To celebrate World Physiotherapy Day, a Walkathon was organised by Sancheti Hospital Pune on Sunday 9^th September 2018.  MSSI Pune had actively participated in the Walkathon to create an awareness on MS and the Role of Physiotherapist in providing relief to the MSPs.

The participants included Four Committee members, two staff members, five volunteers and two MSPs. There were in all 13 persons who took part in the event.

There was a spot event conducted by the organisers. People were asked to come on the stage to do the Plank Exercise. Firoz Khoja, our staff member also participated in this event.

The Walkathon had 3 categories of events (a) 5 KM Walk (b) 3 KM Walk (c) 1 KM Walk. The two of our volunteers went for 5 KM event, the majority of us walked 3 KM. One MSP did 3 KM and one MSP did 1 KM Walk.

All of us were wearing MSSI Cap which was very much appreciated by the organiser.

The Walkathon started on time as scheduled from Sancheti Hospital and proceeded towards Jangli Maharaj Road and returned to the starting point after completing the planned distance.

Later Sancheti Hospital provided refreshment to all participants. Free icepacks were distributed to the needy persons. We exchanged views with other participants and distributed our Brochures to familiarise them with the activities and the role of MSSI Pune Chapter.

The Program ended at 8.15 am.

The invitation to attend IMA Annual day program on Sunday, 3^rd June had been extended by Dr Padma Iyer, President, IMA.

This appeared to be a good opportunity to continue with our WMSD reach out project for GPs and general public for creating awareness about Multiple Sclerosis and MSSI, hence we decided to attend this program.

The program participants included doctors, clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, advocates, legal advisors, counsellors, Human right activist, healing expert, etc. besides the general public.

Committee members Sarita Varma and Sunita Lalwani attended this program

and interacted with all the participants and distributed brochures to them.

Disseminating information about MS and MSSI services to the medical fraternity and others present at the IMA function in such manner was a very satisfying experience

On Tuesday 29th May 2018 our Corporate Partners BNY Mellon organised a poster competition at their premises at Magarpatta City to observe World MS Day. The Theme of the poster competition was to express their feelings and understanding of the various challenges faced by MS persons. Our Committee Members, MSPs, staff members and BNY Mellon Volunteers were present for the Event.

The participants of the Poster Competition were divided into three groups. Each Group started painting posters keeping in mind the main theme.

At the same time Committee members, BNY Mellon volunteer and MSPs shared their views on MS, this little known disease. MSP  Anjali Vyas spoke about the challenges she faced from the day she was diagnosed with MS. She was very positive, courageous and openly aired her thoughts and feelings.

Then Committee members viewed the posters. Every painting turned out so meaningful that it became difficult to judge the best. So It was decided to give prizes to all the participants. Mrs. Mini Grant our founder Chairperson gave away the prizes and thanked them for their participation.

The event concluded with the vote of thanks to BNY management and all present.

MSSI Pune had organised an Event at SGS Mall Pune to mark the World MS Day and to create awareness on Saturday, 26^th May, 2018 between 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm.

At the outset, Committee member Mrs. Chandrakala Shetty welcomed all present. Chairperson Mr Banerjee briefed the Mall audience, on Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and the role of MSSI.

Besides the Mall audience, MS persons, caregivers, volunteers and donors were also present for the occasion.

The Programme started with musical entertainment by professional artist Mr Jitendra and his troop. This was followed by “One minutes games”. MSPs and Audience took active part in the event.

Volunteers from our Corporate Partners BNY Mellon presented a Dance Performance.

Video clips of Bollywood stars with motivational messages for MSPs were then played. This helped in raising the awareness on MS and was very much appreciated by all present.

Mr. Banerjee handed over certificated to Student volunteers who visited doctors in the GP Outreach program.

Mrs Grant, our founder Chairperson felicitated the MSPs and caregivers present.

The event ended with vote of thanks to Mall Management and the formation of human chain to show our solidarity in fighting MS.

On 10th May 2018, MSSI Pune  Chapter organised a meeting of doctors belonging to the Hadapsar Medical Association  to create awareness about Multiple Sclerosis among  general practioners and  bring them closer to MS persons. This is in keeping with the WMSD 2018 theme #bringing us closer.

