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February 2019

India MS Day 2019

By General No Comments

India Multiple Sclerosis Day is a pan India event observed on the first Sunday of February every year. This event is aimed at generating awareness about MS in the society and this is attained by involving MS patients, Caregivers and other Stakeholders from all walks of life. Further, the idea is to gather media awareness as a means to reach out to the masses. When it comes to MS, early detection is imperative to slow down the disease. Thus creating awareness about the signs and symptoms of this disease goes a long way in assuring treatment and effectiveness of precautionary measures, which will contribute to better health conditions of those diagnosed

Initiated in 2016, the purpose of observing ‘India MS Day’, in addition to World MS Day, was to celebrate the occasion at a time of the year that was favourable to Indian MS persons. Given that the essence of observing such occasions is to reach out to hundreds and thousands of people around the country and spread awareness about the challenges of living with MS in an Indian context. Thus, events and campaigns that focus on this issue are observed across all eight chapters in the country.

There is an interesting connection between Bikers and Persons with MS (PwMS)

When one rides a motorcycle everything has to be in tune with each other, acceleration, suspension, alignment, balance and brake then only you can have a smooth ride…

For a second just imagine this…

You are on a bike going on a scenic road going to your favourite destination and suddenly the engine stops working…

What do you think will happen… A Breakdown

This is the exactly what happens to a Person when diagnosed with MS because the Central Nervous system (machine of your body) stops working causing a the Breakdown….

But what is the one thing that Riders and Person with MS have in common situation? They fix the problem, make the best of what they have and carry on with life.

“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much” Helen Keller

Here are a few videos on the events which took place on IMSD across the country

India MS Day 2019 – Chennai

By Chennai No Comments

To mark “India MS Day” an “MS Awareness Rally” was organized by the Multiple Sclerosis

Society of India and the Chennai Royal Riders Motorcycle Club. Motor Bike Rally from Shollinganallur Tollgate to Mahabalipuram (30 Kms) was flagged off by Mr. Rajiv Khanna, Managing Director of Kwality Milk Foods Limited, Chennai. Members of Multiple Sclerosis Society, Patients, Volunteers, and Social Work Students participated in the Rally. Mrs. Ann Gonsalvez, Hon. Chairperson of MSSI- Chennai, gave an awareness talk about MS, its symptoms and effects.

One of the unique features of India MS Day 2019 was the Riders ended the rally in the Sea Breeze Resort, Mahabalipuram, where more than 125 MS People, caregivers, Students and volunteers were gathered for their annual picnic. They were received with handclapping and loud cheers.

The volunteers from BNY (Bank of New York) conducted group games for MSP’s and caregivers such as hitting the cups, breaking the balloon, bingo etc.

Students of Social Work from Loyola College, Madras School of Social Work and Mar Gregorios College conducted song and dance through a game of Dumcharade. This was to portray the told and untold emotion of the MSP and how it should be understood. It also conveyed the message how the caregivers should “remove the negativity” from their life and also not to pressure the MSP’s.

Delicious food and refreshments were provided for everyone. The MSP’s and caregivers had a good time interacting with each other by singing and dancing. The resort was on the beach; hence the cool water of the Arabian Sea welcomed them all with a dip in its water. With the great fun and enjoyment, the day came to an end.

India MS Day 2019 – Pune

By Pune No Comments

To commemorate India MS Day, A Bike Rally was organised on Sunday, 3rd February 2019. Bikers, each group having about 50 Bikers were flagged off from three different locations in Pune.

Sarasbaug – MSP – Jyoti Ronghe/ Anjali Vyas
Sambhaji Park – MSP – Gayatrie Joshi
Kalyani Nagar – MSP- Anjali Gijare/ Rohit Nigade

The flagging off was done by MSPs at all three locations. Each Biker group travelled about 12 Kms and reached final destination Bund Garden around 10 am.

In all, there were about 200 participants at Bund Garden which included 150 bikers (Over 120 bikers from BNY Mellon) committee members, staff members, BNY Mellon Volunteers, MSPs and caregivers.

At Bund Garden, committee members welcomed all the Bikers and thanked them for their enthusiastic participation. Group photo session with all bikers wearing bandanas was followed by the release of 500 orange colour balloons.

Later all participants were requested to move on to Sr. Citizen Club Hall at Bund Garden. Our founder Chairperson Mrs Mini Grant welcomed all the participants. Mr Firoz Khoja our Admin. Officer sang a Bhakti Geet to commence the program. Mrs Jyoti Ronghe, Ms Gayatri Joshi and Ms Anjali Vyas our very active committee members and MS Persons shared their views on MS ailment and explained to the audience how they are keeping themselves happy in spite of this ailment and fighting the disease.

