MS Awareness Week

MS AWARENESS WEEK 1 JUNE TO 7 JUNE 2008

An estimated 2,500,000 people world-wide have multiple sclerosis, some 16,100 of these are in Australia and of those about 600 -700 are in the ACT region and is increasing at 7% pa. Each person with MS on average affects 14 people around them, including family, carers, friends and work colleagues. Thus around 8,000 to 10,000 people in the ACT region are affected by MS.

MS is the most common disease of the central nervous system in young adults. Diagnosis of MS is generally between the ages of 20 and 40. More women than men have the disease – in the ACT the ratio is 3:1. While a number of people with MS receive direct financial support from the Government, the MS Society is largely self-funding with only some 7% coming from the ACT Government. Donations and other support through sponsorships, volunteering, etc are always welcome and these can be made by phone 6285 2999 or on line on this website.

For national Awareness Week information, please visit www.msawarenessweek.org.au

Activities during and around MS Awareness Week in ACT:

The Canberra Hospital Display
Foyer MS and MS Readathon display at the Canberra Hospital for MS Awareness week (Monday 2 June – Friday 6 June).

Exercise workshop - Monday 2 June at 7pm - 9pm, Gloria McKerrow House – Presenter: Kym Hirth.  Free workshop.
RSVP 02 6285 2999 by Thursday 29 May.

Continence workshop
Client workshop at Gloria McKerrow House - 10.30am-2.30pm on Tuesday 3 June - Presenter: Vivienne Van Diesel.  Free workshop.
RSVP 02 6285 2999 by Thursday 29 May.

National Gallery Australia, Turner to Monet , a triumph of landscape Exhibition -special viewing for PwMS and their carers – Wednesday 4th June at 9:30 hrs, followed by a picnic lunch in the adjacent Sculpture Gardens.  Both the viewing and the lunch will be free courtesy of the National Gallery and Café D’Lish respectively.  The NGA is a wheel-chair friendly venue.
RSVP 02 6285 2999 by Friday 30 May for catering purposes.

Falls prevention workshop at Gloria McKerrow House
Client workshop  at 10.30am - 2.30pm on Thursday 5 June. Free workshop.
RSVP 02 6285 2999 by Tuesday 3 June.

Positive psychology workshop with Amanda Horne, Friday 6 June, 2 pm to 4:30 pm, at the ANU, University House.  This is a wheel-chair friendly venue. Presentation includes a tribute to existing volunteers and a call for new ones.  Gold coin donation for attendees.
RSVP 02 6285 2999 by Tuesday 3 June.

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