THE MAY 50K IS ABOUT HOPE, THAT TOGETHER WE CAN RAISE FUNDS TO ACCELERATE RESEARCH INTO MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND CHANGE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH MS TODAY.
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.
The MS Society UK, MS Society of Ireland, Stichting MS Research (Netherlands) and DMSG (Germany) 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.
The MS Society UK is teaming up with the MS International Federation (MSIF) so the money you raise will be shared to fund local and international projects. In the UK, 70% of the money you raise will go towards research funded by MS Society UK 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.
MS Society UK projects
What has an octopus got to do with stopping MS? Ok, not an actual octopus, but we've got your attention now.
By taking part in The May 50K, you are raising money for life-changing MS research. This research includes Octopus, the first ever multi-arm, multi-stage trial for progressive MS. Octopus is a revolutionary trial that will transform the way we test treatments for progressive MS. A smarter way of testing potential treatments, it could deliver life-changing new treatments up to three times faster.
This is such an exciting development in MS research, and we can't do it without you. You can find out more about Octopus here.
Let’s leave MS behind
Many incredible researchers are already funded both globally and in the UK 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). This initiative aims to develop a global, unified view on PROs to enhance their use and impact in MS research and healthcare. You'll 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 beat that!
Register as an individual, a social team or a workplace team for The May 50k.
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 Society UK
MS Society UK is the leading UK charity supporting everyone affected by MS. Our vision is a world free from the effects of MS and our mission is to enable everyone affected by MS to live life to their full potential. We provide a range of front line services designed to empower and support people affected by MS, to maintain their independence, quality of life and reduce social exclusion.
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.
