Today is World MS Day!

Did you know that Canadians have one of the highest rates of multiple sclerosis in the world? Approximately 55,000 to 75,000 Canadians are currently living with MS, with 1-3 new cases diagnosed every day.  

The MS Society of Canada is a proud member of the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF) and is pleased to support World MS Day (WMSD). World MS Day was launched on May 27, 2009 with over 200 events in 67 countries and provides an opportunity to raise awareness of MS, national MS societies and the global MS movement.

To show your support for World MS Day and the global MS movement, visit our  Media Downloads page to change your Facebook status and picture to an MS Badge or Logo, or Tweet that you are celebrating World MS Day, promoting MS Awareness Month, or participating in MS fundraising event. 

Thank you for your continued support in the fight to end MS! Learn more about World MS Day at worldmsday.org

Iconic Canadian landmarks turning red for World MS Day!

On May 30, the CN Tower and the Niagara Falls will light up red in support of people with MS on World MS Day. World MS Day is a global movement to promote awareness of multiple sclerosis. The MS Society of Canada thanks the CN Tower, Niagara Parks Commission and the Niagara Falls Illumination Board for making this possible.

Help raise awareness about World MS Day by Tweeting with the hashtag #WMSD2012 or joining conversation on facebook.com/worldmsday.

Yesterday, individuals  from the communities of Belleville, Brockville, Kingston-Napanee, North Bay, Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Timmins laced up for someone they love and raised over $200,000– bringing the current total for all 2012 MS Walks to an amazing $4.8 million!!!

Congratulations to all our participants! We hope that you had an amazing MS Walk and that you feel proud of the difference you have made in the lives of the tens of thousands of Canadians living with multiple sclerosis!

We invite you to share your favorite MS Walks photos, stories and videos on our Facebook page. We can’t wait to see them!

Keep in mind that you still have time to continue fundraising to collect pledges.  

We look forward to seeing you again at the 2013 MS Walk!

MS Walk Event Day!

TODAY, we are lacing up for someone we love at the final 2012 MS Walks in Belleville, Brockville, Kingston-Napanee, North Bay, Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Timmins. Thank you to all our participants!  Please post on our Facebook wall or send us a Tweet @MSWalk. We’d love to hear from you today!

MS Walk Event Day Countdown – 2 days! Make sure you’re ready for the weather…because we will be walking rain or shine! Good luck to all walkers and thank you for your support in creating a future without MS!

MS Walk Event Day Countdown – 4 days! Are you planning on lacing up for someone you love in the 2013 MS Walk? You can register for 2013 at this year’s MS Walk by checking the box on your pledge submission form!

And the winner is…

The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada – Ontario Division is pleased to announce the winner of our April draw for a chance to win a weekend getaway for two to New York City or Chicago!*

Congratulations to Dr. Sarah Morrow for all her efforts in raising over $500 online for the MS Walk.

                                                                                                      
Stay tuned for more details in June.

MS Walk Event Day Countdown

Only 5 Days until we lace up for someone we love for the final 2012 MS Walks in Ontario. For those of you walking in Belleville, Brockville, Kingston-Napanee, North Bay, Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Timmins - that means only 5 days to gather pledges to hand in on event day (but remember, you can continue to raise pledges for four weeks after the MS Walk is over).

Happy Victoria Day Long Weekend!

We would like to wish you all a safe and happy Victoria Day long weekend! We hope you get the chance to get outside and enjoy the beautiful sunshine.

Keep in mind that the long weekend is an excellent opportunity to organize fundraising activities. Perhaps you could do some spring cleaning and hold a yard sale or host a BBQ for family and friends and collect donations in support of your MS Society fundraising efforts.

Have a wonderful weekend and thank you for your continued support in creating a future free of MS!Happy Victoria Day weekend to you! We hope you take advantage of the long weekend and enjoy the sunny weather. We have a list of things to do as well as fundraising ideas for the long weekend; check it out Happy Victoria Day weekend to you! We hope you take advantage of the long weekend and enjoy the sunny weather. We have a list of things to do as well as fundraising ideas for the long weekend; check it out Happy Victoria Day weekend to you! We hope you take advantage of the long weekend and enjoy the sunny weather. We have a list of things to do as well as fundraising ideas for the long weekend; check it out

Donate your prize back to the MS Society and become a Mission First club member

Join the Mission First club when you make your fundraising dollars go even further by donating your prize back to the MS Society.

You will be joining a special group of people who put the mission of finding a cure for MS first. When you generously donate your prize back to the MS Society, you aid in reducing costs associated with purchasing participant rewards, which in turn allows us to dedicate additional funds towards the cause and provide vital programs and services to those affected by MS.

To become a member of the Mission First club, look for the check box on your pledge submission form or contact us at walk@mssociety.ca.

 As a Mission First club member you will receive a tax receipt for the value of your prize.

Pre-register for your chance to win $500 towards your 2013 fundraising total!

