The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) is marking Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week, March 8-14, by sharing patients’ stories and encouraging participation in fundraising and advocacy efforts.
Each year, a week is set aside to heighten awareness of multiple sclerosis (MS), a neurodegenerative disorder that affects nearly 1 million people in the United States.
“Most people don’t know about the disease because it’s often an invisible illness,” Megan O’Neal, public relations manager for the NMSS, told Multiple Sclerosis News Today in a statement. “MS Awareness Week is a chance for us to help educate people on what it’s like to live with MS because the more people who understand the disease, the more people will join in our fight toward a cure.”
As a main part of the observance, the NMSS is using the hashtag #ThisIsMS to share narratives of those affected by the disease, and asks supporters to post the stories on their own social media platforms.
“People living with MS are incredibly strong,” O’Neal said. “We share their powerful stories during MS Awareness Week to show each individual living with MS that we see them, they matter, and no one has to face MS alone.”
One patient, a high school student named Wesley, was diagnosed in 2015 at age 13, after his parents noticed that his right arm didn’t swing when he walked.
“At first I thought it was a prank or something because I had never heard of MS,” Wesley, now 17, wrote. “Once I realized I had a disease that couldn’t be cured, I went through kind of a depression. Kids my age don’t always care that much about others, but my friends that did care asked questions so they could support me.
“With the support from friends and family and the right disease-modifying therapy, I realized that I’m still me and could move forward with my life.”