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This MS Awareness Month, we’re mobilizing our community to #TakeActionforMS and sign a letter to the new federal Health Minister advocating investment in MS prevention research. Following the federal election, now is an opportune time to communicate the MS community's priorities to the new federal government. We will send the letter to the new Health Minister to signify the strong support from the MS community for government investment in MS prevention research.

HERE'S HOW YOU CAN HELP.

With just a few pieces of information from you, we’ll add your name to our open letter to the new federal Health Minister. We’re collecting signatures throughout the month of May and will submit the letter in June.
Click the button below to read the letter in full.  

► EXPAND TO READ THE LETTER

Dear Minister,

Congratulations on your recent election and appointment as Canada’s Minister of Health. We need you to #TakeActionForMS in your new role for the thousands of Canadians who are affected by multiple sclerosis (MS).

Canada has one of the highest rates of MS in the world. An estimated 90,000 Canadians live with the disease and, on average, 12 Canadians are diagnosed with MS every day. About three-quarters of Canadians who live with MS are women and most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 49.

MS impacts all Canadians, not just those who live with MS: their family, their friends, and their community are all touched by this disease. The unpredictable, episodic, yet progressive nature of MS makes it particularly challenging to maintain an adequate quality of life. MS is a costly disease for Canada, with an annual socioeconomic cost of $3.4 billion which is rising each year.

Our community just marked MS Awareness Month in May. The month is an opportunity for our community to come together to raise awareness about MS and navigate MS together. This year’s theme was My MS Diagnosis.

But what if we lived in a country where no one was newly diagnosed with MS, because of investment in research that ultimately prevented the disease? We believe we can prevent MS within our lifetime and are calling on you and your government to Partner to Prevent MS.

Momentum is building around the potential to prevent MS. Evidence is pointing to the necessary role of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in triggering MS has reached a point in which researchers are no longer considering it one potential risk among many, but the risk factor to target.

The Government of Canada can accelerate MS research for a cure at this pivotal moment by investing $15 million in leading-edge MS prevention research in partnership with MS Canada.

Our community is behind us and thousands have signed this letter in support of MS prevention research funding.

As Minister of Health, we are calling on you to #TakeActionForMS and partner with MS Canada to prevent MS.

Sincerely,
MS Canada

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