The aims MS Week include:

Promoting the diverse range of national services available to people affected by MS, their families and carers.

• Highlighting the crucial work of the Society ‘s network of 372 branches providing local services and support in the heart of the communities they represent.

• Raising awareness of MS to key audiences such as GPs, health authorities, MPs, employers, young people and medical professionals.

• Attracting new volunteers to support the Society at a local level.

• Fundraising for specific programmes including MS Nurses, the MS Helpline. MS Research, the MS Young Carers Programme and for local branch services.

• Encouraging the national, regional and local media to actively promote MS through specific MS related issues and local stories.

• MS national offices in Scotland and Northern Ireland proactively developing awareness campaigns to highlight nation issues

• The MS Society’s regional network actively lobbying local health authorities to improve services for people affected by MS and to end the ‘postcode lottery’ of care.

• Celebrating the Society’s new and innovative ‘Millennium Awards’ scheme. A scheme that provides grants to individuals or groups to develop local initiatives to support the MS community.

Flora London Marathon

As the official charity for the race on Sunday 22nd, the Society is aiming to host a team of 1,000 runners from across the country. For many, undertaking the grueling 26 mile course is just one challenge they will face on the day, as a number of runners will be helping to create greater awareness by running in fancy dress and one runner aims to complete the course on stilts!

Joining us again for her second marathon is Zoe Zoplowitz.

Zoe, who is from New York, has completed an amazing 15 marathons. She will take over 30 hours to complete the course on crutches, walking all through the night on Saturday, so that can cross the finish line with other runners on Sunday.

The MS Society will be hosting a recover and hospitality centre at the QEII conference centre. If you would like to volunteer for the day, please call Charlotte Bath on 0208 438 0731, ideally we need at least 100 people to help us with various tasks on the day.
 

MS Cake Break Day

Now in its 3rd successful year, the MS Society is asking ‘people to bake a difference’ on Friday 27th, or any day during MS Week. It’s a simple concept that is fun for everyone. Simply, invite, friends, family or colleagues to enjoy a slice of cake in aid of people affected by MS. To-date, over 500,000 people have ‘baked’ a difference.

 
The Black Box

Based on the highly popular C4 Big Brother programme, the Society will be placing Chief Executives from leading UK companies in a ‘blacked’ out box. Their only chance of escape is to use their mobile phone to raise the funds required for their release!
 

Other activities include:
 

Launch of MS Hot Ticket Raffle 2001

• Launch of our annual MS Research Review
• National PR and media campaign- focusing on key national programmes including MS Young Carers, MS Nurses, MS National Helpline and the new innovative MS Millennium Awards
• A 16 page supplement in Yorkshire Post being distributed to 200,000 homes
• A national direct-mail appeal
• A range of activities are being hosted by the MS Societies in both Scotland and Northern Ireland
• Information packs to companies, medical centres and hospitals

To get involved in MS Week you can contact your local branch.

Schools, companies and other organisations can request a pack by emailing us at: msevents@mssociety.org.uk.