Whether you’ve already participated in the MS Walk or are eager to participate on May 27, we’re sure many of you are excited to continue on the tradition (however new or old) by participating in the MS Walk next year as well! You can register for a 2013 Ontario MS Walk online right now, by visiting mswalks.ca. If you register before July 15, you will have the chance to get a head start with your fundraising, by being entered into a draw to win $500 towards your 2013 fundraising total – courtesy of Mandarin Restaurants.

Pre-register today and lace up for someone you love in 2013! mswalks.ca

MS Carnation Campaign – May 10 to 12

Did you know? Women are more than three times as likely to develop MS as men.

Many Canadians living with MS are mothers, which is why every year the MS Carnation Campaign takes place over the Mother’s Day weekend. From Thursday, May 10 to Saturday, May 12, thousands will be showing their dedication by selling carnations on street corners, in malls and other public places. Be sure to celebrate Mother’s Day and MS Awareness Month by picking up a carnation for a loved one this weekend.

We are seeking friendly, outgoing and committed volunteers to sell flowers during our annual MS Carnation Campaign. If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact Mark.Teeple@mssociety.ca or 416-922-6600 ext. 3157.

Thank you for lacing up!

One Hundred and ninty-five people laced up for the Sault Ste Marie MS Walk yesterday and raised $17,865 for individuals living with multiple sclerosis. Thank you to everyone who laced up for someone they love this weekend! It was another great MS Walk! View FUNDRAISING RESULTS in your community.
 
For those of you who walked this weekend, don’t forget that there is still plenty of time to reach or surpass your fundraising goal! You can continue to fundraise, submit pledges online, and request any prizes for which you are eligible for the next 4 weeks.

We would also love to hear about your experience at the 2012 MS Walk! Share your MS Walk photos, stories and videos on our Facebook or Twitter page. We can’t wait to hear from you!

We look forward to seeing you again at the 2013 MS Walk!

And good luck to everyone participating in an MS Walk on May 27! We can’t wait for event day! For more information about the upcoming MS Walks, please visit mswalks.ca.

Sault Ste. Marie MS Walk Countdown – 2 days!

 

On Sunday we will be lacing up for the 2012 Sault Ste. Marie MS Walk! For more information about event day, visit http://bit.ly/IDXaoC. Can’t wait to see you lacing up for someone you love!

P.S. Make sure you’re ready for the weather…because we will be walking rain or shine!  

Tenth Annual MS Research Teleconference

The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada is excited to announce the tenth annual MS Research Teleconference taking place on Thursday, May 31 from 6pm to 7:30pm, Eastern Time.

This year’s guest speaker will be Dr. Anthony Traboulsee, a leading MS neurologist. Dr. Traboulsee is the director of the UBC Hospital Clinic and Clinical Trials Research Group, as well as President of the Canadian MS Network of Clinics.

Dr. Traboulsee, a principal investigator for over 30 studies, has treated people with MS for over 13 years.

He has also published widely on MS in peer-reviewed journals.

Call in for free to hear a short presentation followed by a moderated question-and-answer period. Ask questions about MS research and listen to answers from one of Canada’s leading MS experts.

What’s new in progressive MS research?
What are the risks and benefits of oral therapies?
What is the latest on Vitamin D research?
CCSVI: what do we know and what do we still need to find out?
Is there still promise in myelin repair?

How to register:

1. Click here
2. Call 416-922-6600 or 1-866-922-6065 ext. 3177

Submit your question:

• When you register online
• By email: teleconference@mssociety.ca
• Via Twitter or Facebook

Sault Ste. Marie MS Walk Countdown – 4 days!

Are you planning on lacing up for someone you love in the 2013 MS Walk? You can register at this year’s MS Walk by checking the box on your pledge submission form! When you do this you also have a chance to win $500 towards your personal fundraising total for next year's event - courtesy of Mandarin Restaurants. One winner will be selected in Ontario.

May is MS Awareness Month!

As we enter MS Awareness Month this May, we remember that MS is a complex disease that affects every person differently.

There are many ways you can highlight MS Awareness Month throughout the month of May:

• Update your Facebook status and timeline cover to promote MS Awareness Month.
• Read and repost important May Awareness Month press releases from the MS Society of Canada.
• Launch a “Dress for MS Day” in your office by wearing “MS” red and making a donation to the MS Society of Canada.
• From Thursday, May 10 to Saturday, May 12 be sure to use the power of the flower to end MS with the MS Carnation Campaign! Just in time for Mother’s Day, you can buy your mother or loved one a carnation from one of our volunteers.
• Visit your local Mr. Lube on Saturday, May 12. For every oil change done that day, $5 will be donated the MS Society of Canada in support of their Founder’s Day Campaign.
• On May 30, acknowledge and celebrate World MS Day.
• Join the MS research teleconference taking place May 31 at 6:00 pm ET.

Since the 1970s, we have observed May as MS Awareness Month to raise awareness on behalf of people affected by MS.  Thank you for continuing to lend strength towards our efforts to end MS.