THE MAY 50K IS ABOUT HOPE, THAT TOGETHER WE CAN RAISE FUNDS FOR MS.
There are over 2.8 million people around the world living with MS, and in every country, life is different. At the MS International Federation, it’s our mission to leave MS where it belongs, behind us.
MS Ireland are leaders in the MS International Federation. MS Ireland is teaming up with the MS International Federation so the money you raise will be shared to fund local and international projects. In Ireland 70% of the money you raise will go to MS Ireland projects and 30% will help MSIF rally the global community to prevent, treat and stop MS, improve access to treatment and support projects around the world.
Together we have committed to increasing funding for vital MS research worldwide, improving access to effective treatment and support for everyone – no matter where they live. The May 50K is one of the most important ways we can help achieve those goals, so the only thing we leave behind us is our limits.
Working together across the globe, we boost scientific progress to prevent, treat and stop MS. We strive for a world where everyone living with MS can access treatments. Without working together, there would be nobody taking the fight for access to affordable treatments to the global level. We are stronger when we all work together!
We are stronger when we all walk, run or roll together!
Ireland
Funds raised from the May 50k in Ireland will be used for a variety of different information, support, advocacy and research projects on a national and regional level including the National MS Care Centre, Ireland’s only national respite and therapy centre for people with MS in Ireland.
Let’s leave MS behind
Many incredible Ireland-based researchers are already funded by The May 50K members. Not only will taking part in The May 50K help continue that work, it will also fund incredible international research collaborations like The Global Patient Reported Outcomes in MS (PROMS), an initiative which aims to develop a global, unified view on PROs to enhance their use and impact in MS research and healthcare. You will also fund national research in your country whilst funding grants to young researchers around the world. Last year you funded more grants than ever before and this year, you can do greater.
Essential Medicines
The World Health Organization's (WHO’s) Essential Medicines List is an internationally recognised set of selected medicines to help countries choose how to treat their priority health needs.
In August 2023, following MSIF's successful application, the World Health Organization (WHO) added the first three disease modifying therapies (DMTs) for multiple sclerosis (MS) onto its Essential Medicines List for the first time.
With this pivotal decision, the WHO acknowledged the importance of making MS treatments available in all health systems. It was a significant moment in the history of MS, marking a crucial step towards improving access to treatments for people living with MS, particularly those in low to middle-income countries or low-resource settings.
We are delighted to share that since then, there is a gathering body of evidence showing the impact that this is having at ground level. For example, in Ghana, data generated by local clinicians and a national MS registry were used alongside the WHO EML listing to successfully advocate for rituximab to be added to the country’s National Health Insurance Scheme. This means people with MS in Ghana may now receive this disease-modifying therapy with financial support through national insurance — a major advance in affordability and practical access in a region where treatment options were previously very limited.
Your support helped make this change happen.
Advocacy
There is no country in the world where access to effective MS treatment is perfect, but in many low to middle-income countries people often have little to no treatment at-all. Taking part in The May 50K will help people around the world who don't enjoy the same vital support that is taken for granted elsewhere and help change the world for people who otherwise may never get treatment.
The International Progressive MS Alliance
MSIF is proud to be a Managing Member of The International Progressive MS Alliance, one of the most important global collaborations in the history of MS. Its funding of cutting-edge scientific research is beginning to show progress that many people living with progressive MS had long thought hopeless.
The International Progressive MS Alliance recently launched a groundbreaking Clinical and Imaging Data Resource (CIDR) that brings together one of the world’s largest collections of anonymised MRI scans and clinical data from people living with MS. This unique resource includes around 72,000 MRI scans and 200,000 clinical visits from over 13,500 participants in past clinical trials, contributed by leading pharmaceutical companies and harmonised by world-class researchers at McGill University. By giving MS researchers exclusive access to this powerful, AI-ready dataset, the Alliance is removing major barriers that have slowed progress in progressive MS, helping scientists better understand how the disease advances and enabling faster, smarter, and more effective clinical trials.
The MS International Federation
We bring together MS organisations from around the world to help everyone affected by MS. We rally the global community to increase funding for MS research strengthen MS organisations in countries where there is little support for people with MS, campaign for increased awareness of the disease, and work to improve access to treatment for everyone.
MS Ireland
There are over 11,000 people in Ireland living with multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis Ireland is the national organisation providing information, vital services and support to the MS community. We provide a wide range of specialised services and resources on a national, regional and local level.
Leave your limits behind
We know you’ve got it in you to go the extra kilometre and be an active part of the change this May.