The symposium started at 8.00 am and went on to 9.30 am.  Total attendance was about 65 people including MSSI office bearers and staff and four student volunteers.

Dr.  Shripad Pujari, a well-known neurophysician  and  President, Hadapsar Medical Association presided over the meeting along with Mr. J.P. Banerjee, Chairperson MSSI Pune.

The meeting commenced with Mr. Banerjee  speaking about MSSI, it’s aims and aspirations and its role in improving quality of Life of MSPs.

Dr. Nilesh Palasdeokar , eminent neurologist and our invited guest for the occasion, gave an extremely easy to understand power point presentation about MS. This gave the audience an easy to grasp understanding of MS.  The symposium was then thrown open to the audience for a question answer session.  Several doctors raised  pertinent questions which were cleared by Dr. Nilesh.

We then distributed brochures to the doctors. One side of the brochure carried a copyrighted article about MS by Dr. Rajas Deshpande, Head of Neurology Dept, Ruby Hall Clinic, which he had kindly given us permission to use.

The symposium was followed by breakfast

An MSSI Fundraiser event called Retro Beats Songs of yesteryear by Ambrish Bhattacharjee & Fusion Beats Dhara 2.0 was held on 18 February 2018 at  Cinema Hall of Poona Club.

The program started at 7.00 pm. Chairperson Mr. Banerjee was introduced to the audience by Mrs. Asha Merchant Hon. Jt. Secretary. Mr. Banerjee gave a small welcome speech and introduction of MSSI. Founder chairperson Mrs. Mini Grant was called upon to release the souvenir.

The main event started by 7:15 pm by songs (old Hindi & Bengali) of Mr. Ambrish Bhattacharjee. His melodious voice and soulful rendering of the numbers endeared him to the audience.

During the program the souvenirs were distributed to all the participants.

A short Intermission of nearly 20 minute was observed at 8pm.During interval snacks and tea was provided to MS Persons and their caregivers sponsored by MSSI. Poona club caterers had put upsnacks stalls which everyone could access on purchase of tokens.

The program Fusion beats Dhara2.0 started after the break. Guru Shumita Mahajan and her students enthralled the audience with their dance performances. The program ended at around 9:45 pm.

Mrs. Chandrakala Shetty, Managing committee member proposed the vote of thanks. Mr Banerjee felicitated the artistes.

Committee members and Staff contributed greatly to the success of this event.

India MS Day (IMSD) being held pan India in February for the last three years, as opposed to World MS Day which is observed all over the world in May , was an idea mooted by MSp Jyoti Ronghe in 2015/2016. The idea met with immediate approval in view of the fact that the weather in our country is more clement in February than in May, to enable participation by MS persons in our awareness drive.

Participants assembled outside Balgandharva, Deccan. They came from all walks of life, volunteers from BNY Mellon, University students, individual volunteers, caretakers, Rotaract volunteers, Committee members, staff of Pune Chapter and of course, MS persons in wheel chairs. We distributed T-shirts and caps to all participants and thus clad and carrying two banners, one in English and one Marathi, we started our walkathon, raising slogans of YES WE CARE. Volunteers distributed pamphlets to the curious public who approached us and asked about our cause. We walked thus for about 1 km and then returned to the starting point.

The enthusiastic participants were very happy with the response and embarked on one more walk and distributed pamphlets. Hon. Secretary, Sunita Lalwani gave vote of thanks to the participants on behalf of MSSI Pune.

We distributed wafers, wada pav, lemon lassi and water bottles to all. In toto, it was an enjoyable morning, well spent on our aim of creating awareness about MS.

Special thanks :

• Asha, Madhuri, Shahuraj for obtaining police permission
• Mini Grant for free Lemon Lassi from ABC Farms
• Jyoti for Vada Pav and water bottles.
• National Jt. Treasurer Siva Kumar for attending the program
• Icing on the cake .. HO declared Jyoti Ronghe of Pune Chapter, MS Person of the Year. We salute you Jyoti for bringing us this honour.

We postponed the WMSD from 31st May to 2nd  June 2017.  Just as well.  We were over the hottest month of the year and encountered a cloudier and cooler climate.

