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 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 to MS Society UK projects and 30% will go to the MS Internationl Federation help to fund life-changing research and access to treatment projects around the world.
The 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.
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 announced that it may be possible to measure and even predict what the disease is doing with a simple blood test. If that is right, it could be a game-changer.
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.
The MS Society UK
The 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.
