Multiple Sclerosis Ireland today announced World MS Day 2015, which will take place Wednesday May 27th under the banner ‘Together we’re stronger than MS’. Ireland’s women’s rugby stars Ailis Egan, Hannah Tyrrell and Jenny Murphy have pledged their support to World MS Day, with the team players championing the #strongerthanMS campaign.
Ava Battles, Chief Executive, MS Ireland comments: “World MS Day is a key event for people with MS in Ireland and around the globe. Together we need to raise funds that will directly improve services provision locally, in particular, physiotherapy, counselling, the MS Nurse resource and respite at the national MS Care Centre. Our ‘Together we’re stronger than MS’ campaign is about the MS community, joined by MS Ireland, working together nationally and locally, to manage the consequences of living with MS, including impaired mobility, severe fatigue, cognitive difficulties, decisions around employment, and the effect on family life. Together we are stronger, in our bid to ensure equal access to everything that impacts on quality of life for people with MS.”
World MS Day fundraising events will take place across Ireland on and around Wednesday May 27th.
MS stories
There are many layers behind the ‘Together we’re stronger than MS’ campaign beginning first with the people with multiple sclerosis who make up the MS community, who are pillars of strength as they manage MS day to day.
Sharon Dillon, 39, is from Castlebar, County Mayo. She is mum to young twins. Sharon is very involved with the South Mayo branch of MS Ireland and is an advocate for MS Ireland’s Access to Medicines campaign. Sharon’s story concerns medicines that greatly affect her daily life and walking mobility, without which her ability to complete the simplest of tasks is severely restricted.
Gerard Murphy, 53, is from Balbriggan, County Dublin. Gerard has visited the MS Care Centre and is a regular user of MS Ireland services including the helpline and website. He is in regular contact with MS Ireland’s North Dublin and Fingal regional office. Gerard’s 16 year-old daughter, Lauren took part in the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition this year where, with the aid of a 3D printer, she created a rehabilitation device for people with MS which aims to counteract hand closure spasm. Lauren received the annual award sponsored by the Irish Patent Office in recognition for modern technology being used to solve a problem and she was also awarded third place in the Technology Intermediate category of the competition.
Aoife Kirwan, 28, is from County Kildare and was diagnosed with MS in her final year of college. She is mum to 7 year-old Adam. Aoife is very engaged with MS Ireland, an advocate for young people with MS and a member of the MS & Me blog team where she shares her experiences since her diagnosis.
Sharon, Gerard and Aoife are three ambassadors from the MS Community in Ireland, advocating for people with MS together with MS Ireland.