FALMOUTH – Gov. John Baldacci has declared March 13 to 17 “Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week” and has urged residents to join in the fight against multiple sclerosis.
Every hour someone is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a chronic, often disabling disease of the central nervous system for which there is no cure. Approximately one in 400 people in Maine live with the unpredictable symptoms of MS.
The National MS Society is building “The Faces of MS” – an online, interactive and collaborative art project representing the face of MS. As more people contribute their stories through video and written testimonials, the face will continue to grow into a kaleidoscopic collaborative work of art.
The Maine Chapter, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, is organizing daily activities that week.
Monday, March 13: National MS Society will unveil “The Faces of MS” and will launch an interactive Web site, www.faceofms.org, dedicated to representing the face of MS.
The Maine Chapter staff invites all to visit the office at 170 Route 1, Suite 200, for an open house from 1 to 5 p.m. to view the Web site.
Tuesday, March 14: The Day of Hope when people are encouraged to show “aWEARness” by wearing MS identifiers such as the MS Ribbon of Hope Lapel Pin, the Band of Hope, National MS Society event T-shirts or wear red.
Staff and volunteers will visit 15 schools throughout Maine to read “My Grampy Can’t Walk,” a children’s book about the relationship between a young girl and her grandfather who has MS. Each school will receive a copy of the book to keep in their library and participate in a short educational in-service about multiple sclerosis.
Wednesday, March 15: The Maine Chapter will hold its second annual Independence Day, encouraging people living with MS to try out the latest adaptive equipment and become aware of the products and services available to maintain quality of life and independence. The program will be offered at the Technical Exploration Center in Bangor and Majors Mobility in Topsham.
Thursday, March 16: In preparation for the Manpower MS Walk on Saturday, April 8, the Maine Chapter staff announces a walk around Baxter Boulevard in Portland at 1 p.m. Those who cannot make it to Portland are encouraged to walk the streets of their neighborhood and recruit friends and family to participate in the MS Walk.
Walkers already signed up for the April 8 walk can drop off early pledges at the Maine Chapter Office or anyone who would like to register can do so at www.msmaine.org.
Friday, March 17: The chapter will hold a professional education seminar, “Psychosocial Intervention in Multiple Sclerosis: Strategies for Mental Health Professionals,” in Freeport.
Monday, March 20: The Maine chapter will represent the National MS Society at Disability Awareness Day in Augusta between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Hall of Flags at the State Capitol.
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