and paratransit issues.

One of the hot-button issues that Richardson is particularly concerned about right now is that due to budget cutbacks, the VTA has suggested that they cut services for their Outreach clients. “At first the VTA was going to cut back the Outreach program but then they came up with this idea. Now, instead of door-to-door service, which a lot of people using Outreach really need, they are going to offer curb-to-curb service for a fee. A lot of fixed income people just won't be able to use the service anymore!”

In addition to his efforts with the MS Society, Richardson has a huge passion for baseball and although he must use a motorized wheelchair out at the fields, he volunteers every season with the Almaden Little League. “I do the scorekeeping,” he laughs. “A job nobody else wants to do!”

Richardson also never misses an opportunity to volunteer for community service day at his church, The Journey. “I'm in charge of getting the dumpsters,” says the man with the perpetual smile.

Richardson and his wife Debi, a teacher at Casillero Middle School, have three children: Douglas, 19, and 17-year-old twins Darci and Dianna. They have worked hard as a family to raise funds for the MS Society. “One year the girls set up a team to walk in the MS Walk from Castillero,” said their proud father. Richardson was named NMSSSV Father of the Year in 2001 and presented a plaque at the beginning of the walk.

Richardson stays busy with his volunteer work and helping his children with their various pursuits. “I don't stay in the house. I'm pretty visible out there,” he said. “I feel that I've found my purpose. Actually I've known for quite a while that my purpose in life is to inspire, support and service God's children who are afflicted with chronic illness.” - By Julie Davis Berry