World MS Day 2021 takes place this Sunday, May 30, to raise awareness for people living with Multiple Sclerosis. In the current climate, the day takes on new importance as the 9,000 people in Ireland living with MS have faced various challenges throughout the pandemic.
Multiple Sclerosis Ireland is pleased to announce that World MS Day 2021 will take place Sunday, May 30, to raise awareness and support people living with MS, 'the most common debilitating neurological condition affecting young adults in Ireland'.
The theme of World MS Day this year is ‘connections’ and the campaign is about challenging social barriers and stigma that can leave people affected by MS feeling lonely and isolated; building communities that support and nurture people affected by MS; promoting self-care and healthy living with MS; and lobbying decision-makers for better services and effective treatment for people with MS. It is an opportunity to advocate for better services, celebrate support networks and champion self-care.
Andy Walsh, from Ballinrobe, speaking about Living With MS, said: "I’m feeling good, my body feels strong, my treatment is going well. I can only control the controllable and I’m going to reduce the amount of time I find myself thinking and talking about things I’m not in control of. I’ll deal with it in six months’ time when that arrives, and jump that bridge when I get there.
"World MS day is coming up on May 30, technically it’s my second one but I’m not really counting the one in 2020 - why? Because like everything in 2020, the light at the end of the tunnel was very dim. This year a new bulb has been installed and it shines much better and brighter.
"I recently wanted to get back on my racer bike and get out in the long evenings. I loved the freedom that cycling gave me in the past, but the balance problems that MS brought to me had knocked my confidence."
Ava Battles, Chief Executive of MS Ireland, said: "World MS Day is the MS movement’s annual campaign to raise awareness of the condition and to support and connect the 2.8 million people living with it worldwide, it is a day to celebrate global solidarity and hope for the future.
"In Ireland, it is a day where we shine a spotlight on the lives of the 9,000 people in Ireland living with MS, some of whose daily lives have been seriously impacted and altered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The MS Connections campaign is all about building community connection. Unfortunately, as a result of the pandemic and restrictions, some of these connections that our community heavily rely on may have suffered and, in some cases, are no longer available.
"Our community have endured cancelled appointments, delayed treatments, and restrictions on our services such as face-to-face community meet-ups, which meant they also lost some of the physical and emotional day-to-day support that is invaluable to them.
"The pandemic made us realise just how important these connections really are. World MS Day is a day where we can highlight how valued these connections are to the people we support as we all look forward to our lives going back to some normality in the coming months ahead.”
Please note: members of the public with any queries relating to MS are invited to call the MS Information Line (1850 ) 233 233 which is available Monday to Friday 9.30am to 1.30 pm. All calls are strictly confidential.
