Children's
book guides conversations about
multiple sclerosis
Benjamin: My Mum is Special now available in Canada
Toronto,
ON – May 15, 2006 –Multiple sclerosis (MS)
therapy provider, Berlex Canada Inc., in partnership with the
Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, announced the Canadian launch
of Benjamin: My Mum is Special, a children’s book for families
affected by MS.
Benjamin,
the book’s hero, is an eight-year-old boy whose mother has
MS. He is worried and frightened when his mother suddenly has
trouble walking and dressing herself because of her MS. With the support
of family and friends, Benjamin learns that it is okay to be worried,
ask questions and talk about how he is feeling.
Dr.
Brenda Banwell, director of the paediatric MS clinic at
the Hospital for Sick Children reads to students at Bayview
Glen during the
official Canadian launch of
Benjamin: My Mum is Special.
Benjamin:
My Mum is Special was originally published in Germany and has
been successfully launched in Austria, France, Portugal, Ireland,
Hungary, Malta, New Zealand and Australia. The foreword of the
Canadian edition of the book was written by Dr. Brenda Banwell,
director of the Paediatric Multiple Sclerosis Clinic at The Hospital
for Sick Children in Toronto.
“Benjamin
provides a view of MS through the eyes of a child struggling to
understand his mother’s mysterious and sometimes frightening
illness,” says Dr. Banwell. “It is a beautiful story
of coping, compassion and caring that should be shared between
all parents with MS and their children.”
“This
book offers a platform for parents to talk to their children about
MS and gives children the opportunity to share their thoughts
and ask their questions,” says Jon Temme, national vice
president of client services for the MS Society. “MS is
a disease that can be frightening for children and we are pleased
to help families ease that fear and better understand MS.”
MS
is a serious, unpredictable and often debilitating disease that
affects the central nervous system. Symptoms of MS may include:
vision disturbances, extreme fatigue, loss of balance, pain,
muscle stiffness, speech problems, short-term memory problems
and even partial or complete paralysis. MS is often diagnosed
when people are most active in their work and family life, between
the ages of 15 and 40. Women are more than twice as likely to
develop MS compared to men. The inconsistent nature of the disease
can be a heavy burden for some families and the nature of the
disease can be particularly frightening for children.
“Funding
the publication of this book was a wonderful opportunity for Berlex
Canada Inc. to support the MS Society and people living with MS,
their families and caregivers,” says Janine Pajot, of Berlex
Canada Inc. “Benjamin: My Mum is Special is a unique project
that we are extremely proud of here in Canada and around the
world.”
To
obtain a copy of Benjamin: My Mum is Special or for additional
information about MS, please call MS Pathways at
1-800-977-2770, visit www.mspathways.ca,
or contact your local office of the MS Society at 1-800-268-7582
or www.mssociety.ca.
About
Berlex Canada Inc.
Berlex Canada is a wholly owned affiliate of Schering AG. Schering
AG employs more than 25,000 people around the world, with more
than 200 in Canada, and specializes in the following therapeutic
areas: neurology, women’s health, oncology, and diagnostic
imaging.
About
the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
Founded in 1948, the MS Society has a membership of 28,000, with
seven regional divisions and nearly 120 chapters. The MS Society
provides services for people with MS, family members and caregivers.
The MS Society also offers a unique support network for children
and teenagers with MS and their parents. The MS Society raises
funds to support research and services almost entirely through
individual and corporate donations and fundraising events across
the country.
For more information:
Stewart Wong
National Manager, Media Relations
416-967-3025 Stewart.wong@mssociety.ca
Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
Toll free to reach
the nearest regional office: 1 800 268-7582
To locate the MS Society office near you, please select your region:
E-mail: info@mssociety.ca (Please provide your town and
province in your e-mail)
