MS Strength

Today marks the FIRST World MS Day, which is an international attempt to unite the world in MS awareness, knowledge, political action, and camaraderie.

Here are some ways that nations are getting involved:

• Argentina: requested day be formally recognized by government
• Australia: reception in Queensland
• Belgium, Canada, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland: “Roll for MS”
  sponsored cycle/ motorbike event
• Denmark: fundraising event
• Finland: city wide awareness-raising event
• Hungary: event in parliament
• India: human chain awareness-raising events
• Ireland: activity to promote member development
• Italy: moved national awareness week to include the day
• Netherlands: Global Dinner Party/ Second Life event
• Norway: research conference in Oslo
• Romania: Global Dinner Party
• Slovakia: Dignified Life with MS seminar
• Sri Lanka: week long awareness raising events
• Sweden: fundraising event
• Turkey: concert and gala dinner

Interesting Tidbits:

• The Irish band U2 has contributed their song “Beautiful Day” for the World MS Day campaign, and Lori Schneider, a retired school teacher with multiple sclerosis, has now climbed the tallest mountains on each of the seven continents.

***The United States National MS Society urges everyone to petition their federal legislators to support comprehensive and accessible health care coverage that includes the Society’s Health Care Reform Principles. This would ensure that all Americans with MS get proper medical care.

For more news, events, and information about World MS Day, visit www.worldmsday.org

It’s April and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Walk MS fundraising event is in full swing. There are many opportunities for walking participants to raise money and support MS research. You can walk as an individual or as part of a team (both as family/friends or as a corporate group.) There are also many volunteering opportunities available to help make the walk days run smoothly. Access these links for more information:

Find a Walk MS near you: This page helps walkers find local MS walks in their areas. There are regional and zip code breakdowns that make the process easy. There are links to register for walks, sponsor walkers, and also to donate.

Challenge Walk: Find one of the nine national challenge walks, which log 30-50 miles over a 2 to 3 day timeframe.

Send a Walk MS eCard: This page allows a participant to email family, friends, coworkers, and so on about registering to walk, joining teams, sponsoring him or her, and thanking sponsors after a walk.

My Participant Center (visit your chapter website and login): A place to email fundraising materials to sponsors, check fundraising progress, and communicate with other team members.

Team Up for More Fun: Find out how to create a team and be a Walk MS team captain. Tips and tools are included.

Volunteer: This is the route I’ve taken for the past three years. I help set up and man the registration tables, then welcome walkers back for the appreciation barbeque. Learn how you can volunteer at a walking event.

I recently received this email about a new Facebook application that helps readers find MS walking and biking events. It is for current Facebook users, although starting an account is very simple. Fellow MS bloggers as well as MS communities can be found on Facebook.

Jen –

My name is Brian Reid and – in the interest of full disclosure – I work with Serono on their MS LifeLines program. Last week, they launched a Facebook application that is designed to help people find National Multiple Sclerosis Society-sponsored walks and bike rides and connect with others who are also participating. There’s no commercial subtext here – the intent is to raise awareness.

The application is online here: http://apps.facebook.com/mschampions.

I know that you’re already involved in an event, and we want to make it as easy as possible for everyone who participates (or who wants to participate) to plug into the community, so anything you can do to share with your readers would be appreciated.

Thanks for the great blogging,

Brian Reid

Media Director | WeissComm Partners

P 703.402.3626 | Skype brianreid

“Healthcare Agency of the Year”

www.wcpglobal.com