Canadians Wrap Up MS Awareness Month with ‘Acts of Greatness’ Campaign

The Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society of Canada closed its celebration of multiple sclerosis (MS) Awareness Month by launching the Acts of Greatness campaign that aims to raise $75 million to support research about the disease.

The campaign was activated May 24 with the placements of five-meter decals in three cities across Canada: Toronto, Montreal, and Calgary. It hopes to raise awareness about the challenges faced by MS patients, and unite the country under the theme: “When 5 meters feels like 500 meters. For someone living with MS, every step is an act of greatness.”

“An act of greatness for someone living with MS is being able to adapt to regular life with an unpredictable disease,” Sari Friedman, who was diagnosed with MS in 2018, said in a press release.

“This could mean something as simple as powering through the fatigue to tackle everyday tasks or something larger like taking part in physical activity but realizing the intensity has to change. Ultimately it’s about feeling okay with where you are and what you’re able to do now,” Friedman said.

Canada is the country with the highest rate of MS in the world, and it is estimated that 11 Canadians are diagnosed with MS every day.

“For Canadians living with MS who face mobility issues or experience fatigue, just walking five meters can sometimes feel like so much more,” said Pamela Valentine, president and CEO of the MS Society of Canada.

“Through this demonstration, we hope to illustrate the reality of many individuals living with MS, and raise awareness about the acts of greatness, both big and small, that they perform every day,” Valentine said.

The Acts of Greatness campaign aims to demystify the disease, and raise awareness about the acts that the MS community, including patients, families, caregivers, and researchers, perform daily.

The campaign intends to raise $75 million to accelerate research about the disease, get closer to a cure, and empower people with MS.

From May 24-30, onsite ambassadors brought awareness about MS and encouraged people to participate in a text-to-donate campaign. People in Canada can contribute $10 by texting “MS” to 80100.

They also can support the campaign by sharing their act of greatness on social media using the hashtag #ActsofGreatness.

The campaign will close today (May 30), World MS Day, when Canada will join other MS communities around the world to raise awareness about the disease.