President's Message - Archives
Spring 2011
Yves Savoie People living with MS are at the centre of all that we do:
from raising funds to support much needed services to focusing
our research efforts in our quest to ultimately end MS. One
of our most important initiatives is the MS
Walk, the MS Society of Canada’s largest fundraiser.
The Walk supports the provision of local programs that benefit
people living with MS as well as Canadian-led research efforts.
This spring, we urge you to get engaged and participate in
your community’s MS Walk. Your efforts will be felt locally
and have a direct impact on people living with MS in your neighbourhood.
Chronic cerebro-spinal venous insufficiency or CCSVI continues
to generate much hope, discussion and optimism within the MS
community. To support people living with MS who are considering
a CCSVI-related
procedure, we invite you to visit CCSVI.ca,
a web-based resource that is tailored to meet the informational
needs of those wanting to learn more about CCSVI.
A unique engagement component of this site is the “Your
Story” feature, which allows you to share personal experiences
on CCSVI in
a safe environment.
As we approach MS Awareness Month this May, we welcome a historic
announcement and true win for the MS community. On March 23,
2011, the federal government and the MS Society of Canada announced
the creation of a new national
MS monitoring system. The ultimate beneficiaries
of this initiative are people living with MS, who will be able
to use the information collected through the monitoring system
to learn more about important topics like CCSVI, disease progression
and other long-term treatment options. The MS Society
looks forward to working with the MS community, governments,
health agencies and the Canadian Network of MS Clinics to help
build this innovative monitoring system and will continue to
seek a commitment from the government of Canada to fund a pan-Canadian CCSVI trial
if and when such a trial is warranted based on scientific evidence.
We continue to press governments across the country on a number
of issues including better caregiver supports, more secure
incomes for people with MS, improved home care as well as better
overall access to health care. I am pleased to say we are making
progress.
On May 25, as part of MS Awareness Month activities, the MS
Society of Canada will join over 65 countries to promote World
MS Day. Since 2009, the MS Society has joined forces with
MS organizations across the globe to raise awareness and strengthen
the networks of those living with MS. The theme for this year’s
World MS Day is Work and MS, which focuses on the role that
employers can play in enabling people with MS to stay in the
workforce. I encourage you to sign the global
petition to encourage employers and policy makers to remove
obstacles that prevent people with MS from obtaining and maintaining
employment opportunities.
Whether you are participating in your local MS Walk, sharing
your story on CCSVI.ca or attending an MS awareness event this
May, I thank you for continuing to lend strength towards our
efforts to end MS.
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