This was followed by a “Lavani folk dance” by Meera Dalvi and her troupe who had been deputed by Dr Panpatil and his team from I&B Ministry Pune. They enthralled the audience for about 45 minutes with their lively performance.

Gifts were handed over to the performers as a token of appreciation

The event ended at about 12 noon with the distribution of snacks and Lemon Lassi to all the participants present.

India MS Day 2019 – Hyderabad

By Hyderabad No Comments

MSSI Hyderabad chapter organised Bike rally on 3rd February to celebrate India MS Day on the Necklace road, a prime location in the heart of Hyderabad. It was a unique experience with the rally driven by People with MS, their friends, caregivers, and family members. It perfectly reflected on the spirit of PwMS – “We are unstoppable”.

We had a very inspiring speech and flag off by our chief guest, Mr. Mahender Vaishnav who is an International Cricketer, member of Indian Blind Cricket team, captain of Telangana state team. and also a recipient of Padma Mohana excellence award – 2019.

We were happy to have amongst us, Ms. Nagamani, a well-known athlete of international fame and also three famous celebrities of Hyderabad in the fields of theatre, ikebana and remedial education join us in the support.

The international football team also participated with us in the ride. The gathering and the rally looked very attractive with the T- shirts and flags on the beautiful Sunday morning.

Highlights of the event:

  • Had a great opportunity to create awareness on MS to the public and also to media persons through Awareness speech at Eat street, Necklace road and at the railway station.
  • Helped raise enthusiasm and motivation among PwMS and their family members.
  • Brief Counselling to new members registered during the event.
  • Socializing and refreshing moments for PwMS and families over Breakfast.

Hyderabad chapter thanks Sanofi Genzyme for sponsoring this energizing event.

Overall it was a great success with excellent participation and enthusiasm among everyone. The event proved to echo “Together we are stronger”.

India MS Day 2019 – Delhi

By Delhi No Comments

On the occasion of India MS Day the Delhi Chapter organised a massive rally of 400 bikers lead by a group of biking enthusiasts called THOR- ‘The Harmony of RIDERS’, riding 25 km across the city bearing flags and posters that talked about MS and MSSI.

The rally was flagged off by Commissioner for Disability Delhi -NCR, Mr. TD Dhariyal. The rally started from Pitampura with great enthusiasm after a briefing by THOR leaders and Bipasha Gupta regarding the objective of the ride. The 25 km ride saw a motorcycle cavalcade of 2 km, which culminated over an hour later at HUDCO Amphitheatre, Ansal Plaza with the bikers catching the eye of everyone on the street.

The roaring bikers entered the Amphitheatre to the joyful sound of Dholwalas beating their drums and the waiting crowd waving MSSI flags. All the bikers gathered and were further cheered on by MSSI members & persons with MS. As they were treated to refreshments, the program went forward with ‘Rehnuma Band’ performing rousing songs, both classics and new. This immediately brought everyone to their feet and had people dancing. All attendees were soon waving IMSD flags.

The band’s performance was followed by a short welcome speech by Ms. Bipasha Gupta, Chairperson MSSI Delhi, who greeted everyone on the occasion and thanked all the different biker groups. Dr. J. D. Mukherjee, Director and HOD Neurology at Max Hospital took to the stage and gave an enlightening talk in Hindi on MS, its symptoms and signs and the importance of early detection. Further, Ms. Renuka Malaker, National Secretary MSSI, gave a speech on MS and MSSI’s efforts at raising awareness and aiding MS persons in their fight against the disease.

These speeches were followed by the presentation of mementoes by Ms. Mridula Murgai and Ms. Bipasha Gupta to the admins of each biker group that had joined in the rally. The Harmony of Riders (T.H.O.R) group, in turn, presented a memento to MSSI as a token of appreciation in our continued effort in raising awareness about MS. All the volunteers from Shivaji College were presented with certificates of appreciation for their help through the day by Mr. Prabal Malaker, Hon. Secretary MSSI.

Gift bags and food packages were handed out to to the riders & all present. “What is MS” leaflets were also distributed to all the bikers. We called it a day at 12 noon as the bikers roared out of the Amphitheatre with smiles on their faces knowing that it had been a ride for a worthwhile cause.

MSSI Delhi is grateful to Shri HARSH BANSAL, IPS & NSS & NCC Cadets, & Volunteers from the Photography Society of Shivaji College, Delhi University.

THANK YOU – MADDY, DANG, AJIT, SANJEEV, MC ANKUSH AND NEIL FOR YOUR CONSTANT HELP AND GUIDANCE

FINALLY, WITHOUT THOR WE COULD NOT HAVE GONE AHEAD WITH THIS MASSIVE TASK. THANK YOU THOR-THE HARMONY OF RIDERS.

