From various consultations with our community we know that there is value in sharing personal stories about living with MS. In this edition, we have created extra space to give people living with MS the opportunity to share elements of their stories and details of their activities with us.
You will find personal pieces on pages 14, 20, 24, 28 and 31. Additionally on page 11 we have a piece by a young writer in their early teens which explains their perspective as a child of someone living with MS As we face into yet another year with COVID-19 we have provided a summary of where we are now regarding risks, vaccines and protecting ourselves and others from the spread of the virus. This can be found on page 12.
While 2021 has been challenging in many ways, there were some good news stories and positive developments for the MS community this year including positive reimbursement outcomes, the expansion of services in some areas and even the establishment of the All Ireland MS Research Network. Details of these can be found from page 4 – 10.
In 2021 we have also been blown away by the incredible support from our community. Details of some of the extraordinary challenges people took on to support us as well as some of the wonderful sponsorship we have received this year can be found on page 32.
In this edition of MS News, we want to make our content more interactive, engaging and accessible. To do this, we are trialling the use of QR codes. There are a series of little black and white squares, similar to a barcode. To use the QR codes, simply open the camera on your smartphone. Hold the camera over the code as if you are going to take a photo of it – ensure the four corners of the code are visible on your screen. Your phone should automatically scan the code and provide a link which you can clink, taking you directly to the item we provide the code for!
In the coming weeks our Information Line number is changing. The service will remain the same but you will need to use the new number. As of January 1st 2022, you will no longer be able to use 1850 233 233 instead you will need to dial 0818 233 233.
