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. Together we have committed to increase funding for vital MS research worldwide, and improve access to effective treatment 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.
Without working together the world could miss out on international collaborations that can speed up research and reduce duplication of effort. Be part of a faster, more connected world of research!
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 run together!
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 to fund life-changing research and access to treatment projects around the world.
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 (WHO) has a List of Essential Medicines that many countries use as a reference when deciding which treatments they should fund nationally. There has never been a single MS treatment on that list to date. For people living in low to middle-income countries particularly, this makes it very difficult to get treatment, or even to campaign for treatment. MSIF is working with world-renowned experts to try and change this. Your support is driving that work.
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 in Morocco, Uruguay, India and other countries around the world, and help change the world for people who otherwise may never get treatment.
A review of existing medicines
You are funding the creation of a new system for review of treatments used in other conditions that can be used safely and effectively for MS, so people with no access to approved treatment will finally have options they can trust.
There is a lack of clinical trials that compare all the different MS medications with each other. One way to compare the different safety and efficacy profiles on the disease-modifying therapies is to review all existing evidence systematically and to use a ‘network meta-analysis’ to compare them.
The International Progressive MS Alliance
The International Progressive MS Alliance is 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. For example, it recently awarded a grant to Claire McCoy – Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland for their research unraveling the role of miRNAs, in particular miR-448 in the demyelination process and its potential as a novel therapeutic in primary progressive MS.
The MS International Federation
We bring together the work of MS organisations to help people affected by MS around the world. We strengthen those organisations in countries where there is little support for people with MS. We campaign for increased awareness of the disease, provide information to our members, and support international research into better treatments and ways to manage the disease.
MS Ireland
There are over 10,000 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.
