It’s time to get planning for WMSD 2013
ayesha
Posted on March 4th, 2013
What’s your motto? Join the WMSD 2013 campaign from May 8th.
Becoming part of the global movement
Every year we here at World MS Day HQ (MSIF offices in London) get excited about the events that are taking place for World MS Day all over the world. Until now we have really focused on the events organised by MS organisations but this year we would love to hear from other organisations and people affected by MS who are organising their own events and activities too!
WMSD 2013: Young people and MS
This year’s campaign will focus on young people. At a time when young people may be starting new careers, relationships and making plans for the future, being diagnosed with a chronic and potentially disabling disease like MS can lead them to re-evaluate everything they know.
This May, six inspiring young people from around the world will share the mottos that give them strength. We will also be asking visitors to the WMSD website to share their own mottos for life around three themes: identity, relationships and the future. So start thinking about your mottos!
Why get involved?
The aim of World MS Day is to raise awareness of Multiple Sclerosis amongst those who know very little about the disease. Our target audience may never have even heard of ’MS’ before. MS organisations tell us that people with MS would like other people to understand what MS is and how it affects them. Improving public support and understanding can go a long way towards improving opportunities in employment and education, as well as setting the groundwork for policy-change objectives and fundraising. Creating an environment where people understand what MS is may mean that lack of coordination is no longer seen as drunkenness and that fatigue is not perceived as laziness.
Being part of a global campaign means that you have the support of thousands of people all working towards achieving the same goals. You have access to ready made materials, a theme, and messages that you can promote online or at events. It’s so easy to get involved. So what’s stopping you?
What can you do?
Organise an event
Whatever event you decide to hold- cake sale, fun run, jumble sale, film screening, music night- use this as an opportunity to share information about MS. If you’re holding a public event think about how you will explain what MS is and how it affects people. It’s a complex disease so try to simplify it for those who only have a few minutes to speak to you.
This year we are asking everyone who takes part to incorporate the 2013 global action: ‘Mottoos’ (motto tattoos). Everyone has mottos that get them through the tough times. On World MS Day we want you to ask people to write their motto tattoos on their bodies, faces or on a piece of paper and to upload a photo to Facebook or Pinterest. We want to create a viral campaign that trends on Twitter and fills pin boards on Pinterest. Help us reach out to millions more people by incorporating this action with you own activities and linking in with the digital World MS Day realm.
To find out more about how to get involved download this leaflet: Get involved
Get involved online
As always there is lots to get involved with on the World MS Day website and social media channels. The full campaign goes live on the 8th of May so watch out for further communications from the WMSD team. You can share your motto at www.worldmsday.org.
To receive this year’s campaign materials please email worldmsday@msif.org with a few sentences about your event.
I’m 64 and was diagnosed in 2001. I worked full time until I fell at work (a fall probably attributed to MS) and broke my shoulder. When I worked, I was forthright about having MS–my company had to know since fatigue often prevented me from going to the office. It was quite a job educating my company!
My motto is something I learned in high school Spanish class a LONG time ago: No hay mal que por bien no venga. (I think it’s from Cervantes.) It means that nothing bad happens that good doesn’t come from it.
This past year has been very difficult–our house was flooded (sewer backup), my husband’s health is declining, and I had to fight Social Security to get onto Social Security Disability. (My advice: hire a good lawyer!) With my husband’s declining health, I’m not sure how much longer I’ll have access to his health insurance, and I won’t be eligible for Medicare until March of 2014. (Can someone please look into why the very long gap between getting on SSD and when Medicare becomes available? Ha–maybe that someone is ME!)
No hay mal que por bien no venga has helped me through all the years since I learned it–but it’s especially valued now!
Take care everyone!
Robbie
I have been a keen WMSD supporter since the start in 2009, either by organizing parties, participating in events, etc.
But it bugs me – why is MS day different every year??? Can someone please explain somewhere the reason for having a different day every year??
It would be great if we had only one day a year and that’s it… why isn’t it the case like with other diseases..?
Thanks!!
Luv,
S
Viver com MS é como se fosse um campeão todas as manhãs quando acordo.
Então pratico Natação e participo de competições de Travessias de Aguas Abertas. Não tenho nenhuma pretenção em chegar em 1° lugar, mas sempre quero poder estar lá na chegada, entre os que chegam e nao tem MS.
Superando desafios dia após dia !!! Não desista Nunca !!!
Sou assim vivo a vida um dia de cada vez, com Fé sem Limites !!!
MS desde 07/2012 apos perder o paladar.
Brazil.
My name is Gene Caffrey. I was diagnosed with RRMS in 2010. I am an endurance athlete competing up to Ironman Triathlons. I use exercise and diet everyday to help control my MS. I use my training and racing as tools to raise awareness to MS and show that exercise helps! My motto is Every Step Beats MS!
Our Organization helps bring awareness of MS to the public and also is a support system fro those diagnosed. We look at everyone as a family. Together we fight together. Our Motto is Never Give In, ADAPT!
I have MS, but MS does’nt have me.
I have RRMS diagnosed over a year ago but first attack over 21 years ago. I am on Interferon and feel quite well. I work full time and have recently started a relationship with an old friend who is very supportive and a wonderful man. My motto is try and be positive. Life has many good things to offer. We can’t and shouldn’t let MS rule our lives.
I’m a belly dancer who happens to have MS. I started belly dancing after being diagnosed with PPMS in 2006. I perform with a Senior dance troupe called the Silver Moon Gypsies. We mostly perform for Senior Centers, assisted living residences and charity events. We put on 2 major shows a year May (5/17 this year!) and Dec. I perform a solo at our shows and I dedicated it to all with MS & any disability. My motto is in the program with my name and it reads ” Don’t dwell on the things you can’t do-rejoice in the things you can do” I’m told by many that when they see me perform I bring that motto to life. I’m so proud of what I do.
Living with MS is a challenge due to all kind of thoughts, often negative ones, but it might be a comforting thought that things might, potentially, have been worse in life. Nevertheless, this is difficult to accept when one’s disabilities make life a bit hard. However, cheer up and take part in your local community activities to prevent an isolated life.
Hello!
Here in Puerto Rico we dis our first MS Walk. It was organized by the local Foundation, absolutely fantastic! Patients and family were so receptive, participation was excellent.
So we are getty ready for next year¡