FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Scholarships available for Canadian youth impacted
by multiple sclerosis
Juno award-winning band Billy Talent
makes new initiative possible
Toronto, February 6, 2007 - A creative partnership between the Multiple
Sclerosis Society of Canada and the drummer of one of Canada’s hottest
punk rock bands has resulted in a new scholarship program for
youth who have MS or who have a parent with MS.
The MS Society of Canada Scholarship Program, supported by Billy Talent
and Friends, launches February 6, 2007 and is accepting applications from
Canadians under the age of 25 for funding toward 2007/2008 full- or part-time
post-secondary education.
Early last year, Aaron Solowoniuk of Juno Award-winning Canadian punk
rock band Billy Talent, publicly announced that he has lived with MS for
close to a decade. He worked with the MS Society on ways to raise funds
and awareness among teens and young adults directly affected by MS, resulting
in the creation of the scholarship program.
"I am pleased to be part of this important new initiative to support
youth who are directly affected by multiple sclerosis,” says Solowoniuk. “Tens
of thousands of young Canadians are impacted by this disease, whether
they live with MS or one of their parents does. Being a teenager or young
adult can be hard and throwing MS into the picture can make things really
difficult.
“Everyone should be able to follow their dreams, regardless of
the presence of MS in their lives. I am confident that the MS Society
of Canada Scholarship Program, supported by Billy Talent and Friends,
will help teenagers and young adults achieve the educational goals that
help them fulfill those dreams.”
Aaron Solowoniuk and Billy Talent have been involved in a number of fundraising
initiatives in support of the MS Society of Canada Scholarship Program.
Warner Music Canada has donated $50,000, based on first-week sales of
the band’s most recent CD, Billy Talent II. And Billy Talent, along
with bands Alexisonfire and Moneen, recently performed a benefit concert
in Toronto in support of the project. Tickets for the show, which sold
out in eight minutes, netted an additional $20,000 for the scholarship
program.
Details on scholarship criteria and application forms for scholarship
funding are available for download at www.mssociety.ca/en/help/scholarship.htm.
Applications must be postmarked by April 15, 2007.
About Multiple sclerosis and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, often disabling disease
of the brain and spinal cord. It is the most common neurological
disease of young adults in Canada. Most people with MS are
diagnosed between the ages of 15-40, and the unpredictable effects of
MS last
for the
rest of their lives. The MS Society provides services to
people with MS and their families and funds research to find the cause
and cure.
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