We assembled at 5.00 pm at Tower No. 6, Magarpatta City and were happy to be greeted by more than 150 plus volunteers from BNY Mellon. We started by distributing our hallmark orange caps to all the participants.  Some of them were carrying beautiful hand painted posters illustrating what multiple sclerosis is and what it does to persons who bear this burden.  Despite stressing what MS is about, the posters had an upbeat, bright and cheerful side to them because they were done in a semi-cartoon style.  A hell of a lot of work must have gone into making the posters but the volunteers DID IT FOR US.  Hozannahs to all the enthusiastic volunteers!

As there were  a lot of new  volunteers  this  year, Shanice Fernandes  of BNY Mellon gave a brief talk about what MS is, how it attacks youngsters when they are raring to go and meet life head on, how medicine has so far been a matter of alleviation and a possible arrest  in the progress of the ailment, etc.  However, she concluded on a happy note about the giant strides made by medicine towards finding a cure for the disease.  Happy to say that the youngsters were listening attentively to the talk.

Next, we formed a huge column of people holding banners, posters and a white flag with MSSI emblazoned on it in orange.  Traffic was automatically stopped on both sides and people seemed to be quite interested in the banners we were carrying and the slogan of YES WE CARE that we were belting out.  We took a long walk around Aditi Garden aAnd came back to Tower 6,  a walk of around 15 minutes.  All the participants were then treated to a welcome cool drink of Lemon Lassi which had been procured from ABC Farms through the good offices of Mrs. Mini Grant.

Before dispersing we had a group photo session where all of us threw our orange caps into the air in sheer jubilation.  Some photographs of the event are attached to this report.

On Saturday 17^th September 2016, 65 members including MSPs, Caregivers, Committee Members, Staff  and volunteers enjoyed a day’s outing amidst naturally beautiful surroundings at SANSKRUTI RESORT, at Loni Kalbhor which is about 45 minutes drive from the city. Committee Member, Mrs Noorbanu Jinnah’s persuasions allowed a discounted cost for the good cause.

A 48-Seater bus was arranged and the pick-up and drop place was at Committee Member, Mrs Jyoti Ronghe’s residence where all had assembled at 10.30 AM and reached the picnic place at 12 noon. Our Community Partners BNY Mellon volunteers efficiently looked after the convenience and comfort of all MSPS right from the start to the time of seeing them off safe back home.

Everyone was treated to a welcome drink along with breakfast.

Being a Cultural Centre, the MSPs and their caregivers spent an interesting day trying their talent at Mehndi, pottery, jewellery making etc.

While a magician entertained the crowd, many MSPs and their caregivers joined in the dance on the stage with another folk dance artist.

Mrs Noorbanu Jinnah, Mrs Jyoti Ronghe, Mrs Sunita Lalwani, Mrs Asha Merchant and Mrs Madhuri Kothawale talked to motivate the MSPs and their Caregivers and showed their appreciation for their courage and positive attitude to have come out of their daily routines and have a fun filled day with their MSSI friends.

Lunch too was appreciated by all and after a group photo-session everyone readied to return around 4 pm .

Cyber City Magarpatta has a huge community of young software professionals working with most prominent corporate names so it was an ideal venue for Awareness. MSSI along with their Community Partners BNY Mellon group of volunteers organised an Awareness Drive at the Amphitheatre, Aditi Garden on 25^th May 2016 between 5 pm and 6 pm when their streets and by lanes have maximum people outdoors.

Hon Secretary Mrs Sunita Lalwani welcomed all. MSSI orange caps drew good crowds who took time to listen to the Presentation made by Mrs Lalwani and gathered a lot of knowledge about MS, its impact and challenges faced by MS persons and also learnt that MSSI was active in managing and facilitating many issues with these persons.

BNY Mellon volunteers had made big charts which attracted the onlookers who had lot of queries which Chairman Mr JP Banerjee and Mrs Sarita Varma clarified and impressed upon them the importance of being aware of health issues which are less known like MS.

The event concluded after a photo session at Tower No. 6 where about a 100 supporters assembled after completing a Walkathon around Cyber city with the slogan “YES! WE CARE!”