Gratitude to Sanofi Genzyme for their support.

India MS Day 2019 – Mumbai

By Mumbai No Comments

Multiple Sclerosis Society of India (MSSI), Mumbai Report of INDIA MS DAY – Motor Bike Rally

Multiple Sclerosis Society of India (MSSI) Mumbai & Flying Squad India had organized a spectacular Motor Bike Rally on Sunday morning, 3rd Feb, 2019 at Five Gardens, Matunga to observe Annual India MS Day. More than 100 enthusiastic Motorbikers participated in the Rally.

Mr. Sandeep Chitnis, National Vice President & Chairman, Mumbai welcomed all by highlighting the significance of observing India MS Day for raising MS Awareness.

He introduced the Chief Guest Ms.Sucheta Dalal, Founder Trustee of Money Life Foundation, who promotes financial literacy in the masses. She flagged off the rally at 7.45 am.

With a Police escort van, a large number of Motorbikers glided through the streets with MSSI flags flying from their motorbikes. People on the streets stopped & noticed the Bikers spreading MSSI messages.

At the end of the Rally, all Motorbikers were received by Ms. Aditi Deshpande, National Award-winning producer, director and Actress, who welcomed them back with an inspiring message.

All the participants were given a Certificate of Appreciation at the hands of Aditi Deshpande, Sheela Chitnis & Dr.Rekha Bhatkhande.

One of the unique features of this Event was a performance of Street Play on “Multiple Sclerosis and support provided by MSSI to MS Patients” by Roteractors from Rotary Club of Shivaji Park. The same play had also been enacted by them at 7.30 am at Shivaji Park, Dadar in the presence of members of Rotary Club of Shivaji Park & Dr.Rekha Bhatkhande, Hon. Secretary, MSSI Mumbai who then briefed all on MS & MSSI at Five Garden.

Tea & refreshments were served to all & Ms. Sundari Raju proposed the vote of thanks.

We are grateful To:

  1. Ms. Sucheta Dalal, Managing Editor of Money Life Magazine & Founder Trustee of Money Life Foundation, who came along on a busy morning to flag off the Rally.
  2. Celebrity Ms. Aditi Deshpande for her inspiring presence at the Rally.
  3. Madam Ambika, DSP Zone IV & the Police Department of Matunga & Sion for their kind support.
  4. Mr. Nilesh Telkar & his Team of Motorbikers SSI for supporting MS Cause with so much enthusiasm and joining us in our India MS Day Rally to spread awareness of MS.
  5. Mr Sunil Jhangiani for donating monogrammed T Shirts that were distributed to all the participants.
  6. Rotarian Mr Uday Karnik & Rotary Club of Shivaji Park for sponsoring refreshments etc.
  7. Rotarian Ms Anjana Karnik for writing the script & Team of Roteractors from Rotary Club of Shivaji Park for enacting the educative Street Play on MS & MSSI.
  8. Motorbikers Mr. Nitin Koli & Mr. Ninad Deshpande for sponsoring water bottles.
  9. Shivaji Park Gymkhana for nutritious biscuits.

Rally covered by Newspaper

 

 

India MS Day 2019 – Bengaluru

By Bengaluru No Comments

To Commemorate India MS Day MSSI Bengaluru Chapter conducted two days events. On February 2, 2019, an awareness bike rally was conducted from Omega Healthcare Management Services Pvt. Ltd. to NIMHANS in which around 80 Bikers consisting of Rotarians, Rotaractors of Presidency College, Volunteers, Committee Members of MSSI and MS Persons. Mr. Purushothama Reddy, Senior Vice President – Finance and Head- CSR of Omega Healthcare Management Services Pvt. Ltd. flagged off the Rally. The Rally covered about 9.5 kms stretch & reached NIMHANS. It was a good Awareness among the public throughout the stretch.

Sumptuous breakfast was ready at NIMHANS by the time the Bikers reached the venue. MS persons Y& the NIMHANS team received the Bikers. As per the plan, everybody assembled at the seminar hall of NIMHANS. Formal inauguration was done by Dr.Gangadhar, Director, Registrar & Doctors of NIMHANS.

Dr. Netravati, Assistant Professor, Neurology welcomed the group. Dr. Gangadhar gave a brief speech on MS & the association of NIMHANS with MSSI from a long time. Green Mementos were given to all the dignitaries present for the occasion.

Panel discussion was held under Dr. Sathish Chandra, Neurologist & past Director of NIMHANS along with a team of Doctors specialized in various fields. After the panel discussion Creative Movement Therapy was held which was enjoyed well by the whole audience present.

Mr. V.S. Basavaraju, State Commissioner for Disability, Govt. of Karnataka gave a speech on different governmental benefits and projects.