May is MS Awareness Month!

Since the mid-1970s, May has been observed as MS Awareness Month across Canada.

MS Awareness Month began in 1975, when Gloria Malcolm, a member of the MS Society’s national board of directors, was asked to examine whether a small campaign in Laval, Quebec involving the selling of carnations might make a good national fundraiser.

Based on the success of the first small event and the natural tie-in to Mother’s Day, her answer was an emphatic “yes.” In 1976, the MS Society held its first national MS Carnation Campaign and MS Awareness Week, which then grew to encompass the entire month.

Check out the following activities happening during May:

1. Fundraising events like the MS Carnation Campaign and MS Walk will be taking place in various cities throughout Canada.
2. On May 6, MS Society volunteers will present carnations to MPs as they enter the House of Commons and advocacy meetings with MPs will be held on May 7.
3. On May 9, Mr. Lube will be donating $5 from every oil change to the MS Society.
4. From May 1-17, hardware retailer RONA will be running a special campaign asking customers for donations to the MS Society during check out.
5. An MS research teleconference will take place on May 20 giving participants the opportunity to ask an MS researcher questions about any aspect of MS.
6. Downloadable MS awareness posters are available at www.mssociety.ca/en/media-downloads.htm

Get involved! Visit http://www.mssociety.ca/ for more details of what’s happening in your area.