Multiple sclerosis is a debilitating lifelong disease. A recent charity event was held to help patients.
Contributed By Amelia Yap
On May 21, a charity auction was held for the benefit of the M.S. Care Patient Support Group. The auction and dinner took place at The Grassroots’ Club in Ang Mo Kio.
The M.S. Care PSG is supported by CHCSA for people living in Singapore who have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. With a volunteer strength of 30, M.S. Care has helped more than 155 M.S. patients in Singapore, and their family members.
M.S. is a chronic, unpredictable disease of the central nervous system (the brain, optic nerves, and spinal cord). It is understood to be an autoimmune disorder. This means that the immune system mistakenly attacks the person’s healthy tissue. M.S. can cause blurred vision, loss of balance, poor coordination, slurred speech, tremors, numbness, extreme fatigue, problems with memory and concentration, paralysis and blindness. These symptoms may be chronic or they may come and go. Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50 and may struggle to live productively as they face increasing limitations.
It is said that less than 50 percent of M.S. patients are able to work full- time, while more than 50 percent of patients employed at time of diagnosis have had to give up their work. Thirty-seven percent of patients report a decline in their standard of living as a result of their disease.
Although there are medications that have been reported as being able to “modify” or slow down the symptoms of M.S., there is still no known cure.
The proceeds of the charity auction went to helping M.S. patients who are financially disadvantaged, providing daily necessities such as food, household expenses, children’s education expenses, electricity bills, etc. The auction was sponsored by Merck Serono.
